Ballymarkahan Castle, Medieval peel tower in County Clare, Ireland
Ballymarkahan Castle is a stone tower house that displays typical features of 15th-century defensive architecture in western Ireland. The structure consists of thick stone walls that originally rose through multiple levels and served as both residence and fortification for the family that built it.
The tower was built around 1430 by the MacNamara family, a powerful noble clan in the region. The structure was erected during a period when such towers were necessary to secure family holdings and assert authority over local lands.
The tower reflects how medieval Irish families lived and displayed their authority through stone construction. This type of residence was practical for clan members and provided security during an era when each family needed to defend its own territory.
The ruins are situated in the countryside of County Clare and can be reached with local knowledge or mapping tools. The site is open to explore, but the condition is fragile, so care is needed when visiting the remains.
Irish antiquary T. J. Westropp visited these ruins in 1899 and documented them while they were already heavily deteriorated. His records offer a valuable view of how the structure looked over 100 years ago.
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