Tuamgraney (Tomgraney)
Places of Interest

• St. Cronan’s Church of Ireland church is the oldest in the county still used for regular worship. It incorporates within its structure the remains of a pre-Romanesque church as well as a twelfth-century chancel. It contains the original lintel doorway; and the chancel windows are in the Romanesque style. The church on this site was first mentioned in 740. It was plundered in 886 and again in 949. Before he died in 964, Cormac O’Killeen founded “the great church” of Tuamgraney and persuaded Brian Boru to repair and renew the now long-vanished round tower. Brian Boru made some additions to the whole and there are contradictory reports of him and his brother being involved in church building here, on Holy Island and Killaloe. In 1084 O’Rourke of Breffni reduced it to ashes. It was again burned in 1164 and plundered in 1170.
  It is home to the East Clare Heritage Centre.

• Tuamgraney Castle was described by O’Donovan as a “rude” castle which was built by the O’Gradys, lords of the territory of Hy-Donghaile in which it is situated. It is a sixteenth century tower house which was owned by Edmond O’Grady in 1580.

• A Famine Memorial Park, the “Casaoireach”, was officially opened in 1997 by the East Clare Heritage organisation as a mark of respect to the people who died during the Famine years. The site was previously a burial ground for famine victims.

• Garden of Remembrance: This memorial to the men and women of East Clare who fought for Ireland’s independence was opened in 1952. The focal point in the garden is “The Calvary Group”.

• Raheen Oak Wood: A remnant of one of the great primeval oak woods of Munster can be seen in Tuamgraney. A nature walk allows easy access through the wood. The “Brian Boru” oak which is over 1,000 years old can be seen here.