| Castles are often enormous and grand, but | | | | burial site to visit. The Burren Art College still |
| Newtown Castle in Ireland is a small fort with big | | | | operates in a beautiful location near the Castle. |
| historical charm. The Castle is a round "tower | | | | My family and I recently toured the area near |
| house." It's not very wide, but has five levels that | | | | Newtown Castle. We stayed in Doolin and drove |
| provide expansive views of the Irish countryside | | | | through the Burren on the coast road Highway |
| and Galway Bay. | | | | R477 to Ballyvaughan. The rocky landscape near |
| Newtown Castle was built in the 16th Century | | | | the sea is stunning. There are many places along |
| near Ballyvaughan in County Clare. The Castle is a | | | | the road to stop and take photos. |
| fortified tower house built for the O'Brien Clan and | | | | When we reached Ballyvaughan, we ate a |
| later passed to possession of the local O'Loghlen | | | | delicious seafood meal at Monk's Bar and |
| family. The family lived in the Castles until the | | | | Restaurant. On the return drive, we took route |
| early 1900s. It later fell into ruin, but was restored | | | | N67 and stopped to tour Newtown Castle. We |
| by the nearby Burren Art College. | | | | continued back to Doolin by way of Lisdoonvarna. |
| The castle's levels were used for storage and | | | | We ended the evening by stopping in at Guss |
| defense. The ground floor was used for storing | | | | O'Connor's pub to listen to a traditional music |
| food, with twelve foot thick walls helping to | | | | session. |
| preserve the food. The first floor uses narrow | | | | Newtown Castle stands in County Clare near |
| windows and gun loops for defense. The second | | | | many wonderful destinations. The famous Cliffs of |
| floor has three gun loops and an escape door with | | | | Moher and the ferry to the Aran Islands are |
| a ladder that stretches 30 feet to the ground. | | | | within a short drive. You can take a cave tour at |
| The third floor is the main hall. The balcony | | | | the popular Aillwee Cave, near the castle on the |
| provides views in all directions-north to Galway | | | | R480. The tea room and restaurant serves great |
| Bay, south to Corkscrew Hill, east to Ailwee Cave | | | | snacks and lunches. |
| and west to Newtown Trail. | | | | Newtown Castle's location may not be the biggest |
| The drive through the Burren to get to Newtown | | | | in Ireland, but the location and views make it well |
| Castle makes the trip even more satisfying. The | | | | worth the visit. |
| striking rocky ground is stark against the Irish sky. | | | | Copyright, Patricia McKinney-Lins. All rights |
| The nearby Poulnabrone Tomb is an interesting | | | | reserved. |