Built sometime in the late 15th or early 16th century, this rectangular stone fortress once served as home to a minor branch of the O’Brien clan, who controlled much of Clare during the medieval period. The castle’s simple design reflects the practical needs of its time; a sturdy defensive residence that could withstand raids whilst providing comfortable quarters for a local lord and his household.

The structure rises four storeys high, with thick limestone walls that have weathered centuries of Atlantic storms rolling in from the west coast. Inside, the castle would have contained a great hall for feasting and conducting business, private chambers above, and storage areas at ground level. Arrow loops and narrow windows puncture the walls at strategic points, allowing defenders to rain down arrows or musket fire on any unwelcome visitors. The castle’s position gave its inhabitants control over the surrounding fertile lands, where cattle grazing and small scale farming would have sustained the local population.

Today, Manuss Castle remains largely intact though roofless, its grey stone walls slowly being reclaimed by ivy and brambles. The site sits on private farmland, surrounded by the green fields that have been cultivated here for generations. While it may lack the grandeur of larger Irish castles, Manuss offers an authentic glimpse into how the minor nobility lived during Ireland’s turbulent medieval centuries; a time when even small landholders needed stone walls and defensive positions to protect their families and holdings.