This tower house, likely built in the late medieval period, once served as both a defensive stronghold and a family residence for local nobility. Though now in ruins, the structure’s remaining walls and architectural features offer visitors a glimpse into the fortified domestic life of Ireland’s past, when such castles dotted the countryside as symbols of power and protection.

The castle’s construction follows the typical pattern of Irish tower houses from the 15th and 16th centuries; thick limestone walls, narrow windows, and a vertical design that maximised defensive capabilities whilst minimising the footprint. These buildings were particularly common in Clare, where Anglo-Norman and Gaelic Irish families alike built them to secure their holdings during turbulent times. The name Cloghaunsavaun itself derives from the Irish, reflecting the area’s deep Gaelic heritage and the blending of cultures that characterised medieval Ireland.

Today, the site remains largely unexcavated and relatively unknown outside local circles, making it an intriguing destination for those interested in Ireland’s lesser-known historical sites. The castle ruins, though weathered by time, still retain enough of their structure to help visitors imagine the daily life that once animated these walls; from the ground floor storage areas to the upper chambers where the lord’s family would have lived. Its quiet setting in the Clare countryside adds to the atmosphere, allowing for contemplation of the many generations who passed through its gates over the centuries.