Carrigogunnell Castle is a medieval Irish fortification near the village of Clarina, on the banks of the River Shannon in Co. Limerick.

The structure dates to at least the early 13th century, and was sleighted in September 1691 after being captured during the second siege of Limerick.

History

The castle is first named in 1209, when Carrac Ui Conaing was granted to Donnchad Cairbreach, King of Thomond. Other unsubstantiated stories tell it being built for or garrisoned by Templars.[15] No record remains for over a century; then a branch of the O'Briens seems to have crossed the Shannon, settled there, and overspread the old Norman Manor of Esclon, and southward, up the Maigue, their territory being represented by the barony and name of Pubblebrian; this is said to have been about 1336, but their chief's ancestor of the later Briens of Carrigogunnell, Tadhg na Glenore (O'Brien), was King of Thomond in 1426, and it seems doubtful whether his descendants obtained the place and built the castle much before 1450. The castle first appears in history in 1536; Leonard Grey, 1st Viscount Grane, the Lord Deputy, marched to ""the very strong castle called Carekogunyel, and in English Candell Rock… It stands on a high rock and .... is the key of all the county.""[8]

According to ""Limerick; Its History and Antiquities, .."" by Maurice Lenihan the other occupants of the castle were the O'Connell Family, who surrendered it to the Fitzgeralds.[14]

The owner, ""Mat"" (Mahon) O'Byrne, surrendered it on condition that the Government should hold it themselves. State pledges were broken as easily then as now. Grey was about to give it to one Donoth O'Bryne, ignoring his promise, when by a plot of Edmond Sexton and his wife (as their enemies alleged, but Grey acquitted them) it was put back into the hands of ""Matthew's"" warder; it was then attacked, and one of its towers was taken on the night of 22 August; the keep surrendered next morning, and Edmond Cahill, the warder, and all its garrison were brought to Limerick, tried and hanged. The Crown claimed the castle, apparently on the unfounded statement that the O'Briens held from ""Lord Clerre"", probably Richard De Clare, whose lands had reverted to the Crown. Donough was established in it, but he abused his powers and was deprived for extortion. Mahon used to claim a penny for each barrel of wine, and 2 pence for every other barrel brought to Limerick. Donough's son, Brian Duff, was confirmed in it and in nearly all the present Pubblebrian. [16]

The castle was not used in Wars of the Three Kingdoms (1640-1651). A Captain Wilson took it over and built a stable there after it was prudently sold by its last owner, Donough Brien, to Michael Boyle (afterwards Archbishop of Dublin). It then had a castle, bawn, a few thatched huts, and a salmon fishery.[17]

During the second siege of Limerick of the Williamite War in Ireland, the castle was occupied by a force of 150 men for King James II. In August 1691 the Dutch general Godert de Ginckell sent Lieutenant-General Scravemore with a strong party, and four guns, to take the castle. The garrison surrendered, and were marched to Clonmel as prisoners of war. Shortly after, in September 1691, de Ginckell ordered Carrigogunnell slighted and it was blown up.