What is recorded here

Castle walls guard the Trench graves, not kings. Rooms and chambers are absent because the chamber is a grave vault and the castle is its container. Last used in 1979, it remains a private death-house wearing the shape of a fortress, as if the family believed even burial needed a keep.

Within a ringfort (GA073-143001-). Named on 1st ed. of OS 6-inch map as 'Trench's monument', it is also named on 3rd ed. (1933) as a burial ground. The final resting place of the Trench family of Woodlawn House, it was last used for burial in 1979. A massive and well-preserved castle-like structure, it comprises a circular curtain wall (D c. 32m, H c. 3m) crowned by stepped crenellations, the merlons of which are punctuated by cross-shaped loops. An ornamental entrance at N gives access to the interior which is occupied by a centrally placed circular tower (D c. 10m, H c. 15m) and a number of graveslabs. An arched doorway opens into the roofless interior. The wall of the tower is capped by a string course surmounted by plain crenellations. The interior contains a vault. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. II - North Galway'. Compiled by Olive Alcock, Kathy de hÓra and Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). Date of upload: 05 August 2010

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.