Bawn in Castlepark

This rectangular bawn (c. 62m NNW-SSE; c. 54m ENE-WSW) is associated with ‘Isert Kelly Castle’ (GA114-054----) which occupies it S corner. It is defined by a grassed-over tumbled stone wall (Wth 0.68m; int. H 0.7m; ext. H 0.53m), which is visible all round. Traces of inner and outer wall-facing survive intermittently. Stone-lined entrance gaps are evident in the S (Wth 1.56m) and W (Wth 2.57m) walls. A rectangular building (L 18.3m; Wth 8.4m), also defined by grassed-over tumbled stone walls, in the SE corner may be the remains of an associated banqueting hall. A small section of the masonry of its N wall has collapsed intact into its interior. A NE-SW flowing stream to the E of the bawn appears to have been channelled around it to form a moat-like feature along its E and S sides. Boulders visible along both banks suggest it was stone-faced. No clear trace of the ‘moat’ is evident along the W and N sides but a change in vegetation colour suggests it line. An enclosure (GA114-054002-) extending off the N side may be associated. Since 2014 the bawn has the subject of on-going research excavations being carried out by Dr Rory Sherlock, Galway Archaeological Field School (see https://excavations.ie/report/2017/Galway/0026239/ last accessed 11 June 2018). The following images have been appended: GA114-054001-_01 N bawn wall from E.jpg GA114-054001-_02 N end of E bawn wall, from S.jpg GA114-054001-_03 S bawn wall, from E.jpg GA114-054001-_04 W bawn wall, from W.jpg GA114-054001-_05 External wall-facing, W bawn wall.jpg GA114-054001-_06 Gap in S wall, from S.jpg GA114-054001-_07 Detail of wall-facing on E side of S gap.jpg GA114-054001-_08 Gap in W wall, from W.jpg GA114-054001-_09 Banqueting hall from SW.jpg GA114-054001-_10 E wall of banqueting hall.jpg GA114-054001-_11 Possible 'moat' feature on S side, from E.jpg Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 11 June 2019

Isert Kelly Castle, associated with the Bawn in Castlepark, was likely built in the 17th century by the Kelly family, a prominent Gaelic Irish clan in the region. The site is historically significant as it reflects the transition from medieval to early modern defensive architecture in Ireland.