What is recorded here

Castle (in Ruins), Ballynahinch stands on a lake island in County Galway, a compact four-storey tower that Donell Ecowga O'Flaherty possessed in 1574. Local story claims he rebuilt it with stones taken from Toombeola Abbey, turning sacred loss into private strength. The narrow stone box still holds its shape above the water, inviting imagination about the people who climbed its spiral stairs and watched the lake change from inside.

On an island in Ballynahinch Lake, reputedly the site of an earlier habitation (GA036-001002-). In existence in 1574 when it was in the possession of 'Donell Ecowga' O'Flaherty (Nolan 1901, 116), and reputedly built by him with stones from Toombeola Abbey (GA050-026001-). It consists of a small, rectangular four-storey tower (L 9.1m, Wth 6.5-7m). The interior was extensively altered in the 18th C when a two-storey extension containing kilns was added on W side. The original entrance is in E wall with spiral stairs in SE corner. There is an intramural latrine passage in S wall of 1st floor. The 2nd floor has been extensively remodelled. The W wall rises vertically to a gable but no traces of garret or parapets survives. (O'Flanagan 1927a, Vol. 3, 138; Hardiman 1846, 105, 106, 400-1) 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

Built by the O'Flaherty clan, Castle (in Ruins), Ballynahinch was held in 1574 by Donell Ecowga O'Flaherty. It is remembered as a historic site associated with the Gaelic Irish aristocracy in the region.

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