House - fortified house

The National Monuments Service's description

Galwey's Castle (Ireton’s House) described in the Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 262) as following; ‘Located near the cathedral [LI005-017015-]. It may have been built in the early 17th century and was repaired in 1650-54. It was demolished in 1894 (Westropp 1906-7, 80)'.

This castle and its demolition was described by Barry (1894, 386-9) as following; 'The only matter I have to report on is the history of the disappearance of one of the most remarkable and interesting of the castellated houses of old Limerick, viz. Galwey's Castle, commonly known as Ireton's House. It was a large stone structure, with pointed gables in the Elizabethan style, with stone-mullioned windows, and a round-headed stone-arched doorway leading into Gridiron-lane, which separated it from St. Mary's churchyard [LI005-017016-] and the old Exchange. Its high Dutch gable front of red brick, evidently an insertion of later date, facing Nicholas-street the main street of the English town gave one a good idea of the houses of old Limerick. This front of imported Dutch brick was, according to local tradition, the first brick-fronted house erected in Limerick. In 1661 Lord Orrery was made Governor of the Castle and City of Limerick. In a letter from King Charles, he is directed to "employ himself" in getting English and Dutch merchants to settle in Limerick.
By a letter of Orrery's, he would seem to have been successful, as he says he expects more Dutch merchants to settle in the city. We know a considerable portion of the city was granted to Lord Orrery, General Ingoldsby, and other Cromwellians after the siege, and these grants were confirmed by the Act of Settlement. Sir Geoffrey Galwey, Bart., the owner of this house, was hanged by Ireton, and his property was confiscated. It is not, therefore, improbable that one of these Dutch settlers, having got possession of Galwey's Castle, modernised it, so to speak, by the insertion of a brick front in the Dutch style. Ferrar, in his "History of Limerick," says the only houses which remained habitable after the siege of 1691, were certain castellated ones in the main street. New houses, in the Dutch style, then replaced the old ones both in the English and Irish town. Picturesque old Limerick, now fast disappearing, dates therefore from after the siege of 1691, excepting these ancient castellated mansions.
"Galwey's Castle" was so called from Sir Geoffrey Galwey, an eminent lawyer, who was mayor of the city in A.D. 1600. It was built, or rather remodelled, in the reign of Elizabeth [1558-1603]. It was on the site of a more ancient structure, said to be a portion of the palace of the kings of Limerick. On learning that the Dean and Chapter had purchased "Galwey's Castle," with other houses adjoining, and were about to apply to the Corporation for a presentment to close Gridiron-lane, which separated these houses from the cathedral (this lane was called from a well-known inn, "The Gridiron," which existed early in this century the last proprietor was a popular character named Pat M'Grath, otherwise "Paddy the Chopper"'.

Westropp (1906-7, 80) recorded the following details; 'Galwey's Castle, near the Cathedral [LI005-017015-]. The family was a branch of the Burkes. "John de Burgo, of Galway, was knighted by Lionel Duke of Clarence, for his brave defence of Balls Bridge [LI005-017001-], Limerick, against the O'Briens, 1361. The fine monument [LI005-017019-] in the Cathedral dates 1414. Sir Geoffrey Galwey was Mayor in 1600, and strongly asserted the independence of the Corporation, being, in consequence, fined by Carew. He probably built the C[astle], and died 1636. His grandson, Sir Geoffrey, was excepted from terms at the surrender of Limerick to Ireton, 1651. In 1650-54, Thomas White paid for work done in preserving Jeoffrey Gallowaye's House, £20" (Acct. R. 15). The "Castle" has been illustrated in Journals R.S.A.I., xxiv., pp. 386-9 and Limerick Field Club, vol. i. It was demolished in 1894, being an object of prejudice from its name, "Ireton's House," and the Corporation refused to preserve it'.

See attached photograph and drawing of 'Galwaye's Castle' dating from 1894, taken from Barry 1894, 385-6-.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 21 November 2019

References

Westropp, T.J. 1906-7 The ancient castles of the county of Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 26, 54-264.

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H.A. 1989 Urban archaeological survey - county Limerick (3 vols.). Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

Barry, J.G. 1894 Report from the Hon. Local Secretary for Limerick. Galwey's Castle/Ireton's House. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 24.