Castle, Ballindrimna, Co. Galway
In the gently rolling farmland of Ballindrimna, County Galway, overlooking a stream to the southeast, lies what remains of a castle that once stood as a notable landmark in the area.
Castle, Ballindrimna, Co. Galway
Historical records from 1574 place it in the hands of Shane McVillig and McWilliam Roe of Ballindrumnine, suggesting it served as an important stronghold during the tumultuous period of Gaelic Ireland. The Ordnance Survey map of 1837 shows it as a substantial square building, roughly 12 metres on each side, still roofed and intact at that time.
By 1933, however, the castle had fallen into considerable disrepair. The Ordnance Survey of that year recorded only the eastern wall, stretching about 10 metres, along with partial remains of the north and south walls; the western side had already vanished completely. The maps from this period intriguingly show the structure perched atop a small circular earthwork, hinting at possible earlier fortifications or defensive features that may have predated the castle itself.
Today, visitors to the site will find little more than a low, subcircular mound measuring 40 metres north to south and 31 metres east to west. Composed of earth and stones with an notably uneven surface, this humble mound is all that remains of what was once a formidable castle. While the physical structure has largely returned to the earth, the site continues to hold significance as a tangible link to the complex social and political landscape of 16th century Galway, when Gaelic lords still held sway over much of the Irish countryside.