Galboley Castle (in ruins)

Within the W half of a posible moated site (GA097-104001-). A castle existed here in 1574 when it was in the possession of 'Olyverus Roe burke' (Nolan 1901, 121). It is unclear whether the surviving remains of the rectangular two-storey gabled building (>12.3m, E-W; 5.8m N-S) now visible are those of the castle or are those of an ancillary or later building. The remains consist of the E gable (H 5m; T 0.85m) and the adjoining returns of the N (L 3.1m; H 3m; T 0.9m) and S side-walls (L 1m; H 1.5m). No visible trace of the W gable survives. The walls are rubble built and many of the corner stones have been robbed out. Part of a basal plinth is visible externally at the NE corner where a slight base-batter is also discernible. There is a breach (Wth c. 2m at ground level) in the gable wall, which may be the result of collapse but it more likely indicates the former site of an ope, possibly a doorway, at ground level. Above it, at 1st-floor level, there was a window but only the N side of its embrasure survives. The only other surviving architectural feature is a horizontal offset in the masonry which is visible internally c. 1.7m above ground level; it indicates the position of the 1st floor. Traces of another building (GA097-104002-) are visible c. 10m to E of this building. (Cody 1989, 367-9) Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG Date of upload: 4 December 2019

Built or held in 1574 by Oliverus Roe Burke, Galboley Castle is remembered as a historical site linked to early Irish landholding families, though its wider significance remains unclear due to limited surviving records.