Castle in ruins

In grassland, some 430m N of Lough Corrib and linked to the lake by a canal. In existence in 1574 when it was in the possession of 'Thomas McHenry' (Nolan 1901b, 118). A fairly well-preserved rectangular four-storey tower (L 10.15m, Wth 7.55m). The remains of a later annexe abut ESE wall. Access to the main ground-floor chamber was originally through a pointed arch doorway in ESE wall, this was subsequently blocked up when the annexe was built. However, the murder-hole is visible above and it is now the means of access to the 1st floor. Access to the ground-floor is now via a ruined pointed arch doorway in SSW wall. Stone vaults exist between ground/1st floor and 1st/2nd floors. An intramural passage on 1st floor leads to a garderobe. Intramural staircases rise from 1st to 2nd floors, and from 2nd floor to the roof and wall-walks. Two projecting corbels on top of each wall indicate the former presence of machicolations. Apart from simple slits and one single-light ogee-headed window, most of the larger windows on 2nd floor have been robbed out. A doorway almost directly above the original one in ESE wall indicates that the annexe was at least two storeys high. Traces of NNE wall survive to 1st-floor level; elsewhere only sections of walls or wall foundations survive. Apart from a rectangular window in NNE wall and a wall cupboard in ESE wall, no architectural features survive. Ballinduff Lodge (built 1796) and traces of a village lie to W. (Nolan 1901a, 43; O'Flanagan 1927, Vol. 1, 200) 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

Built in the late medieval period, the castle at Ballinduff was held by Thomas McHenry in 1574 and is notable for its well-preserved four-storey tower, reflecting Gaelic lordship architecture in the region.