Castle (in Ruins) — Aghalahard

This tower house is a National Monument in State care (no. 243). Fragmentary remains of rectangular tower (12.8m NW-SE; 9.9m NE-SW), built with ashlar blocks and standing in SW corner of polygonal shaped bawn (MA120-024001-) with square turrets. NW wall stands to three storeys with short returns of NE and SW walls. Only faint outline of SE wall, which may have contained the doorway, survives. Ground floor has broad embrasures with narrow round openings on each of the surviving walls. E corner has remnants of spiral stairs; alcove on NE wall. Ist-floor has window embrasures on NE and NW walls; angle loop in W. Splayed window embrasure on NW wall of second storey, above which are traces of vaulted ceiling. At base of vault, in NE wall, is remains of secret chamber lighted by tiny window on NW wall. Higher up, on exterior of NW wall is perfectly preserved bartizan, and twin ogee-headed window. Upper level of NE wall contains garderobe which emerges at ground-level via two openings. Bawn (MA120-024001-) rebuilt in a number of places, contains three gun loops in an embrasure W of tower house. A later building (int. dims. 11.5m N-S; 5.9m E-W) (MA120-024002-) in SE of bawn has fireplaces in N and S gables. Owned by Mac Donnells in 1574 and held by them until last century, when purchased by Sir Benjamin Guinness (Harbison 1970,168). 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), No. 703. Date of upload: 15 October 2014