Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

On open, gently undulating pastureland, now part of Ballybrit Racecourse. In existence in 1574 when it was in the possession of 'Redmud Mc Thomus' (Nolan 1901, 115). A diminutive rectangular tower (L 9.17, Wth 4.4m), in fair condition, comprising four storeys: most of the upper storey and parapet are gone. The doorway, centrally placed in NE wall, opens into a lobby with a murder-hole above. This, in turn, gives access to spiral stairs (broken) in E corner, a small chamber in W side and an opposing doorway in SW wall. Stone vaults (also broken) existed between ground/1st floor, and 2nd/3rd floors. There is a fireplace in the NE wall on 2nd floor. The windows are all single-lights with circular or ogival heads. In contrast to the others, the masonry of SW wall is of poor quality. This, and the presence of doorways (one neatly blocked) in this wall on 2nd and 3rd floors, and projecting corbels on S and W corners, indicates that a second phase was intended. Whether this was of wood or ever actually built is open to question. A settlement cluster (GA082-012002-) is associated. (O'Flanagan 1927a, Vol. 1 399-400; Anon. 1918, 99)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. I - West Galway'. Compiled by Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993).

Date of upload: 05 August 2010

This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 14/1977).