Bawn, Carrownagoul, Co. Clare
Near the Skaghard tower house in Carrownagoul, County Clare, researchers have uncovered evidence of what was once a defensive bawn wall.
Bawn, Carrownagoul, Co. Clare
In 1997, historians Ua Cróinín and Breen documented a drystone wall, measuring 1.2 metres in width, situated to the northeast of the tower house. This remnant appears to follow the original line of the bawn wall, which would have formed a protective enclosure around the tower house during its heyday.
The bawn itself would have been a substantial fortification, enclosing approximately a quarter of an acre, or roughly 1,000 square metres. These defensive walls were common features of Irish tower houses, serving as the first line of defence against raiders and providing a secure area where livestock could be protected during times of conflict. The combination of tower house and bawn created a formidable defensive complex that was both a residence and a fortress.
Today, whilst much of the original bawn has disappeared, this surviving section of drystone wall offers a tangible connection to the site’s defensive past. The careful documentation of these remains helps piece together the layout and scale of what was once a significant fortified homestead in medieval Clare, providing valuable insights into how these structures functioned as both homes and defensive strongholds in Irish history.