castles historical carrigaholt

At the pier there are the remains of a MacMahon castle, captured in 1599 by the Earl of Thomond and given to his brother, Donal O'Brien, ancestor of the viscounts Clare of Clare's Dragons fame. (The Dragoons were part of the late 17th and 18th century Irish Brigade - composed of Irish exiles - in the French Army). When the property was confiscated after the Williamite wars, Carraigaholt Castle and part of the estate passed to the Burton family....