What is recorded here

Bunowen Castle stood at a river mouth between two bays in 1574, held by Donell Ecowga O'Flaherty. Only a rectangular bawn and a corner mound remain now, but the missing tower likely rose above the seawater like a dark finger pointing at passing ships. The O'Flaherty name still owns that empty space, waiting for someone to imagine the height of what the tide and time removed.

On the seashore at a river mouth between the bays of Bunowen and Ballyconneely. In existence in 1574 when it was in the possession of 'Donell Ecowga' O'Flaherty (Nolan 1901, 116). Fragmentary remains of a rectangular bawn survive on W bank of the river where portions of its walls stand up to 2m in height. Probable entrance on E side. A mound in SE corner marks the site of the O'Flaherty castle. Foundations of other buildings are visible in NW corner. (O'Flanagan 1927a, Vol. 3, 25, 102; Hardiman 1846, 108-9; Blake 1902) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. I - West Galway'. Compiled by Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). Date of upload: 05 August 2010

Bunowen Castle was held in 1574 by Donell Ecowga O'Flaherty, a member of the prominent Gaelic Irish O'Flaherty family of Connemara. The site is remembered for its strategic coastal location and as a historical example of early modern Irish defensive architecture.

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