At Bunowen More in County Galway, visitors can explore the remains of one such structure, which would have served as a protective enclosure for livestock and residents during times of conflict. These stone-walled compounds, typically attached to tower houses or castles, were particularly common throughout Ireland between the 15th and 17th centuries.

The word ‘bawn’ derives from the Irish ‘bábhún’, meaning cattle fort, which hints at its primary peacetime function; safeguarding valuable livestock from raiders. The walls were usually built high enough to deter climbing, with defensive features such as corner towers, musket loops, and sometimes a gatehouse. During the turbulent centuries of clan warfare and later colonial tensions, these fortifications provided crucial refuge for local populations who could retreat behind the walls with their animals and possessions when danger threatened.

Today, the bawn at Bunowen More stands as a testament to this period of Irish history when security concerns shaped the very architecture of rural life. Though many bawns across Ireland have fallen into ruin or been absorbed into later farm buildings, examples like this one offer valuable insights into how communities organised their defences and daily lives around these practical yet imposing structures. The thick stone walls, though weathered by centuries of Atlantic storms, still convey the sense of protection they once offered to those who sheltered within.