Aughnanure Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aughnanure Castle
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| Caisleán Achadh na nlubhar | |
| County Galway, Connacht Near Oughterard in Ireland |
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 Aughnanure Castle
Location in Ireland
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| Coordinates | 53°25′04″N 9°16′16″W / 53.41778°N 9.27111°W |
| Type | Tower house |
| Site information | |
| Owner | NMS |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Fully restored |
| Site history | |
| Built | Late 15th Century |
| Built by | O'Flaherty |
| In use | 17th Century |
| Fate | Fell to ruin |
| Battles/wars | Siege of Galway |
| Official name | Aughanure Castle |
| Reference no. | 470 |
Aughnanure Castle is an old tower house in County Galway, Ireland. It is close to the town of Oughterard. The O'Flaherty family built it in the late 1400s. The castle was fully fixed up in the 1960s. Today, you can visit it from March to November.
Contents
History of Aughnanure Castle
Who Built Aughnanure Castle?
A powerful Irish family, the O'Flahertys, built Aughnanure Castle. They were known as the Ó Flaithbheartaigh clan. Aughnanure is one of more than 200 tower houses in County Galway. Most of these old castles are now ruins. Irish and Anglo-Norman families built them long ago.
The castle is near Lough Corrib, a large lake. Its Irish name, "Caisleán Achadh na nlubhar," means "Castle of the field of the yews." This is because a big yew forest once grew near the castle.
What Does the Castle Look Like?
Aughnanure Castle is the only medieval castle in the Connemara area that is still standing. It is also open to the public. The castle has a six-story tower house. It has special features like crennellations (notches on the walls for defense) and machicolations (openings to drop things on attackers). It also has unique round watchtowers and a ruined banqueting hall. This hall has beautiful carvings of grapes and vines.
The O'Flaherty Family and Their Land
The O'Flaherty chiefs controlled the castle site from about 1250. They built the tower house around 1490. By this time, the O'Flahertys ruled a huge area called Iar Connacht. This land was about 250,000 acres. It gave them good access to the Atlantic Ocean and trade with other countries in Europe.
Changes in Ownership
In 1572, a man named Sir Edward Fitton captured the castle. He was the President of Connaught. He gave the castle to Murrough na dTuadh Ó Flaithbheartaigh. Murrough was a younger member of the O'Flaherty family. He agreed to follow the rules of the English Crown. This caused problems and made the O'Flaherty family weaker. They lost control of the castle. However, they took it back for a short time in a rebellion in 1641.
Aughnanure Castle helped supply the city of Galway during the Cromwellian siege in 1652. At that time, the Earl of Clanrickard controlled the castle. When Galway surrendered, the castle was left empty. Later, the O'Flahertys bought it back. But they lost it again because they couldn't pay a loan. Lord St George then took ownership.
A Gift to the State
In 1932, a distant relative of the O'Flahertys, Peadar O'Flaherty, bought the castle. In 1952, he gave it to the Irish State. He knew that giving it to the State would help protect its history and architecture. Sadly, he passed away shortly after.
Today, the Office of Public Works manages Aughnanure Castle. This is the Irish government body that looks after national monuments and historic places.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Aughnanure para niños
