Doonagore Castle

by Rob Hemphill

Title

Doonagore Castle

Artist

Rob Hemphill

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

This small round tower in situated only a few miles from the famous Cliffs of Moher near the village of Doolin in County Clare, Ireland. Doolin is known as the centre of traditional Irish music, so a visit to one of the few pubs is well worth it. The Burren area is also nearby.

Doonagore Castle is a round 16th-century tower house with a small walled enclosure. Its name may be derived from Dún na Gabhair, meaning "the fort of the rounded hills" or the "fort of the goats". Doonagore Castle is at present a private holiday home, inaccessible to the public.

A castle was built on (or near) the site of an even earlier ringfort by Tadhg (Teigue) MacTurlough MacCon O'Connor some time during the 14th century.

The current structure likely dates from the mid-16th century. Unlike most tower houses in the region, this was built not from limestone but from sandstone drawn from the quarry of Trá Leachain (Flaggy Beach) about 2 km to the southwest.

In 1570, it was owned by Sir Donald (or Donnell) O'Brien of the O'Brien dynasty and in 1582 it was occupied by Brian MacCahill O'Connor. In 1583, much of the property in the area was surrendered to the Crown and regranted to Turlough O'Brien of Ennistymon. Doonagore soon fell to the MacClancy (or Clancy) family, the hereditary brehons or lawyers of the O'Briens.

In September 1588, a ship of the Spanish Armada was wrecked below the castle. One-hundred-seventy survivors were caught by the High Sheriff of Clare, Boetius Clancy and hanged at Doonagore Castle or on a nearby Iron Age barrow near Doolin called Cnocán an Crochaire (Hangman's Hill).

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Featured in the following FAA Groups:

"ABC Group" 04/07/2023
"Shadows Silhouettes and Reflections Outdoors" 08/27/2020
"Daily Promotion" 05/31/2020
"Silhouettes" 05/28/2020

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Uploaded

May 28th, 2020

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