Castlebawn is a 16th-centurytower house, inCounty Clare,Ireland. It is on a small island onLough Derg on theRiver Shannon, it is connected to the shore ofBealkelly by a man-made causeway.[1] It was built by the McNamaras about 1540, severely damaged in 1827, but is now restored although public access is not permitted to the castle.[2]
Castlebawn was built by Owen McNamara during an unknown year in the 16th century. The earliest recorded mention of Castlebawn is 1570, when Sean McNamara, Chief of eastern Clann-Cuilein, died, leaving Castlebawn to his son, Sir John McNamara.[2] The McNamaras lived there until the 17th century.[citation needed]
In 1820 it became a den for illicitpoitín makers[1] and in 1827 the authorities besieged the towerhouse to drive the occupants out.[3] After the towerhouse was emptied the authorities attempted to demolish the building with explosives. Only the south wall and roof were destroyed. The remaining walls although damaged remained intact.[3] The castle was so well built that three of the walls remained intact.[4]
Simon Flannery occupied the castle early in the 20th century, and locally the castle is still referred to as Simon's Castle.[2][3]
In 1929 the construction of theArdnacrusha power plant caused the water level in Lough Derg to rise significantly shrinking the island on which the towerhouse stands.[3]
It was restored from ruin by Pat and Mary Cody[4]
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52°53′56.18″N8°28′46.76″W / 52.8989389°N 8.4796556°W /52.8989389; -8.4796556
