Portumna Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Portumna Castle |
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Portumna castle
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| Location | Portumna, County Galway |
| Country | Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°05′21″N 8°13′08″W / 53.0892°N 8.2189°W |
| Construction started | 1610 |
| Completed | 1617 |
| Cost | £10,000 (£2.8 million in 2020, adjusted for inflation) |
| Client | Richard Burke |
| Official name | Portumna Castle |
| Reference no. | 515 |
Portumna Castle is a cool old house in Portumna, County Galway, Ireland. It's like a mix between a fancy home and a strong fort. A powerful leader named Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde built it in the early 1600s.
Contents
Where is Portumna Castle?
Portumna Castle sits right by Lough Derg, a big lake. It's close to where the River Shannon flows into the lake. You can also find Portumna Abbey, another old building, to the east of the castle.
The Castle's Story
When Portumna Castle was built, it was one of the most impressive buildings in all of Ireland. It was much grander than other castles of its time.
Who Built It?
The castle was built by Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde. He was a very important person, known as the Lord President of Connaught. This meant he was in charge of a large area of western Ireland. His family, the de Burgo family, had come from Normandy a long time ago.
When Was It Built?
Construction of Portumna Castle started around 1610 and finished in 1617. It cost a lot of money back then, about £10,000. That would be like spending millions of pounds today! Richard Burke also built another big house in England called Somerhill House.
What Style Is It?
Portumna Castle was built in the Renaissance style. This style was popular in Italy and France for many years. But it was quite new and unusual in Ireland and England at that time.
The castle's design shows off these Renaissance ideas. It's very balanced and symmetrical. The building has three main floors above a basement. It also has square towers sticking out at each corner. These towers are about 6.5 meters wide and have special openings for guns.
Inside, a wide corridor runs through the middle of the castle. This corridor is supported by strong stone walls. These walls have many hidden spaces and fireplaces.
What Happened to It?
Sadly, a big fire in 1826 damaged the castle. After the fire, no one lived there anymore. Today, the Office of Public Works helps to look after the castle. They have even rebuilt the huge chimneys.
The castle grounds are also interesting. They have old walled gardens, gate lodges, and a large yard.
See Also
- Flight of the Wild Geese
- House of Burgh
