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Bunratty Castle, Co
Clare |
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Bunratty Castle which
was built in 1425 was restored in
1954 to its former medieval splendour
and now contains mainly 15th and 16th
century furnishings, tapestries, and
works of art which capture the mood of
those times. The houses and
cottages of the folk park
are located at the
base of the
walls of the castle.
There is also a regency period
garden which has been
restored to be enjoyed and .
guests from the four corners of the
globe can dine
at The Earl's Banquet at Bunratty Castle
nightly. |
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Caherconnell Stone Fort Visitor Centre |
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Caherconnell Stone Fort Visitor Centre
situated 1km south of Poulnabrone in
Burren, this is a perfect example of a
fort in its original state. Its
position, suggests a defensive
settlement against raiders or maybe wild
animals. |
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Carrigaholt Castle |
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Carrigaholt
Castle was built in about 1480 by the
McMahons, chiefs of the Corcabascin
Peninsula. It stands at the end of a
fishing pier overlooking the
Shannon Estuary
and the harbour. This is a tall,
well-preserved five storey tower house.
It has a fiery and colourful history
which would fill volumes.15th C Tower House |
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Dough Castle, Lahinch,
Co Clare |
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On the 7th Hole of
the Castle Course may be seen the
remains of Dough Castle. It was
originally founded by the O'Connors in
1306. Its old name "Dumhach Ui Chonchuir"
would translate as O'Connor's Sandbank
and it was an O'Connor stronghold until
they were ousted by the O'Briens in the
days of Queen Elizabeth 1 of England. It
is referred to in 1422 but none of the
present ruin dates from that period. By
1584 the castle was held by Sir Donal
O'Brien's family.he building collapsed
at various times, mainly during the
nineteenth century. Only one wall now
remains of Dough Castle. The sandhills
are supposed to be the haunt of Donn
Dumhach, the Fairy King, and the
sandhill Crughaneer near the bridge is
also supposed to be haunted.
15th C Castle |
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Dunguaire Castle |
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Dunguarie Castle was built in 1520 by
the O’Hynes clan on the picturesque
shores of Galway Bay. The Castle
named after the
nearby ancient fort of
Guaire, King of Connaught who died is
662 AD. This 16th century tower house
now restored
sits on a rocky outcrop on the shores of
Galway Bay, 300 yards outside the
picturesque village of Kinvara |
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Knappogue Castle & Gardens |
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Come and enjoy the famous Knappogue
Medieval Banquet at Knappogue Castle,
Quin Co Clare. Savour
the
honey rich Mead which is served
on arrival to the Castle.
The ladies of the castle perform
a programme of Music Song and Irish
Traditional Dance .Enjoy
a sumptuous four course
banquet
feast with red and white wine. |
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Leamangh Castle,
Kilfenora, Co Clare |
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The eastern portion of the castle is a
5-story tower built about 1480, with
stone vault on the top floor, and a
number of holes for guns. A four-storey
mansion was added to the west of the
tower in the 1640s, and it has some
mullioned windows (some of which are
modern). Beside the castle was a large
bawn, remnants of which can be seen on
both sides of the road. The original
gate, with an inscription saying that it
was erected by Conor O'Brien and his
wife Maire Ni Mahon in 1643,16th C. Stronghold |
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Poulnabrone Portal Tomb |
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Poulnabrone portal tomb at the Burren in County Clare is one of the world's best
known and most visited dolmens. Set in view of the Burren is magical. It is
estimated at being 4,500 years old which places it at the end of the Neolithic
and the beginning of Ireland's Bronze Age. |
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Clare Castle and
Forts, more details:
Carrigogunnell Castle
15C Castle
Clare Abbey, Limerick
Road, Ennis, Co Clare
Corcomroe Cistercian
Abbey, Bell Harbour,
Co Clare
Craggaunowen,
Kilmurray, Co Clare
Dysert O'Dea Castle
Ennis Friary Visitor
Centre, Ennis, Co
Clare
Newtown Castle,
Ballyvaughan, Co Clare
O'Briens Tower, Cliffs of Moher, Co
Clare
Quin Abbey, Quin, Co
Clare
Scattery Island
Centre, Kilrush, Co
Clare |
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