Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

On a slight rise in undulating countryside. According to Nolan (1901a, 42), this castle 'existed in 1526'. In 1574 it was in the possession of 'Walter boy' (ibid. 1901b, 119), who was 'probably a Burke' (ibid. 1901a, 41). It consists of a densely overgrown rectangular tower (L c. 9.75m, Wth c. 8.2m), in fair condition, at least four storeys in height. Only short sections of S and W walls survive above ground-floor level. The doorway, at E end of N wall, is almost completely robbed-out but had a possible gun loop in its E jamb. It opens into a small lobby, with a murder-hole above, from which access is gained to intramural stairs in NE corner: the stairs spiral from 1st-floor level. There is an intact stone vault between ground/1st floors and traces of a second are visible higher up, probably between 2nd/3rd floors. There are intramural passages in N and E walls on 2nd floor: the former possibly leading to a garderobe, the exit chute of which is visible in the external face of W wall. Apart from simple slits, surviving windows are all narrow single lights with flat heads. A section of the bawn wall (GA070-067001-) survives at NW corner of the tower. This abuts W end of N wall and is evident for 8m running on a N-S axis. Towards its N end is a dilapidated arched ope (Wth c. 2.4m). Nolan (1901a, 41) described this as 'the arched entrance to the bawn', noting that 'steps ascended to the top of the archway': these were not located.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. II - North Galway'. Compiled by Olive Alcock, Kathy de hÓra and Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999).

Date of upload: 05 August 2010

The following image has been uploaded: GA070-067----_01.jpg View from NE