What is recorded here

Castle, unclassified in Menlough stands on the east bank of the River Corrib near a probable crossing point, holding Thomas Colman in 1574. Its oldest heart may still be buried inside the ruined seventeenth-century house, revealed only by walls twice as thick as the rest and a narrow round-headed window. The castle did not disappear so much as it was swallowed by a later building, forcing every visitor to look through brick before seeing stone.

On E bank of River Corrib close to a probable crossing point (GA082-089----). In existence in 1574 when it was in the possession of 'Thomas Colman' (Nolan 1901, 115). The exact location of the original castle, probably a tower house, is unclear: Athy (1914, 155-60) at first thought that it may have stood within the walled and battlemented square enclosure, 40m to E of the present ruined house. However, in a footnote, she also noted that 'the N wall [of the ruined house] and adjacent parts of the E and W walls, are 2ft [0.6m] thicker than the rest'. These walls form part of a rectangular 17th-C gabled house (GA082-064001-). As Athy indicated, the NNE wall (L c. 8m) and adjoining part of WNW wall (L c. 11.4m) are of much stouter construction (Wth c. 2.2m) than the rest (average Wth 1-1.7m). The NNE wall also contains a narrow single-light window with round head. These walls may well have been part of the original castle, later incorporated into the 17th-C house. 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

Thomas Colman held Castle Menlough in 1574, and it was likely a strategic stronghold due to its position near a crossing point on the River Corrib. Its location suggests it played a role in local control and trade during the late 16th century.

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