Inchiquin Castle

Inchiquin Castle stands as a ruined circular tower on the north bank of the Womanagh river, its southern wall split open and northern faces scarred by vertical cracks. Built in the thirteenth century for Richard de Clare, the stone structure later housed the old Countess of Desmond until her death in 1604 before Cromwell's guns struck it in 1649. You can still see the socket holes for roof beams and the remains of a mural stair, inviting you to imagine how light and life moved through that tall, battered room centuries ago.