Bawn, Rinemackaderrig, Co. Clare

Co. Clare |

Castle Features

Bawn, Rinemackaderrig, Co. Clare

Standing on a rocky headland along the northern bank of the Shannon Estuary, the bawn at Rinemackaderrig commands sweeping views over both the Shannon and Carrigaholt Bay.

This fortified enclosure, measuring 25 metres north to south and 16 metres east to west, sits atop a modest cliff some five metres high. Its most striking feature is a round turret in the northeast corner; a single-storey structure built from cut stone, likely dating to the 18th or 19th century. The turret sports decorative crenellations and a cracked flagstone ceiling, whilst four narrow loops incorporate much earlier 15th century jambs, suggesting this site has seen centuries of modification and reuse.

Beyond the original bawn lies a larger walled area extending 30 metres north to south and an impressive 90 metres east to west, which once contained numerous buildings shown on historical Ordnance Survey maps. These structures, positioned to the north and west of a tower house that connects to the northern section, have long since vanished, though their footprints remain visible. The enclosure walls themselves tell a story of ongoing maintenance and adaptation; the northern walls of roughly dressed limestone stand three to three and a half metres high, with some sections recently rebuilt, whilst the eastern wall has been reinforced against coastal erosion. The southern wall, less well preserved at under a metre and a half in height, shows a mix of roughly dressed stone and brick construction.

Access to this larger walled compound is through a gateway at the southwest corner, allowing visitors to explore this layered site where medieval defensive architecture meets later Georgian improvements. The combination of strategic positioning, multiple building phases, and ongoing battle against the elements makes Rinemackaderrig a fascinating example of how Irish fortifications evolved over time, adapting to new threats and purposes whilst maintaining their commanding presence over the landscape.

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Pete F
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