What is recorded here

Castle (in Ruins), Belclare stands as a ruined tower house in County Sligo, Ireland. The ivy-clad north corner still rises to third-floor level above sod-covered foundations, preserving a narrow spiral staircase and two broken windows. The O'Hara's once held this strong place, though the thick courtyard wall described by Mason has vanished without a trace.

In pasture, on a terrace overlooking the Bellanamean River. Only the ivy-clad N corner now stands of a rectangular structure (int. c. 7m NW-SE; c. 5m NE-SW) otherwise reduced to sod-covered foundations. The corner stands to approximately third-floor level and incorporates the remains of a spiral stone stairs (diam. c. 0.9m). Two windows lighting the stairs survive, each with a flat rear arch and a broken light. In the 1940s the tower was described as 'square in shape ... and approximately 30 feet [9.14m] high ... with no architectural features' (ITA). There are no visible remains of the 'court yard, enclosed by a very thick strong wall' mentioned by Mason (1816, vol. 2, 358-9). A castle of the O'Hara's (Mason 1816, vol. 2, 358-9; O'Rorke [1889], vol. 2, 149). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.