Located just north of the village of Lorrha, Redwood Castle is a striking Norman tower house originally constructed around 1210. Its position was no accident—standing close to the River Shannon, the site offered strategic control over river routes and surrounding lands, making it an ideal defensive and administrative outpost for its medieval builders.

From the mid-14th century until the mid-17th century, the castle passed into the hands of the MacEgan (Mac Aodhagáin) family, one of Ireland’s most renowned learned dynasties. The MacEgans were professional brehons (judges), legal scholars, and advisers, but their influence extended far beyond law—they also served as musicians, poets, ambassadors, and administrators to both Gaelic chiefs and Anglo-Norman lords. Under their stewardship, Redwood Castle became an important centre of learning, housing a law school that was respected across Ireland.

In 1653, during the Cromwellian campaign (which began in 1649), the castle fell under attack. Unable to withstand the firepower of Cromwellian artillery, Redwood Castle was burned, leaving only its outer walls and the distinctive spiral stone staircase intact. After centuries as a ruin, the site was finally purchased in 1972 by Michael Egan, a lawyer and descendant of the MacEgan clan, who undertook a significant restoration effort that returned the building to habitable condition.

Despite its remarkable history, Redwood Castle is also considered by many to be one of the most haunted sites in Ireland. During a documented two-day investigation by two separate paranormal teams, witnesses reported a series of unsettling phenomena: unexplained shadow figures, animal-like growls, and an intense sense of hostility attributed to a male spirit, particularly directed toward female investigators. One team described a distinct figure appearing to guard the entrance to the old guardroom, while another captured what was considered a clear photographic image of a female apparition inside the castle.