Castle Hag — Lough Mask

On highest point of what may have been an artifically enlarged island in Lough Mask. Known as Castle Hag or Caisleán na Caillighe. It is first mentioned in the Irish annals under the year 1195 when Cathal MacDermot O'Conor brought his spoils here when plundering Connacht; using Castle Hag as a base he committed further ravages on all sides. In 1586 a number of the Burkes' followers were attacked by Richard Bingham and forced to flee. It has been suggested that the enclosing walls may have been added to at this time as there is a difference in the width and masonry style between the upper and lower portions of the wall (Naessens and O'Connor 2012, 119). The remains consist of a circular stone fortress (diam. 36.5m) strengthened with lime mortar. The wall reaches a height of 8m and is 3m thick at the base. Much of the E side has been levelled; this side probably contained the entrance. The interior is relatively featureless apart from a small beehive-like hut adjoining NE wall. The interior also contains two rectangular-shaped depressions. While it is possible this may originally have been a cashel that subsequently was strengthened in later times the monument has been identified by Naessens and O’Conor as a possible pre-Norman fortification dating to the eleventh- / twelfth century (2012, 118-121). (Wilde 1872, 260; Naessens and O'Conor 2012, 118-9) The above description has been derived from D. Lavelle (compiler), An Archaeological Survey of Ballinrobe and District including Lough Mask and Lough Carra. Lough Mask and Lough Carra Tourist Development Association (1994), p. 103, No. 701. In this instance it has been revised in light of recent research. Revised by: Paul Walsh Revised date of upload: 18 April 2017