Aughnanure Castle

Connemara’s best preserved late-medieval tower house, Aughnanure Castle is beautifully positioned on a rocky outcrop overhanging the Drimneen River, close to the western shores of Lough Corrib. Built in the late-fifteenth century, the castle served as the stronghold of the O’Flaherty Gaelic lords of Iarchonnacht (West Connacht) for over two centuries. Its location on water is in keeping with the O’Flaherty tradition of building their strongholds with access to lakes, rivers and coastline. The tower house stands as a testament to what was once the most powerful and influential force in the late-medieval Gaelic lordship of Iarchonnacht, and is a visible statement of the family’s prestige and status on an important route-way to the Corrib.

Constructed in at least two phases, Aughnanure consists of the earlier fifteenth century tower house and surrounding inner walled enclosure or  bawn, along with the later sixteenth century outer bawn, banqueting hall and other buildings.

The O’Flahertys took every advantage of their castle’s geographical position close to the lake and in the seventeenth century, this allowed the castle to play an important role resisting the Cromwellian blockade of Galway. However, the O’Flahertys’ role in the Rebellion of 1641 resulted in the confiscation of their lands and their rule of Iarchonnacht came to an abrupt end. Aughnanure subsequently fell in and out of O’Flaherty hands on many occasions throughout the following centuries and ultimately, fell to Peadar O’Flaherty who gifted Aughnanure to the State in 1952. A restoration and conservation programme followed in the 1960s with the site opening to the public in 1974.

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