Castle - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

No surface remains visible of a medieval tower known as the Connacht tower which was located to the N of Athlone Castle (WM029-042002-). This building appears to have been a feature of the west town defences on the Connacht side of Athlone and was known in medieval documents as the Connacht Tower. Described by Bradley as a rectangular structure with two circular towers at N angles, linked to Athlone Castle by defensive wall or ditch, perhaps the 'great fosse' to form the riverside bawn (Bradley et. al. 1985, 38). In 1581, the crown granted Thomas, earl of Ormond and Ossory 'an old ruinous tower called Connaghte tower covered with straw, near the castle of Athlone (WM029-042002-), with a parcel of land on the south side containing 90 feet [27m], and a garden plot with certain ruined cottages on the north side, and a parcel of land in the great foss[e] on the west, from the tower to the river Shennen [Shannon]’ (Nicholls 1994, 511). The Connacht Tower was partially demolished by the artillery of the Williamite army in 1691 (Murtagh 1994, 10). The partial remains of the Connacht Tower are depicted on Thomas Sherrard's map of Athlone dating from 1784 (Murtagh 1994, map 7a). Langrishe records that its ruins survived into the mid-nineteenth century and that it was removed during the Shannon improvements and the construction of Grace Road (Bradley et. al. 1985, 38).

Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 01 November 2013

References

Nicholls, K.W. (ed.) 1994 The Irish fiants of the Tudor sovereigns during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Philip & Mary, and Elizabeth I, 4 vols. Dublin. Éamonn de Búrca for Edmund Burke Publisher.

Murtagh, H. (ed.) 1994 Athlone. Irish Historic Towns Atlas, No. 6. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy.

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H. 1985 Urban archaeological survey - county Westmeath. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.