Letters on the Antiquities of County Clare, 1835 by Eugene O’Curry
transcribed and edited by Brían Ó Dálaigh

Letter II: Castles near Sixmilebridge; Castles near Miltown Malbay and Doonbeg

Extract of a letter from Mr Eugene Curry to George Smith Esq. dated Limerick 13 July 183[5].

I now resume my list of old castles &c. I fear the order in which I arrange these will be found perplexing. I cannot help it now.

Lios Aodha Finn [Liosofin] is a large square perfect on the outside but gutted. This belongs to Aodh Fionn Mac Conmara, from whom are descended that branch of the MacNamaras distinguished as Síol Aodha Báin. They are numerous in the neighbourhood of this castle. It lies about six miles north of Six Mile Bridge.

Baile Uí Mhaoilín [Miltown] castle is in good outward preservation but partly gutted. When I saw it some years ago the name ‘Philip Bige’ was inscribed on a stone over the door on the outside. I forget now whether there was a date or not - seven miles north west of Six Mile Bridge.

Tír Riada [Tyredagh] castle is a square partly fallen down. It lies very near Baile Uí Mhaoilín.

Béal na Fir Bhearnan [O’Brienscastle] castle is a large square partly ruined and lies about ten miles north of Six Mile Bridge. It is also called Caisleán Bhriain. I have not been able to make any enquiry about the derivation of Fir Bhearna.

Ros Lare [Rosslara] castle is a square half ruined. It was occupied some one hundred years back by a man named John Cusack, notorious for his evil practice of spying against Roman Catholic proprietors or holders of land. There are some descendants of the female branch of his family still about this place. It is about eight miles north east of Six Mile Bridge.

Lios Uí Mhíodhcháin [Lismeehan] castle is a large square in a very ruinous condition about eight miles south east of Six Mile Bridge. It is said to have been built by a MacNamara, who was murdered by his brother Mac Con Mac Conmara, who was in his turn called to an account by the son of the murdered brother. Mac Con waylaid and murdered his brother at Caodh Mhóinínídhe Dubha about a mile from the castle, which he took and kept possession for many years after. Being coming home from a hunting excursion, accompanied by a thirsty servant and a hound, on his approaching his usurped castle, the hound stopped suddenly short. On which he sent his servant forward to reconnoitre, who returned immediately and informed him that he saw an old man with a young lad crouching as it were in ambush. Mac Con said that this old man must be Tadhg an tSléibhe Ó Dotharta, natural grandfather to his nephew (the murdered man’s orphan) and the nephew himself. And that this was a favourable opportunity to get rid of all pretenders to his ill-gotten property by killing both. Whereupon he stepped over the wall and fiercely encountered the old man. Who, however, made a stout resistance until young MacNamara took an opportunity of dealing the uncle a heavy blow of his two handled sword on the shoulder, by which he severed the arm from the body. They then threw him down a steep precipice called Drom Con. In the meantime the hound picked up the severed member and ran home with it to his mistress, who on seeing it, hastened with her household to where the conflict took place. There she found her husband nearly exhausted with loss of blood. But on carrying him home to her castle, she found it taken and well-guarded by the young MacNamara, who kept possession of it thence forward. I believe the above Mac Con had something to do with the building of Quin Abbey. Lios Uí Mhíodhcháin castle is within a mile of Ros Laire.

Tír Ó Mhanáin [Teerovanan] castle is a large square, perfect outside but gutted. It lies about six miles north east of Six Mile Bridge.

Maidhim Talmhain [Mountallon] castle is a half ruined square within one mile of the above. Both of them being convenient to Loch an Dúin or Doon Lake, as it is called, and in which it is asserted the top of a castle can be seen on a clear day under water. It is certain that large beams of timber have been fished up out of this lake, apparently belonging to some building. At the east end of the lake stands an old earthen fort, fort or dún, from which it takes its name and close by this fort stands the glebe house of the parish. A few days ago the rector, Rev. Mr Butler, ordered his workmen to demolish the old mound but they of course refused to do so. Upon which he took up a spade and furiously commenced tearing away at the old rampart to the great horror and non- edification of his men. But after a short time being exhausted, he threw by his spade and went into the house. He had scarcely entered when he took ill and retired to his bed from which he has not risen since. Now, I would like to see the man, who would undertake to preach to the workmen that Mr Butler had not a friendly visit from the good people of Dún an Locha. That Mr Butler is sick and under the above circumstances is a fact within my own actual knowledge.

Cúil Lios Taidhg [Coollisteige] is a large building in good preservation inside and outside. It is built on a broad but low rock at Doonass about five miles north east of Limerick.

Rinn Ruadh [Rinnroe] and Baile Nuadh [Newtown] castles are large squares. The first partly down and both occupying the tops of rocky eminences about a mile asunder and nearly the same distance from Cúil Lios Taidhg.

I do not recollect any more castles within the circle that I have drawn round Six Mile Bridge, so I will take you further to the west and introduce you to a few more on the Malbay and Shannon coasts.

Dún Ógáin [Doonogan] castle, partly ruined, stands convenient to Miltown Malbay. It, with its appurtenances, was the patrimony of the celebrated MacBrodins, the last (I believe) of whom was thrown down the steep precipice on which the castle stands by one of Cromwell’s soldiers.

Caisleán Tromra [Tromra] is partly ruined and stands very near the sea about a mile or two from Dún Ógáin. I believe it belonged to the MacMahons. It belongs to the O’Gorman Mahon now.

Dún Beg [Doonbeg] castle stands at the bottom of a little bay about three miles south of Tromra. It is in good preservation and partly inhabited by a poor family - about six miles north west of Kilrush.

Dún Mór [Doonmore] castle is on the south side of the above little bay. It is partly down [and] about half a mile from Caisleán Dúin Lice. This and two or three more in my next letter will be described.

I remain Sir yours

Eugene Curry

Taken from RIA Ms R.R. 14, B-18, ff 498-530: Extracts containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Clare collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1838-9.