Castle (in ruins) — Lackareagh

In a slight hollow, deepening toward the E. Recorded on the first edition (1842) of the OS 6-inch map as an L-shaped structure (L c. 12m E-W; L c. 10m N-S) and labelled ‘Castle in ruins’. Labelled ‘Castle (site of)’ on the OS 25-inch plan (1897) and on the Cassini edition (1920) of the OS 6-inch map. Listed as ‘Castle (site)’ in the RMP (1996). There is little historical information about this castle, which may have been a residence of the O’Brien family (Ua Cróinín and Breen 1997). No visible surface remains survive. There is a small network (51m E-W; c. 30m N-S) of stone walls at this location, which may have formed part of the castle complex. Within this network there are two small rectangular structures: one (int. dims. 3.5m E-W; 3.3m N-S) at the S defined by a stone wall (Wth c. 1m; H 0.3m); and another (int. dims. 7m NNE-SSW; 4.3m WNW-ESE) at the N defined by a double-faced stone wall/bank (Wth 1m; int. H 0.8m; ext. H 1.1m), with a WNW-ESE running internal partition wall near the NNE end. A later trackway runs N-S immediately to the W of these structures. In the adjacent field to the E, c. 20m from these structures, is an L-shaped feature (12m NW-SE; 6m NE-SW) defined by a stone bank (Wth 2m; H 1m). Ua Cróinín and Breen (1997) noted several possibly related architectural fragments (hammer-dressed stones) in the out-buildings of some nearby farms. See attached document: CL010-076----_01.PDF, extract from: Ua Cróinín R. and Breen M. (1997) The castles and tower-houses of Co. Clare, 6 vols. Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 26 May 2023