Dough Castle, Medieval castle ruin in Lahinch, Ireland
Dough Castle is a castle ruin near Lahinch that stands close to the mouth of the Inagh River, with several large windows visible in its remaining walls. The stone tower house shows clear traces of the original fortification, though major sections have been lost over the centuries.
The castle was built in 1306 by the O'Connor clan to control land and sea routes in the area. However, its location on sandbanks proved unstable and caused multiple collapses over the following centuries.
The site carries the Irish name Dumhach Ui Chonchuir and reflects the presence of the O'Connor clan, who shaped life in the Corcomroe region for generations. Visitors can sense how important this location was to the people who lived nearby.
The ruin is located at West End in Lahinch, County Clare, and should be viewed from a safe distance due to structural instability. Access to the site is possible from outside, but visitors should be careful and avoid entering the remains.
The castle was built on sandbanks, which led to repeated failures: a major section collapsed in 1839 and the chimney fell in 1883. These repeated collapses remind visitors how fragile old structures can be, especially when built on unstable ground.
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