Clara Castle, Tower house in County Kilkenny, Ireland

Clara Castle is a five-storey tower house near one of the headwaters of the Nore, about 6 km east of Kilkenny City. A vault sits above the third floor, and a bawn measuring 10 m by 22 m stands on the north side. The entrance is guarded by a murder-hole, a yett and a drawbar, and many original oak doors and floor beams remain.

The Shortall family built this tower house in the late 1400s and occupied it until 1640, when Henry Johnson took control during the period of Cromwellian conflict. This change marked a major turning point in the building's ownership and use.

The second floor, likely the lord's chamber, was originally painted blue and keeps a Crucifixion mural on one wall. The room also has a hooded chimneypiece, a mural passage, a garderobe and a small bedroom, while a secret chamber lies on the floor above.

The castle sits roughly 6 kilometers east of Kilkenny City and can be reached fairly easily by car or local transport. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for uneven floors and narrow stairs on the interior.

The top floor chamber is the largest and best-lit room in the castle, used for general family living. Its large lintelled fireplace is a secondary insertion, so the original fireplace must have stood in the centre of the floor. The roof above is modern, while the crenellated parapets keep Irish-style loopholes, alure, machicolation and weeps.