A roofless 16th-century O'Doherty tower house on a wave-battered greenstone headland, saved from collapse by a local restoration society in 2013. Free to visit, open to the weather all year.
What survives is the shell of a 16th-century tower house inside a bawn, with a detached round tower a few yards south-east. An 1834 survey measured the rectangular keep at about 10 by 8.5 feet internally with walls 5 feet thick, a wall fireplace and a sleeping recess built into the masonry.
The headland gives sweeping views over Pollan Bay, the island of Glashedy, Binion's cliffs and out to Malin Head, with Tory Island a dim shape on the horizon. It is completely exposed, so wrap up even in summer.
A fissure in the rocks at the base of the promontory forces the sea through in a spout of several metres. It only works around high water, so check tide times before you set out.
The castle sits at the northern end of Pollan Strand, roughly 6 km from Ballyliffin. You can walk the length of the beach to reach it, or drive the R238 north past the Doagh Famine Village junction, where it is visible from the road.
This was the seat of the McFall (O Maolfabhail) sept from the 9th century, with lords of Carrickabraghy listed in the Annals of the Four Masters from 834 AD. Sir Cahir O'Doherty wrote his letters of protest from here before his 1608 revolt.
Before or after your visit, the castle's website collects conservation photographs, an architectural survey and historical maps of Inishowen, including a 1661 map and an extract from McCrea's 1801 map of Donegal.
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