If you had a nosey at our guide to the best things to do in Cavan, you’ll know that there’s lots more to this county than meets the eye.
One of the ‘hidden gems’ that Cavan is home to is the fairytale-like Clough Oughter Castle, which sits in the middle of the Lough Oughter network of waterways.
Similar to McDermott’s Castle in Roscommon, this place looks like something whipped straight from a Walt Disney movie.
In the guide below, you’ll find out about its history, how to reach it and what there is to do nearby.
About Clough Oughter Castle
Photos via Shutterstock
Clough Oughter Castle sits on a small crannog in the middle of Lough Oughter, within Killykeen Forest Park. The island placement was deliberate.
It made the castle hard to approach, easy to defend, and ideal as a stronghold in a lake-dotted landscape like this.
Access was always controlled from the water, which is why today you still reach it by kayak or boat rather than on foot. The surrounding parkland makes it feel close and accessible, but historically it was anything but.
Early control and construction
There may have been a fortified site here as early as the sixth century, but the stone castle dates to the early 1200s. The O’Rourke clan controlled the area in the late 12th century before the Anglo Norman de Lacy family took over.
Construction likely began between 1200 and 1224. In 1233, the O’Reillys seized the site and completed the circular tower you see today. They held it for centuries, using it as a power base during ongoing feuds in Breifne.
Prison, rebellion, and decline
By the 1360s, the castle was already being used as a prison. That role intensified after the Plantation of Ulster in 1610, when the land was granted to Captain Hugh Culme.
During the 1641 Rebellion, Philip O’Reilly retook the castle and ran it as a jail. Several high profile prisoners were held here, including Bishop William Bedell, who died in custody in 1642.
Cromwell and the ruin you see today
Clough Oughter became the last major Confederate stronghold in the region. In March 1653, Cromwellian forces bombarded it from the nearby shoreline.
The castle surrendered in April and was left ruined. What you see today is largely the result of that final assault. It has never been rebuilt, which is exactly why it is worth the effort to visit.
How to get to Clough Oughter
If you fancy seeing Clough Oughter Castle up close, you can head out on the water with the lads at Cavan Adventure Centre.
They offer a 3-hour kayak tour from €39 that’ll take you out onto the lake and around the castle.
I know a couple of people that have done this tour over the years and each has mentioned how thick the walls are (they’re visible because of the canon bombardment that took place).
If you’re looking for unique things to do in Ireland and you’re visiting Cavan, get yourself here for a nosey.
Make sure to visit Killykeen Forest Park after
Photos Courtesy Failte Ireland by Outlier
A bit of adventure on the water is perfectly paired with a ramble in Killykeen Forest Park.
The Forest wraps around the Lough Oughter network of lakes and boasts a number of trails that are perfect for a lazy Sunday stroll.
There are several easy-to-follow signposted walks that’ll take you on a ramble along the lakes shore and through the woods.
Get out. Stretch the legs. And gulp down that fresh forest air.
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent much of the last 13 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 40 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.