Garbally Castle in Ruins — Report the wrong picture

What is recorded here

Garbally Castle vanished before modern cameras arrived, leaving only a memory of mortared walls on a low ridge beside Ballyboy. The 1942 survey found a pear-shaped mound studded with squared stones and a window jamb marked by barholes, evidence that a tower once watched the undulating country. By 1974 even the loose stone mound had disappeared, perhaps dragged away for farm walls or forgotten entirely. The castle did not fall; it was erased, scattered into ordinary ground until no corner remained to mark the height of its walls.

Not visible at ground level. Possible 16th-century tower house (ITA Survey 1942; Shaw 1971, 61-2; Loeber 1988, vol. 3, 36-7). Described in 1974 by the Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society (OHAS) that 'The remains of this slight mound (OF024-026002-) of loose stone have now been removed' (OHAS file 1974). Described in 1942 as being situated 'on a low slightly isolated ridge in open undulating country, beside a hollow which may have contained water. A lone pear-shaped artificial mound , 54 x 20 yds. 8 feet high at SW and sloping down to 3 feet on NE. On it are a few foundations of mortared walls, with one corner; but much has probably been dug away, and no plan can be made. In the adjoining cottage are a good many squared stones (OF024-026003-) probably from the castle and a side jamb of an unglased window with barholes, 29 inches between transomes of section. Perhaps XVIth century' (ITA Survey 1942). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

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