Bastioned fort in Durrow

Kerrigan (1995, 98) records that 'At Ballymoe Bridge on the Galway border with Co. Roscommon another fort was under construction in 1656, which was so far advanced as likely to be completed in that year. It was known as Fort Fleetwood, named after Charles Fleetwood, the lord deputy of Ireland from 1654 to 1657, when he was replaced by Henry Cromwell. The first edition of the Ordnance Survey does not indicate the remains of this work; a report of 1662 notes a masonry fort of four bastions, no doubt similar to Bellahy [Co. Sligo, SL042-029----], which cost £2,200 - the fort at Ballymoe cost £2,050, suggesting that it was about the same size.' Alcock et. al. (1999, 239, No. 2927) suggest some association with the enigmatic earthwork SE of the C of I graveyard (see GA002-022----); this does not seem likely and the location of this fort is unknown. O. Alcock, K. de hÓra and P. Gosling, Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. II - North Galway. (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999) P. M. Kerrigan, The Castles and fortifications in Ireland, 1485-1945. (Cork: Colllins Press, 1995) Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 20 January 2012