Annaghdown Castle (in ruins) — Baile Uí Laoigh

On S shore of a small bay on E side of Lough Corrib. Nolan (1901a, 42), quoting from Parker, notes that 'the existence of a castle [GA069-002----] at this spot seems to have sprung from the desire of the Archbishops of Tuam to suppress the bishopric of Annaghdown'. The last bishop was appointed here in 1421 and 'it is to him that the erection of the present castle in probably due' (ibid). In 1574 'Anaghocyne' was in the possession of 'Nicholas Lynch' (Nolan 1901b, 118). An almost square tower (L 11m, Wth 10.3m), in fair condition, it is five storeys high. A pointed arch doorway in SE wall opens into a lobby with a murder-hole above. The guardroom is to S, while a passage to N leads to an intramural stairs which accesses the 1st floor, from where the spiral stairs rises. A stone vault exists between 2nd/3rd floors. A possible fireplace, partly destroyed, is visible on 1st floor in SW gable and there is an inaccessible passage in SE wall. Windows consist of simple rectangular slits and robbed-out two lights. Corbels which supported angled bartizans and visible on top of the walls on N, E and S corners, and slop-stones survive on all walls, except NE gable. Chimney stacks crown both gables. The garderobe exit chute is visible near the base of NW wall. Traces of a bawn wall (GA069-002001-)(H < 2m, Wth 0.85m) extend S from E and W corners. A slit window and gun loop are visible in E section. (Parker 1860, 168-9; O'Flanagan 1927, Vol. 1, 265-70) 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). The record number for this monument was incorrectly listed as GA069-00102- in the RMP (1997). Date of upload: 05 August 2010