Tromra Castle, Tromracastle, Co. Clare
Standing on level marshy ground with views across to Mutton Island, Tromra Castle is a rectangular tower house that rises to approximately 22 metres in height.
Tromra Castle, Tromracastle, Co. Clare
Built from coursed local flagstone, the tower measures 6.8 metres northwest to southeast and 6.6 metres northeast to southwest, with walls that taper inward from a wider base. Though damaged over the centuries, the castle’s three floors still reveal much about medieval tower house design and daily life in County Clare.
The ground floor chamber sits beneath a damaged vault and features defensive embrasures in the northwest and northeast walls; these openings, originally designed for defence, have since been broken through to create makeshift entrances. A cupboard built into the southeast wall and the remains of a bolt hole beside the original entrance on the southeast side hint at the practical considerations of castle life. From the eastern corner, a spiral staircase once led to the first floor, which retains evidence of its vaulted ceiling constructed with wicker centering, a medieval building technique that used woven branches as temporary support during construction.
The first floor served as the main living quarters, with large windows set into embrasures providing both light and defensive positions. A garderobe, essentially a medieval toilet, occupies the northwest wall alongside two window lights, whilst the remains of a fireplace can be found in the southwest wall. Though the third floor is now inaccessible, it displays more refined architectural details including elegant ogee-headed windows with decorative hollow spandrels; the northwest window remains intact as a fine example of late medieval stonework. Additional features include another garderobe in the northwest wall and three corbels on the southeast corner that likely supported a bartizan, a small overhanging turret used for defence.