Clifden Castle

Clifden Castle is a ruined manor house built of stone and positioned on raised ground above Clifden Bay. The remaining walls display pointed arches and decorative stonework typical of its style, with empty window and door openings that reveal the building's internal layout.

A wealthy landowner built this residence around 1818 as part of developing the town of Clifden, but economic hardship during the famine of the 1840s led to financial collapse. Debt forced the sale of the property, after which it fell into decline.

The ruins reveal how wealthy landowners expressed their status through grand stone construction in the 1800s. Walking through the empty rooms and past the remaining walls, you can sense the lifestyle those residents once enjoyed.

Access to the ruins is through a footpath starting from the Sky Road, and sturdy footwear is advisable due to uneven ground and loose stones. The site is exposed to the elements with no shelter, so allow adequate time and come prepared for changing conditions.

In the 1930s, the property passed to a group of tenant farmers, marking an unusual shift from private aristocratic ownership to shared community control. This change reflected the social struggles reshaping rural Ireland during that period.