What is recorded here

Cloonlagheen Castle belonged to Abbe MacEnville in 1574, but its walls now hide inside Partry House. Renovations after 1995 revealed ancient slit windows, proving the castle did not vanish; it waited for someone to build around it.

The castle of ‘Cloynlaghen’ is recorded as in the possession of the Abbe MacEnville in the ‘Division of Connacht and Thomond of 1574’ (Knox 1908, 348) and is also mentioned in the Inquisitions for Co. Mayo (vol. 1, 55 cited on http://www.logainm.ie/en/35189?s=cloonlagheen, accessed 30 November 2015). The present Partry House, which incorporates elements of a late 17th century house (see MA109-033002-), would appear to stand on the site of this castle as during renovations undertaken post-1995 slit window loops were uncovered in the interior walls which were interpreted as belonging to the earlier ‘castle’ (Irish Times, 24 April 2014). Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 30 November 2015

The castle at Cloonlagheen was held by the Abbe MacEnville in 1574 and is noted in historical inquisitions related to County Mayo. It is remembered as part of the medieval Gaelic landholding structures in western Ireland.

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