Caisleán Aircín (Arkin’s Castle)

The Irish word ‘aircín’ describes a small natural harbour and this seems to have been the original name for the area. Before the 19^th century, this was the island's main harbour, and the castle appears to have been established on an earlier 13^th century defensive site. Caisleán Aircín, also known as Arkyn Castle, and later as Cromwell’s Fort, is situated in the village of Cill Éinne on the Aran Island of Inis Mór.

 An early medieval fortress was built on the site in the 1200s for the O’Brien family, in whose possession it remained until 1565, at which time it was dispossessed by the Uí Fhlaithbheartaigh of Iar-Chonnacht. In 1587, the Uí Fhlaithbheartaigh were in turn dispossessed by Elizabeth I of England, who created Arkyn as a Royal Manor.

The current structure dates from the 1650s when Oliver Cromwell’s victorious forces gained control of Galway and fortified the island with a garrison of 100 soldiers to guard access to Galway Bay. The fort briefly served as a prison for outlawed Catholic priests in the 1650s, but was occupied only occasionally after 1700. A late 18th century sketch of the fort shows four watchtowers, two square and two circular, only one of which survives today. A door is visible at the western end of the curtain wall, which provided access to the fort from the sea.

Protect our Past - Click here to read about the importance of protecting our country’s unique heritage sites

This national monument is protected in accordance with the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014