castles historical galway

Some 7km along the road to Tuam, near Castletown House, is the site of the ancestral home of the Lally's, Tollendal (of Tullynadaly) Castle.
One member of the family, the celebrated Baron Lally, Marechal de France, made strenuous attempts to drive the English from India.
He failed and was executed by Louis xv as a traitor, but afterwards his name was cleared, and is inscribed in the Arch De Triomphe in Paris....

Derry Island Castle (17th Century) sited on the left bank down river, is visible. It is known locally as 'Ireton's Castle', but without any hard evidence that Cromwell's son-in-law General passed this way.

As you swing left for Birr there's an old windmill prominent on the hill above Bell Isle House....

The ruins of a 13th century castle built by the de Burgos. The tower, which is three storeys high and has very thick walls, stands at the corner of a roughly square enclosure surrounded by a wall. The entrance to this enclosure is flanked by massive semicircular turrets....

Thoor Ballylee Castle is a four storey tower dating back to the 16th century, beautifully situated beside a stream. There was much to enchant William Butler Yeats on his first visit to Ballylee in 1885: the old square castle, the little river and the legend of a most beautiful local woman 'Mary Hynes, the Shining Flower of Ballylee.
He eventually bought the medieval tower, which was built by the Norman de Burgo family, with a cottage and garden for the grand sum of IR35.00 in 1916. The...

The ruins of 13th century tower house stand at the foot of the famed Knockma. It was built by the Hacketts, a Norman family who established themselves along the east side of Lough Corrib, having driven the O' Flahertys across the lake to Connemara. The Kirwans, one of the tribes of Galway settled there in the 15th century....

A fine 16th century tower, built in two sections, situated among trees on a hillock. the tower has five storeys, with vaults over the ground floor and third storey, that on the ground floor preserving well-preserved traces of the wicker-work which kept the plaster in place. The north window on the top floor bears carvings of floral motifs. The two mullioned windows on the top floor bears carvings of floral motifs.

The two mullioned windows in the west wall on the first and second flo...

Glinsk Castle or fortified house is situated near the River Suck, 6.4km north-west of Creggs village. It is one of the finest examples in Ireland of architecture in transition from fortified castle to castellated house.

This castle was built in 1675 by Sir Ulick Burke, Third Baronet of Glinsk. It appears to have been built on the site of an earlier castle. The mosts outstanding of the architectural features are the two fine chimney stacks which lend the castle a sense of elegance....

Lynch’s Castle was once the home to the most powerful family in Galway. This incredible limestone building is a fine example of an Irish gothic style. The Lynch Family’s Coat of Arms can still be seen today, as can other proprietors of the house Henry and the Fitzgerald’s of Kildare.
Situated between Shop Street and Abbeygate Street, this castle gives us a rare glimpse of old Galway....

A landmark on the eastern shore of Lough Corrib for almost seven centuries, it was originally built in the 13th century by Adam Gaynard and occupied by the Gaynard family until the 17th century when George Staunton acquired the castle and the lands.

It remained in his family until 1946, when it became a ruin. Now restored to its former glory with 13th century materials, it is a rare example of a medieval hall house....

Ballindooley Castle, on the Headford road out from Galway, has been fully restored to its former glory....