Aughnanure Castle

Aughnanure Castle

A tower house of the O'Flahertys

West of Lough Corrib, in the wild country of County Galway, stands one of the best-preserved tower houses in Ireland: Aughnanure Castle. Tall and stern, rising six storeys high, it was the stronghold of the O'Flaherty clan, who ruled the rugged lands of west Connacht and were so feared that an old prayer in the city of Galway is said to have asked for deliverance "from the ferocious O'Flahertys".

A castle built for defence

Aughnanure was built around 1500 and is a classic example of an Irish tower house — a tall, narrow stone castle that served as both home and fortress for a Gaelic chieftain. Standing on a rocky outcrop almost surrounded by a stream and the waters near Lough Corrib, it was naturally protected, and its thick walls, narrow windows and battlemented top made it a strong refuge in dangerous times.

The castle had an unusually complete set of defences for its size, including a walled enclosure (a "bawn"), towers and a watchtower, showing how seriously the O'Flahertys took the business of protecting their stronghold.

The clever defences

Aughnanure is full of clever and even sneaky defensive features. The rock beneath it is honeycombed with natural caves and an underground river, and the castle made use of these. One famous story tells of a banqueting hall built over a hidden trapdoor: an unwelcome guest, it is said, could be dropped through the floor into the river below — though such tales may be more legend than history.

These details, true or exaggerated, capture the dangerous world of the Gaelic chieftains, where a strong and clever castle could mean the difference between survival and destruction.

The fierce O'Flahertys

The O'Flahertys were one of the great Gaelic clans of the west, ruling Connemara and the lands around Lough Corrib. They were connected by marriage to another famous figure of the region, the "Pirate Queen" Grace O'Malley, who commanded fleets and defied even Queen Elizabeth I.

For centuries the O'Flahertys held Aughnanure, until the upheavals of Ireland's wars and conquests eventually cost them their lands and their castle.

Restored and open

In modern times Aughnanure Castle has been restored and opened to visitors, one of the finest tower houses in the care of the state. Climbing its winding stairs through the floors, visitors can see how a Gaelic chieftain and his household lived, defended themselves, and watched over their wild domain.

Visiting today

Visitors can explore the six storeys of the tower house, see the remains of the bawn walls, watchtower and the famous banqueting hall, and walk the rocky, stream-laced grounds near Lough Corrib. Displays tell the story of the formidable O'Flahertys. Tall, well-preserved and full of the atmosphere of Gaelic Ireland, Aughnanure Castle is one of the finest tower houses to visit in the west of the country.