Finavarra Tower



Finavarra Tower is a Martello tower in Finavarra, County Clare, Ireland dating back to 1816. Built during the Napoleanic wars, and situated on Finavarra Point, the tower protected the north-eastern side of Ballyvaughan Bay and the south-western entrance of New Quay harbour from possible attack from France.

British military engineers built many such fortifications as signal towers to protect the coast against a French invasion. Most of these towers are oval or round and stand between forty and sixty feet high. Their staircases were incorporated within the walls and the doorway was usually some distance above ground level.

The usual garrison was about ten men who would have lived in a nearby barracks. The remains of such a barracks lie north-east of the tower.

At the site of Finavarra Tower, a small stone has the following: "This property including the Martello Tower and Appurtemances was bequeathed to the State for the benefit of the Nation by MRS. MAUREEN EMERSON who died on the 4th day of November 1999."