Leamaneh Castle - Caisleán Leamaneh

Leamaneh Castle - Caisleán Leamaneh are the ruins of an early seventeenth century mansion with an earlier late fifteenth early sixteenth century tower house. The tower house is thought to have been built by Turlogh Donn one of the last High Kings of Ireland and descendant of Brian Boru. However, the house finally fell into ruin at the end of the 18th century. The site is located off the R476 road east from the village of Kilfenora (Irish: Cill Fhionnúrach) until the road reaches the R480 northwards. The castle is just north of this turnoff on the R480. The castle can be seen from the road, but is on private land.

Perhaps one of best known former inhabitants of Leamaneh Castle is Máire Rua O'Brien. Before marriage she was Máire ní Mahon (1615/1616 – 1686). In the mid 17th century she lived there with her second husband and cousin Conor O’Brien. She became known as Máire Rua or Red Mary due to her red hair. Along with her second husband, she backed the Confederate cause against Cromwell's forces during the Eleven Years' War. The Confederate cause refers to those that supported Confederate Ireland, which was the period of Irish Catholic self-government between 1642 and 1649. In 1649 Oliver Cromwell landed in Ireland in order to re-conquer the country on behalf of the English Parliament. 

The last organised Irish force surrendered in Cavan in April 1653. Mary's husband Conor was killed in action in 1651. However, after his death, she married a Cromwellian officer. This was said to be in a effort keep her lands. Mary stayed on her estate at Leamaneh for a number of years. Until the family moved to the larger Dromoland Castle. She lived there until her death in 1686. Not surprisingly, Máire Rua became quite a well known figure in Irish folklore. The stories of her life were often exaggerated and she became the stuff of legend. She is still said to haunt the ruins of Leamaneh Castle.

Image: Leamaneh Castle courtesy of wikimedia commons and being the own work of Jerzy Strzelecki.