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Papers by Martin Breen
Archaeology Ireland, 2020
An insight into the possible insecurities of life in a Gaelic tower- house, as well as the ingenu... more An insight into the possible
insecurities of life in a Gaelic tower-
house, as well as the ingenuity of
the mind of the late medieval mason in
terms of security, may be available to us
through the investigation of a recent
discovery by the owner, Mr Joseph
Kinahan, at Cratloekeel Castle, Co. Clare,
which is currently undergoing restoration
(Fig. 1). This ingenious piece of technology,
executed by the masons who constructed
the castle in the fifteenth century, had the
ability to ensure that the ‘lord’ of the castle
was not dependent on the integrity of the
porter (or guardsman) who was located in
the ‘porter’s lodge’, a small chamber beside
the entrance door.
Gaelic Ireland (c.600-c.1700), Lordship, Saints and Learning. Essays for the Irish Chiefs' and Clans' Prize in History., 2021
The following assessment of some recent radiocarbon determinations taken by the author for castle... more The following assessment of some recent radiocarbon determinations taken by the author for castles and towerhouses in east Co. Clare might potentially indicate that some castles previously classified as towerhouses, may have been constructed earlier than the late fourteenth century, and might be more appropriately classified as hall-houses or perhaps transitional structures due to some of their constructional features. This scenario may have implications for the general corpus of early castles and towerhouses which were constructed in fourteenth century Ireland. The figures for all castellated structures in Ireland, as gleaned from the Sites and Monuments Record, are presented.
The Other Clare, 2021
Continuing our long-running series of articles on the castles and towerhouses of Co. Clare, we in... more Continuing our long-running series of articles on the
castles and towerhouses of Co. Clare, we
investigate the historic castle constructed on the Co.
Clare side of the bridge at O’Briensbridge, of which
unfortunately, not a single trace remains. O’Briensbridge,
as the name suggests, was constructed by the O’Briens
as a crossing place over the River Shannon and was
defended by two castles, one at each side of the bridge.
The Other Clare Vol. 44., 2020
Continuing our series of articles on Co. Clare’s castles and towerhouses, we discuss two towerho... more Continuing our series of articles on Co. Clare’s castles and towerhouses, we discuss two towerhouses in central Co. Clare. We visit Dromore castle, an O’Brien towerhouse, for which we offer additional information on the towerhouse including the results of a radiocarbon dating project which was carried out in 2018. We also offer further information on the various families who lived at Dromore. In addition we investigate the mysterious ruin to the north of Dromore Castle, and propose some theories on its inhabitants, its name, and its raison d’être. We also investigate Ballygriffy Castle, home of the O’Griffy family.
Books by Martin Breen
The Other Clare, 2020
Continuing our series of articles on Co. Clare's castles and towerhouses, this year we discuss tw... more Continuing our series of articles on Co. Clare's castles and towerhouses, this year we discuss two towerhouses in central Co. Clare. We re-visit Dromore castle, an O'Brien towerhouse which we briefly discussed in this journal in 1984, (vol. 8), and for which we now offer additional information on the towerhouse including the results of a radiocarbon dating project which was carried out in 2018. We also offer further information on the various families who lived at Dromore. In addition we investigate the mysterious ruin to the north of Dromore castle and propose some theories on its inhabitants, its name, and its raison d'être. We also investigate Ballygriffy castle, home of the O'Griffy family. Ballygriffy castle was at different periods in the ownership of the O'Griffys and the O'Briens; and one Murtagh O'Brien of Arra, Protestant Bishop of Killaloe (1576-1613), 1 held the mortgage on the property in the late sixteenth century.
Archaeology Ireland, 2020
An insight into the possible insecurities of life in a Gaelic tower- house, as well as the ingenu... more An insight into the possible
insecurities of life in a Gaelic tower-
house, as well as the ingenuity of
the mind of the late medieval mason in
terms of security, may be available to us
through the investigation of a recent
discovery by the owner, Mr Joseph
Kinahan, at Cratloekeel Castle, Co. Clare,
which is currently undergoing restoration
(Fig. 1). This ingenious piece of technology,
executed by the masons who constructed
the castle in the fifteenth century, had the
ability to ensure that the ‘lord’ of the castle
was not dependent on the integrity of the
porter (or guardsman) who was located in
the ‘porter’s lodge’, a small chamber beside
the entrance door.
Gaelic Ireland (c.600-c.1700), Lordship, Saints and Learning. Essays for the Irish Chiefs' and Clans' Prize in History., 2021
The following assessment of some recent radiocarbon determinations taken by the author for castle... more The following assessment of some recent radiocarbon determinations taken by the author for castles and towerhouses in east Co. Clare might potentially indicate that some castles previously classified as towerhouses, may have been constructed earlier than the late fourteenth century, and might be more appropriately classified as hall-houses or perhaps transitional structures due to some of their constructional features. This scenario may have implications for the general corpus of early castles and towerhouses which were constructed in fourteenth century Ireland. The figures for all castellated structures in Ireland, as gleaned from the Sites and Monuments Record, are presented.
The Other Clare, 2021
Continuing our long-running series of articles on the castles and towerhouses of Co. Clare, we in... more Continuing our long-running series of articles on the
castles and towerhouses of Co. Clare, we
investigate the historic castle constructed on the Co.
Clare side of the bridge at O’Briensbridge, of which
unfortunately, not a single trace remains. O’Briensbridge,
as the name suggests, was constructed by the O’Briens
as a crossing place over the River Shannon and was
defended by two castles, one at each side of the bridge.
The Other Clare Vol. 44., 2020
Continuing our series of articles on Co. Clare’s castles and towerhouses, we discuss two towerho... more Continuing our series of articles on Co. Clare’s castles and towerhouses, we discuss two towerhouses in central Co. Clare. We visit Dromore castle, an O’Brien towerhouse, for which we offer additional information on the towerhouse including the results of a radiocarbon dating project which was carried out in 2018. We also offer further information on the various families who lived at Dromore. In addition we investigate the mysterious ruin to the north of Dromore Castle, and propose some theories on its inhabitants, its name, and its raison d’être. We also investigate Ballygriffy Castle, home of the O’Griffy family.
The Other Clare, 2020
Continuing our series of articles on Co. Clare's castles and towerhouses, this year we discuss tw... more Continuing our series of articles on Co. Clare's castles and towerhouses, this year we discuss two towerhouses in central Co. Clare. We re-visit Dromore castle, an O'Brien towerhouse which we briefly discussed in this journal in 1984, (vol. 8), and for which we now offer additional information on the towerhouse including the results of a radiocarbon dating project which was carried out in 2018. We also offer further information on the various families who lived at Dromore. In addition we investigate the mysterious ruin to the north of Dromore castle and propose some theories on its inhabitants, its name, and its raison d'être. We also investigate Ballygriffy castle, home of the O'Griffy family. Ballygriffy castle was at different periods in the ownership of the O'Griffys and the O'Briens; and one Murtagh O'Brien of Arra, Protestant Bishop of Killaloe (1576-1613), 1 held the mortgage on the property in the late sixteenth century.