House - medieval

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated immediately to the NW of a large bawn (CL008-050003-) and just SE of the site of Lisdoonvarna castle (CL008-050001-), in rough pastureland on the level floor of a valley, with views to E and W and ground rising to N and S. Labelled 'Site of O'Davoren's House' on the 1842 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. The construction date is unknown, but it appears to have been occupied by the O'Davoren family since before or after the abandonment of Lisdoonvarna castle in c. 1750, and would continue as the residence of their descendants the Stackpoole’s until at least 1837 (Comber 1997, 70; Lewis 1837, 183; Ua Cróinín and Breen 1997). The Lysaght family also resided here (Westropp 1915, 48). At the time of his visit Westropp (ibid.) did not mention any upstanding structural elements of the house. No remains are visible at ground level.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 20 December 2022

References

Ua Cróinín, R. and Breen, M. 1997 The castles and tower-houses of Co. Clare, 6 vols. Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin.

Comber, M. (ed.) 1997 The antiquities of County Clare: John O’Donovan and Eugene Curry: Ordnance Survey Letters 1839. Clasp Press. Ennis.

Lewis, S. 1837 (reprint 1995) County Clare: A history and topography. Ennis. Clasp Press.

Westropp, T.J. 1915 Prehistoric remains (forts and dolmens) in Burren and its south western border, Co. Clare. Part 12: North Western Part. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 5, 45-62, 249-74.