Headford Castle — Balrickard

The 'Castle of Achmakin' is first mentioned in 1245-6 (Knox 1901a, 169-70) but was probably built by Walter de Ridelesford in the late 1230s (Knox 1901b, 367). Though nothing is known of its form or exact location, it may well be one and the same as 'Aghkyne' castle, listed in 1574 as in the possession of 'Redmund McWalter' (Nolan 1901b, 118). The 3rd ed. of OS 6-inch map (1920) indicates 'Headford Castle (in Ruins)' to SE of the modern town but this refers to a 19th-C mansion, some of the ruined outbuildings of which still survive. However, Lewis (1837, Vol. 2, 4) states that this 'handsome modern building [was] erected on the ruins of the ancient castle'. According to Knox (1901a, 179), 'a part of [the castle] remains at the back [of the house] … The small square structure like a small Castle resembles the corner Towers of Moygara Castle [Co. Sligo]'. This is probably the small square tower-like building (L/Wth 5.5m) of two storeys which is surmounted by a striking rectangular chimney on SE gable: the latter is embellished with two string courses and a moulded cap. A number of robbed opes and fireplaces are visible, and a two-storey annexe abuts SE gable. Most of these features, along with the chimney and the brick vaults over the ground and 1st floors, are probably of 18th-C date. However, there is a dressed stone round-headed doorway in NW gable and a small crude slit window with chamfered jambs (reused) in SE one. This building is situated on SE edge of an artificial platform and could, as Knox (ibid.) suggests, be a mural tower on the line of a bawn. However, no visible surface trace of the castle itself survives. Associated with a possible manorial village (GA042-223----). 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