This article is from page 25 of the 2005-09-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 25 JPG
can reveal.
The castle, which was built in 1306 by the O’Connor family, has developed a number of deep cracks over the last few years which now Web usrelKo) /MMOOCoMECIE-1OyEDIA MOJO Os loMIINUECOr neko
Dough Castle lies between the seventh and eight hole of the La- hinch Castle Golf Course and has been the subject of a major archi- tectural investigation in recent weeks.
Secretary Manager of the club, Alan Reardon, is currently await- ing the results of the investigation before action can be taken to rein- force the castle.
“We are looking into the situation
at the moment,” said Mr Reardon.
‘There are some cracks that have been developing over the years and we are investigating what is the best way to deal with them. It’s not in danger of falling down too soon.”
The investigation will also at- tempt to uncover as much informa- tion as possible about the castle’s long and proud history.
“We are trying to find out as much as we can about the castle and see if it is a protected struc- ture,’ continued Mr Reardon.
“At that point we can see what kind of grants are available to help fund the work.”
While it is impossible to say for sure the castles current state of dis- repair is blamed by many on the sandy foundations on which it is built.
Sections of the building have col-
lapsed at various times during the nineteenth century and at present only one wall remains fully intact.
Dough Castle was originally founded by the O’Connors at the beginning of the fourteenth cen- elas
Its original name was ‘Dumhach Ui Chonchtir’ which translates roughly as O’Connor’s Sandbank.
The O’Connors were ousted from the castle by the O’Brien family in the time of Elizabeth the first of England.
The current castle dates back to the sixteenth century when it was the property of Sir Donal O’Brien and his family.
The castle was save from dem- olition by ‘Commissioners for overthrowing and demolishing castles in Connacht and Clare’ by a Cromwellian officer named Colo- nel Stubber in 1654.