Unlike the more common rectangular tower houses found throughout Ireland, this fortified residence features a round tower that rises from a square base, creating an architectural curiosity that has intrigued visitors for centuries. Built around 1550 by the O’Brien clan, who dominated much of Clare during the medieval period, the castle served as both a defensive stronghold and a statement of power in this strategically important region.

The castle’s unique design reflects the transitional period in which it was built; a time when traditional Irish tower houses were beginning to incorporate new defensive features influenced by evolving military technology. The round upper floors offered better resistance to cannon fire than flat walls, whilst the narrow gun loops and murder holes throughout the structure show how seriously the O’Briens took their defence. Inside, visitors can explore the spiral staircase that winds its way up through multiple floors, each revealing glimpses of daily life in Tudor Ireland, from the ground floor storage areas to the lord’s private chambers above.

Today, Newtown Castle forms part of the Burren College of Art campus and has been carefully restored to showcase its original features. The restoration work has revealed fascinating details about the building’s construction, including the sophisticated water collection system built into the walls and the remains of elaborate plasterwork that once decorated the main hall. The castle stands as a testament to the architectural innovation of Gaelic Ireland, offering visitors a chance to step inside a remarkably well-preserved example of how Irish nobility lived, worked, and defended their territories during one of the most turbulent periods in the country’s history.