This site at Clonroad More served as the primary residence for the O’Brien kings of Thomond from the 13th through to the 16th centuries, witnessing centuries of political intrigue, warfare, and the rise and fall of Gaelic Ireland’s most powerful dynasties. The location’s strategic importance is evident in its riverside position on low-lying ground, offering both defensive advantages and control over river traffic.

The site’s royal connections began around 1210 when Donnachad Cairprech Ó Briain constructed an earthen stronghold on the north bank of the river. However, it was his descendant Conchobhar Ó Briain who, around 1267, built the earthen fortification that would become the main O’Brien stronghold on the south bank. This structure met a violent end when it was burnt in 1311, an event significant enough to be recorded in the Caithréim Thoirdhealbhaigh, a medieval Irish text chronicling the wars of the O’Briens. The destruction didn’t mark the end of the site’s importance, however; quite the opposite.

By approximately 1470, the O’Briens had constructed a tower house on the location, reflecting the changing architectural preferences and defensive needs of the late medieval period. This wasn’t to be their final building project here; by 1558, they had attached a large mansion to the tower house, creating an impressive complex that combined medieval defensive architecture with more comfortable Renaissance-style living quarters. Today, these structures stand as monuments to the O’Brien dynasty’s enduring power and their ability to adapt to changing times whilst maintaining their ancestral seat for over three centuries.