Leamaneh Castle

Did You Know?

• The name Leamaneh is believed to derive from Irish léim an éich, meaning 'the horse's leap', or léim an fheidh, 'the deer's leap'.
• The castle is sometimes spelled Lemeneagh Castle.
• It stands at a crossroads where the baronies of Burren, Corcomroe and Inchiquin once met.

History

The tower house was built around 1480, likely by Toirdhealbhach Donn Ó Briain, a descendant of Brian Boru. In 1543, his son Murrough surrendered his title of King to Henry VIII and was created 1st Earl of Thomond. Murrough gave Leamaneh to his third son Donough in 1550; Donough was hanged as a rebel in 1582. In 1639, Donough's grandson Conor O'Brien married Máire Nic Mhathúna, known as Máire Rua for her red hair. She was born around 1615 or 1616 to Sir Torlach Rua MacMahon and Lady Mary O'Brien. Her first husband, Daniel O'Neylan, died young, leaving her a substantial estate and a £1,000 fortune. This wealth allowed her and Conor to add a four-storey mansion to the tower house around 1648, partly demolishing the original structure. Máire accompanied Conor on raids against English settlers. He was mortally wounded in 1651 fighting for the Royalists at Inchicronan. According to one account, Máire immediately drove to Limerick to offer marriage to any Cromwellian officer to avoid forfeiture; another version says she did not remarry until 1653. General Ludlow, commanding English forces, later garrisoned Leamaneh, describing it as indifferent strong with a good wall.

Today

The ruins consist of the tower house with arrow slits and the four walls of the manor house, which feature mullioned and transomed windows. The upper-floor windows are smaller, creating a trompe-l'œil illusion of greater height. Remains of outbuildings and walled gardens or a deer park are still visible. The castle is unmaintained, in poor repair, and not accessible to the public, as it stands on privately owned farmland.