Built around 1450, Moyhullin Castle stands as a testament to the ambitions and anxieties of the Gaelic Irish nobility during a particularly turbulent period. The castle was constructed by the O’Brien clan, who dominated much of Clare and served as the Kings of Thomond. Like many tower houses of its era, Moyhullin was both a symbol of power and a practical fortress, designed to protect its inhabitants from raids whilst proclaiming the family’s status across the landscape.

The castle’s architecture tells the story of evolving defensive needs and domestic comforts. Rising four storeys high, the rectangular tower features thick limestone walls that narrow as they ascend, a common technique that provided both stability and materials economy. The ground floor, with its vaulted ceiling, once served as storage for provisions and potentially livestock during times of siege. Above, the main hall would have hosted feasts and conducted business, whilst the upper chambers provided private quarters for the lord’s family. Notable defensive features include narrow arrow slits, murder holes above the entrance, and bartizans; small turrets projecting from the corners that allowed defenders to rain projectiles on attackers below.

Today, Moyhullin Castle stands roofless but largely intact, its weathered stones bearing witness to centuries of change. The surrounding landscape has transformed from contested borderland to peaceful pasture, yet the castle maintains its commanding presence. Visitors can still trace the spiral staircase within the walls and imagine the bustle of medieval life that once filled these chambers. Though privately owned and located on farmland, the castle can be viewed from nearby public roads, offering a tangible connection to the complex world of Gaelic Ireland, where local lords balanced loyalty to distant English crowns with the realities of clan politics and survival.