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Castle (in ruins)

Castle, unclassified
Castle (in ruins)
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What is recorded here

Inis Mór, County Galway: a strong tower once rose on a low limestone terrace 150m from the seashore, known locally as Caisleán Uí Bhriain. Only rectangular foundations remain, 10m by 9.1m and 1.14m high, with one inner wall face still standing at the east-south-east. The chamber is rubble-filled now, but in its day it may have watched the water, stored what the land gave, and kept people safe when the sky turned.
On a low limestone terrace 150m S of seashore, Inis Mór. Known locally as Caisleán Uí Bhriain (Robinson 1980), all that remains are the rectangular foundations of a strong tower (L 10m, Wth 9.1m, H 1.14m). The interior is rubble-filled but the inner wall face survives at ESE, indicating a wall thickness of 2.45m at this point. Evidently in its present condition since early 19th C (O'Flanagan 1927a, Vol. 2, 389). Faint traces of foundation lines adjoin the site at N. (Westropp 1895, 255) 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 The monument was taken into Ownership under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 - National Monument 43.
Built by the O'Brien dynasty, likely in the medieval period, this castle is remembered for its strategic location on Inis Mór and as a local landmark associated with historical seafaring and Gaelic lordship in the region.

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