Aughnanure Castle

Aughnanure was built around 1490 by the O'Flahertys, who controlled the country west of Lough Corrib and were feared enough in Galway city that an inscription over its west gate reportedly asked God to deliver the citizens from them. The tower stands six storeys on a rocky outcrop between the Drimneen River and the lake, with an unusually complete set of defences for an Irish tower house: a double bawn, a watchtower, a dry harbour and a bastion. The rock beneath is limestone dissolved into caves and a river runs under part of the site, which has caused the collapse of the banqueting hall - one wall of it survives with carved windows, standing alone. Grace O'Malley's second husband, Donal O'Flaherty, came from this family. The castle was restored in the 1950s and 60s and the tower can be climbed to the roof by a spiral stair.

History

The O'Flaherty chieftains controlled the site from around 1250 and built the tower house around 1490, when they held most of Iar Connacht, some 250,000 acres with wide access to the Atlantic coast and trade with Europe. It was fully restored in the 1960s and is one of over 200 tower houses in County Galway (Wikipedia, Aughnanure Castle).

The main sights

• The six-storey tower - climbable to the roof by a spiral stair.
• The double bawn - an unusually complete set of outer defences.
• The banqueting hall wall - one carved wall left after the rock beneath collapsed.
• The underground river - running through caves beneath the site.

When to go

April to October; the site closes in winter. An hour covers it. The spiral stair is narrow and unlit in places.

Before you go

Seasonal opening - closed for much of the year. The spiral stair is steep, worn and tight, and unsuitable for anyone uneasy in confined spaces. Ticketed, and a short visit.

Nearby

Oughterard and Lough Corrib are close; Galway city is south-east.

Key facts