Carrigogunnell
Coordinates: 52°38′48″N 8°44′33″W / 52.64667°N 8.74250°W
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.
The castle is built on outcrop trap rock of volcanic origin that overlooks the low lands of Limerick, and the River Shannon.
Westropp 1908 claimed that it plan showed little appreciation of defensive science, and as a result attributed it to the Irish gaelic tribe of the Dalcassians. The main (southern) gateway he thought poorly defended, lacking sidetowers, and with walls under 5 feet (1.5 m) thick - the gate itself led to by a shallow slope. The absence of towers at the junctions of walls, and the confused plan of buildings within the defenses were taken by Westropp as evidence of the place being only a suitable as a fortified residence, and not fitted for defense of an assault or siege. The main southern gate was the only exit, excluding a sally port on the west side leading to the crags of the rock formation.
The castle had an outer ward of around 1 acre (0.40 ha) in area, approximately harp shaped in plan, with a tower in the SW corner. Much of the west wall had been removed (1908). A large two storey skewed-rectangularish building was located on the NE corner of the ward, suggested without any obvious remaining evidence to have been a chapel.
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