History

  The history of Rathcline castle is strongly connected to the Lane family, who gave the name to Lanesborough (originally Béal Átha Liag), the village located at a short distance from where the castle stands [1]. In particular, when the exiled king Charles II was restored on the throne of England in 1660 after the Cromwellian period, Sir Richard Lane and his son Sir George were rewarded for their loyalty towards the crown and hence were granted lands in Ireland [1]. Sir George was also appointed Secretary of State for Ireland and, in 1676, he was created first Viscount Lanesborough [1].
  Rathcline castle was the main Irish residence of Sir Richard [1]. It is thought that the castle had been previously built here by the local Quinn family in the 15th or early 16th century for its strategic position on the Shannon river and near Lough Ree [1]. After that, the property of the castle passed first to the O’Farrells and then to Sir Thomas Dutton, to whom the crown granted a significantly large land as part of the plantation of Ireland [1, 2]. After Sir Thomas died, his son sold Rathcline to Sir George Lane, who remodelled it [1, 2].
  Already by 1800, the castle was in a state of ruin [2, 3]. In [1] and [3] it is suggested that perhaps the castle might have suffered major damages during the Williamite Wars and since then may have never been occupied again.
In the late 18th century, the estate and the castle were sold to Luke White [1].
  What we can see of Rathcline castle is probably the result of the additions of several fortified buildings from different periods, enclosed in an impressive bawn wall [1, 3]. The original three-storey tower house was probably built by the Quinn family: of that, only a portion of the southern and eastern walls survives [3]. Sir Thomas Dutton added a fortified manor against the northern wall of the castle [1, 3]. The tower house and the manor house had been probably connected together by Sir George Lane [3].
In 1682, Nicholas Dowdall described Rathcline as “a very noble and spacious house… being very pleasant and well Improved with Orchards, Gardens, Fishponds and a Deer Park” [1, 3]. Moreover, as reported in [3], a household inventory dating 1688 proves that the house was rich of rooms and the most advanced comforts for that time.

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Tips

  A tower house, an enclosed bawn and a centuries old fortified manor house, all steeped in history. This is Rathcline Castle, another impressive testimony of the past, sadly fallen into ruins.
  Situated at a short distance from Lanesborough Town, overlooking Lough Ree, the site can be accessed but you need to be careful. Car park is available on the side of the road, right in front of the southern gatehouse, which was also the main entrance into the bawn in the late 17th century. You can then walk back a short distance and climb the small stone fence that will allow you full access to the premises. Feel free to explore the surroundings and enjoy taking some memorable shots.