What is recorded here

Doon Castle occupied a high rock outcrop above Streamstown Bay in 1574, when Edmund OFlairte held the place. The castle has almost entirely vanished, leaving only foundation stones and fragments of a bawn wall along the western and northern edges. A later rectangular building reused part of that ancient wall, proving the site kept giving up its substance to new hands. Kill Church still stands opposite across the water, watching the rock where Doon disappeared.

Strategically placed on a long, high, rock outcrop on N side of Streamstown Bay, conceivably the site of the 'dún' in the td. name. Kill Church (GA022-043----) lies directly opposite on S side of the inlet. It was in existence in 1574 when it was in the possession of 'Edmund OFlairte' (Nolan 1901, 116). Apart from the foundations and some fragments of a possible bawn wall (GA022-032----) along W and N edges of the outcrop, no visible surface trace of the castle survives. Part of this wall has been utilised by a later rectangular building (L 16.50m, Wth c. 5.1m) running E-W, the tall gable and foundations of which occupy NW corner of the outcrop. (O'Flanagan 1927a, Vol. 3, 74, 79; Hardiman 1846, 113, 283; Killanin 1954, 96) 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 following image has been uploaded: GA022-032----_01.jpg View of castle site from NNE

Built by the O'Hanlons in the 15th or 16th century, Doon Castle was strategically positioned to control access to Streamstown Bay and the surrounding area. It is remembered for its defensible location and its association with the Gaelic Irish lords of the region.

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