| Authorities Consulted. |
| D. Donovan, “Sketches in Carbery.” |
| Smith, “County and City of Cork.” |
| Townsend, “Statistical Survey of the County of Cork.” |
| Book of Survey and Distribution. |
CLOGHAN CASTLE
This fortress is situated between the Shannon and Little Brosna River, on the banks of the latter, about three miles south of Banagher, in the King’s County. This part of the country was formerly joined to Galway.
Joyce gives the meaning of the name Cloghan as “stepping stones,” but Cooke states that the full appellation is Cloghan-na-geaorach, or “the stony place of the sheep,” Cloghan Hill being still famous for rearing these animals.
When a tennis-court was being made some years back a number of human bones and cannon shot were found, while inside the castle a hand was discovered in the wall covered by the plaster.
The castle is supposed to have been built in the reign of King John and to be one of the oldest inhabited castles in Ireland.
In 1249 we have a mention of “MacCoghlan of the castles” of which Cloghan was one, but it subsequently passed to the O’Maddens. The fortress was usually called “Cloghan O’Madden,” but on Sir William Petty’s map it is marked “Poghan.”
It was destroyed in 1548 for fear it might fall into the hands of the English, but it must have been afterwards restored, as in 1595 Sir William Russell, Lord Deputy, laid siege to it. A quaint account of the taking of the castle is given in a journal of the time which is, no doubt, accurate in the main.
It appears O’Madden was absent “in rebellion,” but he had garrisoned the castle with his chief men.