What is recorded here

An Clochar is an island castle in Lough Eske where the O'Donnells held power during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. A bold female figure carvved from that place later appeared in a coach house at Lougheask Castle before vanishing from ordinary sight. The castle itself has sunk beneath trees and memory, leaving behind a warning about what happens when human arrogance refuses to release what it has taken.

Lough Eske Island Castle (DG094-008-): This island castle was a major stronghold of the O'Donnells in the late 16th century and early years of the 17th century, and was described as the place where Sir Niall Garbh O'Donnell chiefly resided (AFM 1601 and 1602; Murphy ed., 1895, 277, 281; CSPI 1600, 281; CSPI 1600-1, 278). This small island is now covered with trees and vegetation, and contains the remains of a keep on the N, and a large bawn (DG094-007002-) on the S. Fagan records that a female exhibitionist figure which had been taken from this island castle was then (1846-7) in the side of the coach house at Lougheask Castle (Bk. 14, 10). A general search (Oct. 1981) failed to locate this carving, a sketch of which is preserved among the OS Memoirs. Recorded by the National Museum of Ireland in 1992 as an exhibitionist figure rather than a sheela-na-gig (Cherry 1992, 10). The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 23 May 2012

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