Site of Lisdoonvarna Castle

In rough pastureland on the level floor of a valley, with views to E and W and ground rising to N and S. Situated immediately NW of the site of a medieval house (CL008-050002-) and a large bawn (CL008-050003-). Labelled 'Site of Lisdoonvarna Castle' on the 1842 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. Built in 1619 by Denis Cloche (Clohessy?) for owner Fineen Fitzpatrick (as commemorated in a plaque (CL015-143----) which was removed in the 20th century and is currently displayed in a wall on Bogbere Street, Ennistymon) (Ua Cróinín and Breen 1997). After the Irish rebellion of 1641 the castle and other lands were taken from Fitzpatrick and distributed among several parties. By 1665 the castle was occupied and claimed by the O'Briens, but then leased: in 1679 it was occupied by the Creaghs and in 1699 by one Doctor Sarsfield. In 1717 the O'Davorens were living here and appear to have taken ownership. However, the last person to live at the castle was supposedly Donough O'Davoren, who died in c. 1750 (Comber 1997, 70; Ua Cróinín and Breen 1997). At some point before or after this time another residence (CL008-050002-) was built within the castle bawn, immediately to the SE of the castle. Westropp (1915, 48) did not record any elements of the castle. No remains are visible at ground level. The following item has been uploaded: CL008-050001-_01.pdf Details from Risteárd Ua Cróinín and Martin Breen, The Castles and Tower-houses of Co. Clare (unpublished report). Uploaded courtesy of R. Ua Cróinín and M. Breen. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 20 December 2022

Built by the Blake family in the 15th century, Lisdoonvarna Castle was an important stronghold in the medieval period and is remembered for its historical association with the Blake and later Blake-Codd families, who played a significant role in the region's history.