From the stone on the side: Garrykennedy Castle was one of many erected on the shores of Lough Derg during the period 1450 - 1500AD. These castles, or Tower Houses, were built for defense by important local land owners such as Butler, O'Kennedys, O'Brien of Arra. Garrykennedy Castle is referred to in the in civil survey of 1654 AD as the demolished castle of Castlegare and two centuries later as Slanger Castle. John O'Donovan estimated the dimensions of the ruin in 1840 at 17 by 11 and 40 in height. Much of the stone from the castle was used to construct the existing harbour so the skills of the medieval craftsmen are still utilised by the people today.
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