Castle - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

Strategically situated at Cill Éinne, covering the approaches to the natural harbour which was the old port of Inis Mór. Certainly in existence in 1574 when 'Arkyne' Castle is listed as being in the possession of James Lynch (Nolan 1901, 116). Prior to this, it was probably in the hands of the O'Briens, whose chief residence on Inis Mór was at 'Aircin' (Hardiman 1846, 78-9). Subsequently granted to John Rawson in 1594 (ibid.) and to 'Teige na Buille O'Flaherty of Arde' in 1607 (O'Flanagan 1927a, Vol. 1, 399-401). Demolished in the 1650s to make way for a Cromwellian fort (GA119-005001-). No visible surface trace survives.

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

References

Hardiman, J. (ed) 1846 A chorographical description of West or H-Iar Connaught written in A.D. 1684 by Roderic O'Flaherty, Esq. Dublin.

Nolan, J.P. 1901a Galway castles and owners in 1574. Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society 1, 109-23.

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1927 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Galway collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1839. Typescript in 3 vols. Bray.