Clifden Castle

Some castles in Ireland are actually the umpteenth remodel of something that started a thousand years earlier as a real fortress. But some castles are just 19th century houses, albeit fairly elaborate ones. No archers on the turret, no vats of boiling oil, no lengthy seiges. Clifden Castle was built in the early 1800s by the guy (Mr. D'Arcy) who inherited this area and helped develop the town of Clifden.

For us, the castle was right across the street from our B&B -- a short walk down a gravel road lined with cows and sheep. The sun had come out, but last night's puddles were still there and pretty deep, so we didn't go all the way to the old ruins.