Dough Castle

Lahinch, Ireland, Ireland

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Dough Castle is a ruined tower house located near Lahinch in County Clare, Ireland, close to the mouth of the Inagh River.

Originally established by the O’Connor family in the early 14th century, it served as an important stronghold controlling both land and river traffic in the region. Over the centuries, the castle passed into the ownership of the O’Brien family and survived many of the conflicts that affected Ireland during the medieval and early modern periods.

Unlike many castles of its era, it escaped demolition during the Cromwellian conquest, but its unstable foundations on sandbanks eventually caused much of the structure to collapse. Today, only part of the tower remains standing near Lahinch Golf Course. Despite its ruined condition, Dough Castle is an important historical landmark that reflects the region’s medieval heritage and offers a glimpse into the history of the powerful families who once ruled County Clare.