Tower (in Ruins) — Castle Ffrench

In gently undulating pastureland, c. 200m E of 'Castle Ffrench' (GA047-014----). A rectangular four-storey tower (L 6.25m, Wth 4.5m) in fair condition. An inscribed plaque bearing the ffrench coat of arms records that it was built in 1683. This is set into SW wall, at 1st-floor level, where it is blocking a small window. The original doorway was probably at S end of SE wall where a blocked ope is overlooked by a machicolation at parapet level. Present access is via a wide segmental archway (Wth 2.55m) in NW wall. None of the floors survive but corbels and beam slots indicate their position. Fireplaces survive in E corner on 1st and 2nd floors and a chimney stack rises from 3rd floor. There are three large rectangular windows in NE wall, probably later insertions. Apart from these, the other windows are just small rectangular opes. Traces of a possible bawn wall are visible at S end of SW wall. 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