What is recorded here

You can still see the castle's shadow in a flat grassy field where a low ridge rises to the east. It belonged to a branch of the Mac Egans, judges whose word shaped law for the O Conors of Connacht. Most of the building has vanished, but one corner and a broad stone platform remain, while a decorated hearth stone from the castle now stands in a school wall at Clonbern.

To S of a small stream in low-lying pastureland, an esker ridge lies to E. This very poorly preserved castle was home to a branch of the Mac Egans who were hereditary brehons to the O Conors of Connacht (Killanin and Duignan 1967, 267). Apart from NE corner (H 2.4m), all that survives is the raised platform (N-S 16m, E-W 10m, H 1.4m) on which it stood. No architectural features are visible. However, the decorated and inscribed mantle stone of a fireplace from here is now incorporated into a wall of the National School in Clonbern - see GA031-069---- (information from Prof. E. Fitzpatrick 20 March 2019). Traces of a possible bawn wall (L 15.5m) extend to N from NE corner. (Melvin c. 1971, 12-3) 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). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Updated by: Olive Alcock Date of revised upload: 28 March 2019

Built by a branch of the Mac Egan family, hereditary brehons to the O Conors of Connacht, Park Castle dates to the medieval period, likely the 13th or 14th century. It is remembered for its historical association with the Mac Egans, an important legal and learned family in Gaelic Ireland.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.