Carrigaholt () is a small fishing village in County Clare, Ireland, a castle and a Catholic parish by the same name. The area was officially classified as part of the West Clare Gaeltacht; an Irish-speaking community; until 1956.

Location

Carrigaholt lies at the mouth of the Moyarta river, which flows into the estuary of the

River Shannon The River Shannon ( ga, Abhainn na Sionainne, ', '), at in length, is the longest river in the British Isles. It drains the Shannon River Basin, which has an area of , – approximately one fifth of the area of the island of Ireland. The Shan ...

about 15 km from the tip of the Loop Head peninsula and about 10 km from the resort town of Kilkee on the north coast of the peninsula. The village boasts a ruined castle that stood guard over the mouth of the Shannon and the local fishing pier.

Economy

Fishing is still continued in the village with a small number of boats delivering their catches to a local processing company. The village is also the local centre for the local farming community. The village has benefited recently from tourism, mainly provided by residents from Limerick some 110 km to the east. The village has two restaurants, a fast food take-away and four public houses, some of which offer live entertainment, particularly during the summer high season. There is a holiday caravan park located nearby. A local business (Carrigaholt Dolphin Watch) offers boating trips to observe dolphins in the mouth of the Shannon River, home to one of the largest pods in Europe. The Carrigaholt Sea Angling Centre offers fishing packages for up to 8 fisherman at a time and runs a purpose built boat. Catches include ray, conger,

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

, dogfish, tope, cod, pollock, hake and turbot. Other features include a beach suitable for swimming and watersports, two piers, and local village shops for food necessities.

Facilities

Carrigaholt parish, which also covers

Doonaha __NOTOC__ Doonaha () is a small village on the Loop Head peninsula in County Clare, Ireland. It is located along the R487 road and close to the banks of the River Shannon. The ''Doonaha Battery'' was the northern part of the defences of the Shan ...

, is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe. The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Carrigaholt, was built in 1832–1833. There is a school in Carrigaholt. Coláiste Eoghain Uí Chomhraídhe, the Irish college one mile west of Carrigaholt was founded in 1912. Students come from various locations in Ireland to learn and improve their Irish each Summer.

Carrigaholt Castle

Carrigaholt Castle was built in about 1480 by the McMahons, chiefs of the Corcabascin Peninsula. It stands at the end of a fishing pier overlooking the

Shannon Estuary The Shannon Estuary ( gle, Inbhear na Sionainne) is a large estuary where the River Shannon flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The estuary has Limerick City at its head and its seaward limits are marked by Loop Head to the north and Kerry Head to th ...

and the harbour. This is a tall, well-preserved five storey tower house surrounded by a

bawn A bawn is the defensive wall surrounding an Irish tower house. It is the anglicised version of the Irish word ''bábhún'' (sometimes spelt ''badhún''), possibly meaning "cattle-stronghold" or "cattle-enclosure".See alternative traditional spe ...

(walled courtyard). The castle features

murder hole A murder hole or meurtrière is a hole in the ceiling of a gateway or passageway in a fortification through which the defenders could shoot, throw or pour harmful substances or objects such as rocks, arrows, scalding water, hot sand, quicklime, ...

s and a bartizan. A spiral staircase leads to the top of the building where there was a stone vaulted roof. The castle was occupied by Teige Caech "the short sighted" McMahon in September 1588 when seven ships of the Spanish Armada anchored at Carrigaholt. Although aid was refused by the McMahons (who are descendants of Mathgamain mac Cennétig), the castle was nonetheless unsuccessfully besieged shortly afterwards by Sir Conyers Clifford (Governor of Connaught). The following year the renegade fourth Earl of Thomond (Donagh O'Brien) captured it after a four-day siege and, in breach of the surrender terms, hanged all the defenders. Ownership then passed to the Earl's brother Donal O'Brien, who was responsible for inserting many of the castle's windows as well as the fireplace on the fifth floor, which bears the date 1603. Donal's grandson was the celebrated third Viscount Clare who resided at Carrigaholt and raised a regiment of horses known as the "Yellow Dragoons" for the House of Stuart King James II of England's armies. After the forfeiture of his extensive 230 km² (57,000-acre) estate by the Williamites, the castle was acquired by the Burton family. The castle today is under the care of the Office of Public Works. All that remains is a shell of its former nobility. The Burton Family were the last inhabitants and left it in the late 19th century.

Gallery

File:Carrigaholt Castle bawn wall.jpg, Carrigaholt Castle and enclosing bawn wall. Round tower to the foreground. File:Carrigaholt Castle sea wall.jpg, Carrigaholt Castle from the sea side File:Carrigahold Castle profile.jpg, Carrigaholt Castle File:Carrigaholt Post Office.jpg, Carrigaholt Post Office

References

External links

Dolphinwatch

Coláiste Eoghain Uí Chomhraídhe
{{Authority control Towns and villages in County Clare National Monuments in County Clare Parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe