What is recorded here

Castle stood on a Galway hill in 1574, held by Omanyn, until lightning struck and erased it. That sudden violence explains why grass now covers the place instead of stone. Menlough Oughter keeps the loss clean because the sky, not human forgetfulness, removed the castle.

On a hill in gently undulating grassland. In existence in 1574 when it was in the possession of 'Omanyn' (Nolan 1901b, 122). According to Lewis (1837, Vol. 2, 366), 'The castle has lately been destroyed by lightning and is now in ruins'. No visible surface trace survives. 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 castle in Menlough Oughter was held by the O'Malley (Omanyn) family in 1574 and was later destroyed by lightning, as noted in historical records. It is remembered as an example of early medieval Irish castle architecture and as part of the local heritage of the O'Malley clan.

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