Known locally as Bawn, this structure represents a fascinating chapter in Irish architectural history when landowners built defensive homes that could withstand the uncertainties of their time. The word ‘bawn’ itself derives from the Irish ‘bábhún’, meaning a fortified enclosure; these structures served as both family residences and defensive strongholds during a period of significant political and social upheaval.

Built during the plantation era, the Bawn at Anbally features the characteristic elements of these defensive dwellings: thick stone walls, narrow windows positioned strategically for defence, and a layout designed to protect both the inhabitants and their livestock. The structure would have originally included a courtyard surrounded by high walls, with the main house forming one side of the enclosure. This design allowed families to retreat behind fortified walls whilst maintaining their agricultural activities, a necessity in an era when raids and territorial disputes were common occurrences.

Today, the remains of the Bawn offer visitors a tangible connection to this turbulent period of Irish history. The surviving stonework reveals skilled craftsmanship, whilst the defensive features remind us of the practical concerns that shaped domestic architecture in 17th-century Ireland. For those interested in the evolution of Irish fortified houses, Anbally’s Bawn provides an excellent example of how architectural design responded to the social and political realities of its time, bridging the gap between medieval tower houses and the more peaceful country houses that would follow in later centuries.