CASTLES AND HOUSES OF CLARECASTLE
by Mary Mullins

The Castle of Clare was a typical Norman castle built in 1250 by Robert de Musegros. It was built as a fortress to protect the Limerick, Bunratty and Clonroad areas. It was located on the banks of the River Fergus as a deterrent against waterborne invasion. Its location was ideal to watch the movements of the King of Thomond, an adversary in the area. In 1276 de Muscegros was recalled to England and he handed the castle over to Richard de Clare. However the castle fell into the hands of Thomond at the battle of Dysert O'Dea and remained a Thomond property for centuries. The 150-year period from 1558 to 1712 saw many incursions and the castle frequently changed hands but always it returned to an O'Brien of the Thomond line.

In 1712 the incumbent Earl of Thomond leased the castle to Robert Hickman, along with the town of Clare, Lissane and Barntick, for the grand sum of eight pounds a year. His financial return was in ground rent from the government for use of the castle and grounds for a cavalry division and also from the tolls extracted at fairs, markets and the use of Clare commonage.

In 1837 there were 3 cavalry barracks on the grounds of the castle and it was the main barracks for the county at the time. There were 317 men and 137 women and children stationed there. It continued as a barracks until 1921. Newhall House is said to have been built with the stones from Killone Castle and the most recent part of the house dates from the mid-eighteenth century. It was built by Charles MacDonald, who bought the land in 1764 after moving from his family seat in Kilkee. Bantick is one of the oldest occupied houses in the county. It was built in 1661 and contains some 18th century features. It has good farmland surrounding it with barns and stables. Buncraggy is an 18th century house located about 3 miles from Ennis and again is surrounded by good farm land with a collection of very good outbuildings. Islandmagrath House was once owned by the Burton family and in 1703 was described as an arable hill prone to flooding from the river.

Carnelly House is an 18th century building and was the home of Peter the Packer, the local magistrate of the day. His father depleted the family fortune by giving considerable relief to the tenants during the famine. Legend has it that the ghost of Marie Ruadh of Leamanagh haunts this place as she is supposed to be buried in a hollow tree on the estate.

Published by: From Sean Spellissy's Writings
Year written: 1999
Copyright owned by: Local Ireland

Local Ireland gratefully acknowledges the help of Sean Spellissy of Spellissy's Bookshop in putting together this page.