Clifden Castle is the ruin of a Neo-Gothic country house situated on Clifden Bay. It was built around 1812–1818 by John D’Arcy, the founder of the town of Clifden. The castle served as the prestigious residence of the D’Arcy family, complete with turrets and extensive gardens. During the Great Famine (circa 1845), the family went bankrupt. The hungry local population eventually emptied the castle to survive. In the late 19th century, the building fell into permanent disrepair. Today, it is an overgrown "stone shell" managed by local residents.