Castle — Clifden

In a bawn (CL017-110002-), on a raised rock outcrop ridge (H c. 20m over E-SE; H 3m over W), at the E-foot of Clifden Hill, with Lough Teervicbran (a.k.a. ‘Molly Blood’s Lough’ - Macnamara 1901, 205) c. 85m to the SE and the early 19th-century ‘Adelphi House’ (NIAH reg. no. 20401712) c. 75m to the NE. Indicated and named ‘Castle’ on the first edition (1842) of the OS 6-inch map. Drawn and named ‘Teervicbran Castle (in Ruins)’ on the OS 25-inch plan (1897) and Cassini edition (1920) of the OS 6-inch map. Dated to the mid-/late 16th century on architectural evidence (Ua Cróinín and Breen 1997). Built on lands already owned before 1512 by Domhnall son of Tadhg an Chomhaid O’Brien (Ua Cróinín and Breen 1994, 25). After the Cromwellian Settlement (1650s) the castle passed to the O’Brien earl of Inchiquin, who leased it to Garrett Fitzmaurice, a transplanted Catholic. However, it appears unlikely that Fitzmaurice ever lived in the castle as it was probably slighted by the Cromwellian commission in 1655 (ibid. 25-26). The lands and a mill were sold to the Hollow Blade Company in 1703 (ibid. 26). The Hollow Sword Blades Company was founded in 1691 for the manufacture of hollow ground rapiers, a popular weapon in England at that time.   Only the SW half of this rectangular tower house (L 8.15m NW-SE; Wth 5.45m NE-SW) of five floors survives, standing almost to its original height (extant; H c. 15m) with the NW wall against a cliff and land to the SE sloping severely (ibid. 26; Ua Cróinín and Breen 1997). The NE half of the tower house is marked by a rubble mound (c. 12m NE-SW; H 2-3m). Macnamara (1901, 206) noted the straight edges of the upstanding walls at the point where the NE section collapsed, suggesting that the two halves of the tower house were not built at the same time, and were not sufficiently bonded together. There is a slight base-batter on the upstanding, ivy-covered walls (Wth 1.15-1.45m), which are built of uncoursed rubble with cut quoinstones (Ua Cróinín and Breen 1997). On the SE side of the tower house (facing the bawn entrance) is a pointed doorway (H 1.69m; Wth 1.12m) with punch-dressing on the doorframe, and a hood-moulding on the outside. There is a yett-hole and a long bar-hole (or perhaps a shot-hole (ibid.)) in the S door jamb. To the S of the doorway is a rectangular window (Wth 0.15m; H 0.61m) with a chamfered edge and a lintelled embrasure. There is another window in the NW wall, also in a lintelled embrasure. On the inner face of the SW wall are two cupboards, one at either end. Above these are corbels for supporting the first floor above. The ground floor walls are plastered internally. On the SE wall of the first floor is a two-light window with a square hood-moulding. A window in the NW wall has been narrowed to create two gun loops, one facing W and the other N. Both windows’ embrasures are lintelled. The first floor is also plastered on the interior, and there is a cupboard at the SE end of the SW wall. At the top of this wall are three corbels (originally five) to support the second floor above. The second floor is very similar to the first, with a two-light window in the SE wall, and a window in the NW wall also narrowed to two gun loops, with the masonry here incorporating some brick. There is a fireplace in the SW wall which has been robbed out except for its E jamb. There are four corbels on the SW wall. The third floor above is very similar in all respects, except that it has no fireplace. On the fourth floor there are only three corbels on the SW wall, with the gable above set back from the inner wall-face. On this floor there is a two-light rectangular window with square hood-moulding in the NW wall and a window in the SE wall has hammer-dressed stonework.   Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Conn Herriott    Date of upload: 16-10-2025