History
According to some sources [1-3], the name Leamaneh, also spelled "Lemeneagh Castle", comes from léim an eich ("the horse’s leap").
Others maintain that the original name could be léim an fheidh ("the deer’s leap") [2].
The castle is located in County Clare between Corofin and Kilfenora. Today the structure consists of a ruined ancient 5-storied tower house, built around 1480, and what remains of a 4-storied mansion, dating 1648 [2].
The original tower house was probably built by Toirdhealbhach Donn Ó Briain of the O'Brien family, one of the last High Kings of Ireland [2, 3]. In the 1500s, the family pledged loyalty to Henry VIII and the chieftains were created in 1st Earl of Thomond and Baron Inchiquin [1, 3]. In 1550, the castle was given to Donough O'Brien, hanged in Limerick in 1582 as a rebel, consequently to the facts of the Mac an Iarla ("son of the earl") War [2].
In 1639, Donough's grandson, Conor O'Brien married Máire ní Mahon (MacMahon) [2]. She is considered to be one of the most famous women in Irish history who, due to her flaming red hair, was commonly known as Máire Rúa ("Red Mary") [2]. Upon the death of her first husband, Daniel O'Neylan (also sometimes written O'Neillan or Neylan), with whom she had already three sons [4], she obtained a large fortune, that she used to build the mansion beside the original tower house, which was partially demolished [2]. In 1651, during the Cromwellian War, her husband was mortally wounded by the English settlers. In order to keep her property, straight after her husband's death, the widow went to Limerick and offered to marry any Cromwellian officer who would take her hand [1, 2].
According to the legend [1], after three days she pushed her third husband off the tower, killing him. In [2], it is stated that Máire's third husband, Cornet John Cooper, was a Cromwellian soldier. Some time after their marriage, the estate was mortgaged due to some financial difficulties he was running through.
Máire Rúa's son, Donagh or Donough (nominated Sir Donat after 1686), was the last of the family who occupied the property until 1684 or 1685 [2, 3].
Since then Leamaneh had various occupants. However, the house finally fell into ruin at the end of the 18th century [2].
So who lives in the castle today? The answer is obvious: Máire Rúa! Of course she is haunting the castle and still enjoyes walking on her beautiful lands, rich of history and misteries, announced by evil sounds [2]. She probably died in 1686 [2] but the reason is not fully known. A legend says that, after having married 25 men [3], she was sealed in a hollow tree by her enemies, who left her starve to death [1] or hung by her own red hair [2]. Perhaps she just died in poor health conditions and then got buried beside her second husband, Conor O'Brien, at the abbey of Ennis. Anyway no plaque has been found proving that [2]. Maybe she is instead resting with two of her daughters at Coad Church in Kilnaboy parish [2]. Who knows if, in a moment of temper, she really hung one of her servants by her hair from the tower [1]… However, we would not recommend to get too close to her properties, especially at night. Definitely it is hard to put together an exhaustive list of all the tales around this intriguing character and we can’t even claim to be able to accomplish such a difficult task!
Anyway, there is one last secret to disclose before leaving: why the castle was named léim an eich, "the horse’s leap". Again Máire Rúa was the reason, as explained in [2]. She used to keep a horse in her stables, for visitors to ride it. Once mounted and free to run, the stallion started an uncontrollable race towards the Cliffs of Moher and, approaching the edge of the cliff, it would have suddenly stopped, with its unfortunate rider launched off the cliff.
References
- [1] "Haunted Ireland - Haunting tales from an Ancient Land", Real Ireland Design, 2020
- [2] Wikipedia, Leamaneh Castle
- [3] Robert O’Byrne, "The Irish Aesthete: Ruins of Ireland", Cico Books, 2019
- [4] The Irish Place, Red Mary – The Ghost of Leamaneh Castle
