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the most famous castle is Ballinalacken Castle, situated approximately 2
miles from Roadford Village (McGanns and McDermotts Pubs) on the Coast Road.
This castle is believed to have been built around 1390 by the O'Connors.
The O'Connor power began to decline in the fourteenth century as there was
much internal family feuding associated with becoming chief and Lord of
Corcomroe (present day Burren area). In 1564, the O'Connors now weakened
by internal feuding relinquished control of Corcomroe to the O'Briens. Teighue
MacMurrough O'Brien held Ballinalacken castle until his death in 1577. The
O'Briens were by this time in high favour with Queen Elizabeth 1 and English
rule was being established throughout County Clare. The O'Briens were therefore
one of the most powerful families in the area at that time. The castle appears
to have been ransacked around 1645, but while there is an account that Ballinalacken
was "already demolished by the Irish" there is no record other
than a statement by Daniel O Brien (the last member of the O'Brien family
to live there) to verify this. Ballinalacken House and Castle was bought
by the O'Callaghan family in 1940 and remains in their possession to this
date. It is now a fine Restaurant and Hotel. There is a spectacular view
of the Aran Islands from the Castle grounds.
Other
castles of note include the ruins of Doonmacfelim castle situated north
of O'Connors Pub and Doonagore Castle (pictured above), situated approximately
half way between Doolin and the Cliffs of Moher.
Doonagore Castle was founded by Teigue MacTurlough MacCon O'Connor during
the fourteenth century, and can be called either "the fort of the
rounded hills" or the "fort of the goats". It was granted
to Turlough O'Brien of Ennistymon in 1582; but by the middle of the 19th
century had fallen into disrepair. It was restored
in the 1970's.
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