Clifden Castle

Clifden Castle was built in the Gothic Revival style around 1818 for John D’Arcy. The wealthy magnate founded the nearby town of Clifden with the ambition of creating a centre of commerce and industry in this rural and impoverished region of Connemara. During 1822, he acquired the services of the legendary engineer Alexander Nimmo, who was dispatched to the area. A road to Galway and a quay were also built by Nimmo to connect the new town to the expanding infrastructure network in Ireland. As a result of D’Arcy’s vision and Nimmo’s expertise, Clifden began to flourish. D’Arcy died in 1839, by which time Clifden had grown to a prosperous town with a population in excess of 1,000. Today, Clifden is a bustling tourist destination. It takes its name from the Irish An Clochán meaning stepping stones, an apt name for a town so often used as a starting point by visitors eager to explore the Connemara region.

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Clifden Castle among fields with cows grazing with the juxtaposition of a large, modern house in the background.

Clifden Castle • Galway

Later History of Clifden Castle

Unfortunately for the D’Arcy family, John D’Arcy’s son and heir, Hyacinth, did not possess his father’s vision and drive, and frequently clashed with tenants. When Hyacinth led the family into bankruptcy during the Great Famine of the mid-19th century, the castle and the town were sold to the Eyre family from Bath in England, whose crest is depicted above the entrance.

Lands of the castle were taken over by the state and redistributed among the tenants in the early 20th century. Without an on-site guardian, the castle soon fell into disrepair, and many of its fixtures, fittings and useful building materials were stripped, quarried and recycled away for use elsewhere. Today the castle is a roofless ruin, and an evocative reminder of the wealth and ambition of John D’Arcy.

Standing stone overlooking the Atlantic Ocean
A road meanders along a coastal path on a sunny day
A path leading toward the remains fo Clifden Castle

Upper left: a standing stone near to the castle • Lower left: the remains of the manor house • Right: the famous Sky Road

Top: a standing stone near to the castle • Middle: the famous Sky Road • Bottom: the remains of the manor house

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Clifden Castle Visitor Information

The ruins of Clifden Castle are an impressive reminder of the rise and fall of influence and make a worthwhile stop on your journey through Connemara.

  • Co-ordinates:
    Lat. 53.491786, Long. -10.056739.

  • Irish Grid Reference:
    L 63543 51031.

  • Opening Times:
    Open all year round.

  • Entry Fee:
    Free.

  • Accessibility:
    There is a rough path that leads all the way to the castle. The castle itself is inaccessible and shouldn’t be entered as it is in ruinous condition, but the site can be considered to be partially accessible.

  • Dog Friendly?
    Yes, but note that there are often livestock in the fields so ensure that dogs are kept on a leash.

  • Suitable for Young Children (Under 10)?
    Broadly yes, in that it is a nice but manageable walk. Though the castle ruin itself can be dangerous so please do not leave any children unsupervised near it.

  • Directions to Clifden Castle:
    Clifden Castle is just a 5 minute (2 km) drive from the centre of Clifden. Take the famous Sky Road west for 2km and the entrance gateway to the castle will be on your left with a small area to park (please do not block the entrance). From here, proceed through the gateway on foot for a further 1km to the castle itself. You will see a number of standing stones, that derive from 19th century landscaping rather than Bronze Age. Clifden Castle features on our Connemara Tour Itinerary.

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