Built sometime in the late 15th or early 16th century, this fortified tower house served as the stronghold of the O’Brien clan, one of the most powerful families in medieval Ireland. The castle’s strategic position allowed its inhabitants to survey the surrounding landscape whilst providing a formidable defensive position; thick walls, narrow windows, and a single entrance made it nearly impregnable to attackers.

The castle follows the typical design of Irish tower houses from this period, rising four storeys high with a spiral staircase connecting each level. The ground floor, which would have been used for storage and perhaps housing livestock during raids, features distinctive corbelled stone vaulting. Above this, the main hall occupied the first floor, where the lord would have conducted business and entertained guests, whilst the upper floors contained private chambers and sleeping quarters. Murder holes above the entrance and defensive battlements along the roofline speak to the turbulent times in which it was constructed, when clan warfare and English incursions made such precautions necessary.

Today, Rath Castle stands as a well-preserved example of late medieval Irish architecture, its weathered stones bearing witness to over five centuries of history. Though the wooden floors and roof have long since vanished, the sturdy shell remains largely intact, allowing visitors to explore the various chambers and climb the narrow staircase to enjoy views across the Clare countryside. The castle’s survival through centuries of conflict, Cromwellian conquest, and eventual abandonment makes it a tangible link to Ireland’s complex past, when Gaelic lords ruled from stone towers like this one throughout the island.