Doonagore Castle

Doonagore is a round tower house with a small walled enclosure, built in the sixteenth century, standing on a rise above Doolin with the Atlantic and the Aran Islands behind it. Round tower houses are uncommon in Ireland, where the rectangular form dominates, which is part of why it draws the eye. Its darkest association is with 1588: around 170 survivors of a Spanish Armada wreck on this coast were taken to Doonagore and hanged on the orders of the local sheriff, and are said to be buried in a mound nearby. The castle fell into ruin and was restored in the 1970s by an Irish-American owner as a private holiday home. It remains privately owned and is not open to the public in any form. The reality of a visit is that you stop on a narrow road, take a photograph and drive on - which is what everyone does, and the parking is a problem.

History

A castle was built on or near the site of an earlier ringfort in the 14th century by Tadhg MacTurlough MacCon O'Connor, and the name may come from Dún na Gabhair, "the fort of the rounded hills" or "the fort of the goats". Together with a nearby radio mast, the castle serves as a mark for boats approaching Doolin pier (Wikipedia, Doonagore Castle).

What's there

• The round tower - an uncommon form among Irish tower houses.
• The hill position - above Doolin with the Atlantic and Aran behind.
• The 1588 association - where Armada survivors were hanged.
• The 1970s restoration - a private house rather than a monument.

When to go

April to October for the light and the road. Late afternoon puts the sun behind it over the sea. Twenty minutes is all the stop takes.

Things to know

Entirely closed - it is a private house and there is no access to the grounds or interior. The viewing is from a narrow road with very limited parking, and blocking it is both common and unwelcome.

Nearby

Doolin and its ferries are below; the Cliffs of Moher are south.

Key facts