| Browse by Categories |
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
Accommodation ~ Hotels
~
B&B ~ Self Catering ~ Hostels
~
Restaurants
Property ~
Business Listings ~
Attractions ~
Activities
~
Maps |
|
|
Blackloon Castle
~ Ballinasloe |
|
Brackloon castle near
Clonfert, was a 15c O'Madden stronghold. It was a scene of
slaughter when the garrison were thrown off the battlements
in 1651.
Brackloon derives its name from "Breac Cluain", the speckled
meadow. The tower house is close to the village of Clonfert
with its fine Norman Cathedral church.
Its strong walls,
small windows, defensive, turrets and murder hole are ist
main features. It is located to the south of the crossroads
as one travels from Clonfert to Eyrecourt. |
 |
|
|
Brackloon was attacked many
times and was captured in the 16th Century by the forces of
the Queen, when Queen Mary ordered that troops sail up the
Shannon from Athlone, and that the army march into Meelick
to route out the troublesome
O'Connors, who were
hiding on the West Banks of the Shannon. The Castle was
inhabited until the 1950's and was adapted as time went by.
Its last inhabitants were local teachers in the nearby Clonfert School. This is one of many O'Madden tower houses
still surviving in the region The tower consists of on the
ground floor, an entrance on the south wall, fitted with an
iron gate, this gate is the product of repair work carried
out here in the early to mid 20th century. Inside on the
left there is a guard room measuring 1.64 x 1.6 (5'5" x
5'3"), the roof of which is vaulted, the plaster still
retaining evidence of the wicker formwork which was used to
support the ceiling during construction. It is likely that
the upper floors were timber, evidenced by the joist holes
existing in the outer walls. The spiral stone staircase is
to be found to the right on entering the building, contrary
to common practice the stairs spiral anticlockwise. It
appears that a murder hole may have existed which consisted
of an opening in the floor above the entrance lobby. The
purpose of this hole as the name implies was to stop the
enemy from entering by being able to defend the base of the
stairs from above. The castle is now without upper floors
and roofless, however the main structure appears sound and
is capable of restoration to form a unique and outstanding
home.
See more
Castles
in County Galway |
|
|
|
|
|
