Cloghan Castle — Cloghan Demesne

Situated on a slight rise overlooking the low-lying floodplains of the river Shannon to the S. Well preserved rectangular tower (dims. 13m N-S; 10.1m E-W) four storeys high which has been greatly modified with a later building attached to the E side of the tower. The bawn wall (OF029-008003-) has also been modified on the SW angle where an 18th-century square flanking tower and outhouses were inserted. Originally the bawn ran northwards from the NW angle of the tower returning eastwards then returning southwards then westwards and then northwards where it joined the tower at the SW angle. Three original flanking towers survive along with the wall walk. Externally the tower has two bartizans one at the NE angle at wall walk level and the second on the SW angle at third floor level. There are two twin light round headed windows at third floor level on the W wall which appear to be original. The original door to the tower now destroyed was on the E wall protected by a machicolation and murder-hole directly above passage with spiral stairs in SE angle and guardroom in NE angle. From the lobby area the ground floor was accessed which had a wooden floor carried on stone corbels. Directly above the murder-hole are a series of vaulted chambers orientated on a N-S axis. The main chambers all of which have wooden floors are accessed from the spiral stairs via two centred pointed doors with chamfered finely punch dressed jambs. Mural passage in the S wall at first floor level gives access to a garderobe in the SW angle. Large fireplace on the W wall at third floor level and a large fireplace at ground floor level on the N wall. Access to the machicolation on the SW angle from the main chamber at third floor level. The fine punch dressing, lack of barrel vault over ground floor and historical references indicate that the existing structure is late 16th/17th-century in date. Probably dating to the period of rebuilding after the castle was destroyed by the Elizabethan army in 1595 (JRSAI 1862, 188-9). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011