Leamaneh Castle

Leamaneh Castle is a ruin in County Clare combining a five-story stone tower from the 1480s with a four-story mansion built a century later. The two sections showcase contrasting architectural styles that reflect the building methods of their different time periods.

The castle began as a tower house in the 1480s built for the O'Brien family and received a new wing in the 1600s. This expansion happened when the family worked to maintain control during a period of shifting power across Ireland.

The castle holds deep roots in the O'Brien family story, which shaped life across County Clare for centuries. You can sense how this place reflects the struggles and choices that families faced during times of great change in Irish history.

The ruins sit at the junction of roads R476 and R480 and are visible from the roadside. You can view and photograph the structure from outside, though entry inside is not available due to structural safety.

The name comes from an Irish phrase meaning 'the horse's leap', rooted in a local legend about a dramatic jump across the land. This name keeps alive a folk story that shaped how people in the area remember and talk about the castle.

Location: County Clare

Inception: 1480

GPS coordinates: 52.98759,-9.14026

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:40