Clan Rising
Newtown Castle today

Ireland · Restored

Newtown Castle

Caisleán An Bhaile Nua

Newtown Castle is a 16th-century cylindrical tower house near Ballyvaughan in the Burren, County Clare, Ireland. Unusually for Irish tower houses it sits as a round stone tower above a pronounced square pyramidal base; it was restored in 1993–94 and today forms part of the Burren College of Art.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1580

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1580

What Newtown Castle looked like in its prime.

A tall, roughly cylindrical grey-stone tower rising from a steep, pyramidal battered base of larger blocks; the wide base tapers up into a smooth round shaft of coursed limestone with small slit and mullioned windows. The tower has four upper storeys, a crenellated parapet and a small cap-house at the top; a steep arched entrance set into the pyramidal base; visible gun‑loops at the first-floor level and vaulted internal floors. The castle sits on a grassy plot with low Burren hills beyond.

Its story

The story of Newtown Castle.

Newtown Castle was likely built around 1550 for the O'Brien clan, and soon passed to the O'Lochlainns, the O'Loghlens, the most powerful family of the Burren. Of Ireland's roughly 3,000 tower houses only about thirty are round, and Newtown's cylindrical tower rising from a square pyramidal base makes it unique in the country.

The tower has four upper floors, with vaulted ceilings over the ground and first floors, gun-loops on the first floor, and a second-floor doorway that may once have connected to a long-vanished adjoining building, features which, with the window mouldings, point to a sixteenth-century date. In 1848 the then landlord, the bankrupted Marquess of Buckingham, sold the local lands. Restored in 1993–94 with a conical oak roof, the tower was opened in July 1994 by Mary Robinson and now houses the Burren College of Art.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1580.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Newtown Castle, including 2 interiors: ground-floor vaulted chamber, first-floor vaulted room with gun-loops. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Exterior approach from lawnPyramidal base and arched entranceGround-floor vaulted chamberFirst-floor vaulted room with gun-loopsSecond-floor external doorwayUpper storeys and crenellated parapetTower in its Burren setting

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The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1580, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Newtown Castle.

The families that held Newtown Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • O'Lochlainn

    Held by the O'Lochlainn (O'Loghlen) family, the most powerful clan of the Burren, from soon after the castle's building c. 1550.

Questions about Newtown Castle

What is the history of Newtown Castle?

Newtown Castle was likely built around 1550 for the O'Brien clan. It soon passed to the O'Lochlainn, or O'Loghlen, family, the most powerful clan of the Burren. In 1848 the Marquess of Buckingham sold the local lands. Newtown Castle was restored in 1993–94 and opened by Mary Robinson in July 1994; it now forms part of the Burren College of Art.

What is inside Newtown Castle?

Newtown Castle contains a vaulted ground-floor chamber and a vaulted first-floor room with gun-loops. The tower has four upper floors, and a second-floor doorway may have connected to a long-vanished adjoining building. These surviving features are part of the sixteenth-century tower's internal arrangement.

Why was Newtown Castle built, and what was it used for?

Newtown Castle was built for the O'Brien clan and later became part of the Burren College of Art. Its first purpose was associated with the O'Brien clan; after restoration in 1993–94, it was used by the newly established college. It now houses the Burren College of Art.

Where is Newtown Castle?

Newtown Castle is near Ballyvaughan in the Burren, County Clare. It stands within the Burren area close to the village of Ballyvaughan, in the townland of Newton and parish of Drumcreehy. The tower is part of the Burren College of Art.

When was Newtown Castle built?

Newtown Castle was built in the sixteenth century, probably around 1550. The site's first-raised year is not recorded, while later excavations indicated that the castle may be late sixteenth- or early seventeenth-century rather than mid-sixteenth-century. Its architectural features and window mouldings point to a sixteenth-century date.

Which family or clan held Newtown Castle?

Newtown Castle was held by the O'Lochlainn, also known as the O'Loghlen, family from soon after its building around 1550. They were the most powerful clan of the Burren. The family held the castle after it had first been built for the O'Brien clan.

What did Newtown Castle look like in its prime?

Newtown Castle is a tall, roughly cylindrical grey-stone tower rising from a steep square pyramidal base of larger blocks. Its round shaft has small slit and mullioned windows, four upper storeys and a crenellated parapet, topped by a small cap-house. The base has a steep arched entrance and visible gun-loops.

Is Newtown Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Newtown Castle is still standing and was restored in 1993–94. The surviving tower has four upper floors, vaulted ground and first floors, gun-loops and a crenellated parapet. The restoration added a conical oak roof, and the building is now used as part of the Burren College of Art rather than standing as a ruin.

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