Kinlough Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kinlough Castle |
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| Native name Irish: Caisleán Chionn Locha |
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| Type | tower house |
| Location | Kinlough, Shrule, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Built | 16th century |
| Owner | Office of Public Works |
| Official name: Kinlough Castle | |
| Reference no. | 95A |
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Kinlough Castle is an old tower house in County Mayo, Ireland. It's also a special National Monument, which means it's protected because of its history.
Contents
Where is Kinlough Castle?
Kinlough Castle stands about 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) southwest of a village called Shrule. You can find it right next to the Black River.
The History of Kinlough Castle
When Was Kinlough Castle Built?
People think the main tower was first built way back in the 13th century. Later, in 1574, Sir John MacOliver Burke added two more floors. He also put fireplaces in the corners of these new rooms.
What Does the Castle Look Like?
The bottom part of the castle walls is wider at the base. This makes the castle stronger. You can also see narrow openings called "loops" in the walls. These were used for shooting arrows. The main entrance has a special slot for a drawbar, which was used to lock the door securely.
Who Owned Kinlough Castle?
The current tower house was built in the 16th century. A map from 1584 called it a "MacWilliam House." This means it belonged to the MacWilliam family.
Sir John FitzOliver Burke, who was known as "The MacWilliam Eighter," lived there in 1574. Later, in 1618, Sir Richard FitzOliver Burke was living there.
His son, Walter, used the castle as a guarantee for a loan from Sir Valentine Blake in 1628. This is called a mortgage. In 1668, Sir Thomas Blake allowed John Darcy to use the castle and its land for a set period. This is called a lease. Finally, in 1852, Pierce Joyce bought the land where the castle stands.
What Kinlough Castle Looks Like Today
Kinlough Castle is four stories tall. It has pointed sections at the top of its east and west walls, called gables. However, it doesn't have crenellations, which are the battlements that look like teeth on top of many castles.
You can still see signs of a small, round tower called a bartizan on the west wall. The castle also has three chimney stacks, which are where smoke from fireplaces would escape.
Wildlife at the Castle
Today, Kinlough Castle is a home for nature! It's a nesting site for the common swift (Apus apus). These birds build their nests inside the castle walls.
