Built in the Gothic Revival style during the 19th century, this castellated structure originally served as the entrance lodge to Menlough Castle, the ancestral home of the Blake family. The main castle itself was destroyed in a devastating fire in 1910, which tragically claimed the lives of Eleanor Blake and her daughter. Today, only this gatehouse and some ivy-covered ruins of the main house remain, slowly being reclaimed by nature along the banks of the River Corrib.

The Blake family, one of the famous Fourteen Tribes of Galway, had held the Menlough estate since medieval times. Their castle was a substantial three-storey building that had been modified and expanded over the centuries, reflecting the family’s long-standing prominence in the region. The gatehouse, with its twin turrets and Gothic windows, was designed to impress visitors arriving at the estate; a fitting introduction to what was then one of Galway’s most significant residences. Following the fire, the family never rebuilt, and the insurance claim became the subject of a lengthy legal dispute that lasted for years.

What makes the gatehouse particularly intriguing today is its state of romantic decay. The structure remains largely intact, though roofless and overtaken by vegetation, creating an almost fairy-tale quality that draws photographers and history enthusiasts alike. Located just off the N84 road between Galway city and Headford, it’s easily visible to passing traffic, though accessing it requires permission as it sits on private land. The site serves as a poignant reminder of the transience of even the grandest estates and the dramatic social changes that swept through Ireland in the early 20th century.