Cloughoughter Castle

This week, we took a trip to the Lake County in search of a very special landmark: Cloughoughter Castle. I’ve seen some pretty fabulous footage all over social media from fellow drone pilots, captured in some spectacular conditions, so I absolutely had to see it with my own two eyes.

Making the most of our very few dry sunsets, we made the trek all the way to the middle of the many waterways of Lough Oughter. Finding an LZ wasn’t the easiest of tasks, especially given that the area is a haven for camping enthusiasts and outdoorsy folk alike. Any pilots that have passed ground-school will know that you must keep your distance from persons not under your control, so it pays to be observant and approachable.

Once in the air, the views were magnificent! The lush forestry, covering areas of undulating terrain made my job very easy indeed. The sun caught the castle as it poked through the canopy, which was enveloping its lower third. Absorbing the soft light of sunset, the castle looked just as majestic as it was in its prime years, so I imagine.

The castle is steeped in history, with experts claiming that it may have been a crannóg prior to the tower’s construction. Controlled by the O’Rourkes during the latter part of the twelfth century, it later fell into the hands of the Anglo-Norman, William Gorm De Lacy. We don’t know exactly when the castle was constructed, but estimations hint at the early part of the thirteenth century, in which the lower two storeys were erected.

Later, the O’Reilly clan claimed the island as its own and finished constructing the remaining floors. They retained it for centuries in the midst of their ongoing conflicts with the O’Rourkes & with members of their own clan.

Such a spectacular location for flying, camping and much more, Lough Oughter has proven itself to hold a position in my top 10 locations on our beautiful isle. Check out our video below.

Coming soon, Sky Lark’s Top 5 locations for drone flying – stay tuned!