Built by Richard de Burgh, 4th Earl of Clanricarde, as the power base of the de Burgo (Burke) family, it combines defensive medieval features with early Renaissance symmetry and formal gardens, making it a unique transitional example of early-17th-century Irish architecture. The house was gutted by fire in 1826; the ground floor and gardens are restored and open to visitors.
Visiting Portumna Castle
Yes, OPW/Heritage Ireland managed, ground floor exhibition and gardens open seasonally
"Built by Richard de Burgh, 4th Earl of Clanricarde, as the power base of the de Burgo (Burke) family, it combines defensive medieval features with early Renaissance symmetry and formal gardens, making it a unique transitional example of early-17th-century Irish architecture."
Where to stay nearby
The closest castle hotel is Kinnitty Castle, 33.51 km away in Kinnitty — First castle at the site destroyed in 1209 and rebuilt by the Normans in 1213; extended into its current neo-Gothic form in 1811 by the Pain Brothers, burned by Republican forces in 1922 and rebuilt in 1928.
