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On a low hillock in undulating farmland which falls away gently to the S. This tower house was in existence in 1574 when 'Balledavy' castle was in the possession of 'the Abbay [sic] of Athenry' (Nolan 1901, 121). Only a section of the N wall (L 5m; H c. 9m; wall T 1.6m at base; wall T 1.3m above batter) and a short length of the return of the of adjoining E wall (L 1.5m, H 1m) survive. It is constructed of roughly coursed rubble and mortar. Apart from a noticeable base-batter, the only architectural feature is part of a window ope at the frayed W end of the N wall, c. 4m above ground level. A stony ridge probably marks the position of the W wall, suggesting an E-W length of c. 9-10m. This corresponds closely with Lyons' notes on the castle made in early 20th century which recorded its dimensions as 10.05m by 13.7m (Cody 1989, 344-5). The tower house was built in the NE section of a subrectangular grass-covered platform (22m N-S, 18m E-W) that is defined by a scarp (H 1m). A medieval church (GA098-006001-) lies c. 290m to the SW.
Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG
Date of upload: 18 August 2021
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