Gleninagh Castle

Gleninagh Castle stands on the northern edge of the Burren in County Clare, close to Ballyvaughan and overlooking the shore near the mouth of Galway Bay. It is a 16th-century tower house of L-shaped plan, rising four storeys and built as both a residence and a defensive stronghold in the Gaelic tradition. The building is well preserved, with features typical of its type, including an entrance set at first-floor level and vaulted upper chambers above a dark basement.

The castle was a seat of the O’Loughlin (O’Loghlen) family, one of the leading Gaelic lineages of the Burren, who held and controlled large tracts of land in the barony despite the wider dominance of the O’Briens in Clare. Ownership changed hands over the centuries, but the family is recorded as having used the castle until around 1840. Today it is protected as a National Monument.

A short walk from the tower is a holy well dedicated to the Holy Cross, sheltered by a small stone vault with a Gothic-style arch and a cross set on top. The castle sits within the distinctive limestone landscape of the Burren, and its setting above the coastline forms part of its appeal.

Please note that Gleninagh Castle is not generally open for interior tours. Visitors typically view the tower and its surroundings from the exterior, so it is best appreciated as part of a wider visit to this corner of the Burren.