Granuaile's Castle

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Granuaile's Castle
Irish: Caisleán Ghráinne
County Mayo
File:Granuaile castle.jpg
Granuaile's Castle
Type: Tower house
Location
Grid reference: L71518510
Location: 53°47’59"N, 9°57’5"W
History
Built 16th century
Information
Owned by: Heritage Ireland

Granuaile's Castle is a tower house on Clare Island in County Mayo. The castle stands on the east coast of the island.

Today Granuile's Castle is in state care and noted as a 'National Monument'.[1]

History

Granuaile's Castle was built in the 16th century by the Ó Máille (O'Malley), Kings of Umaill. It was a stronghold of Grace O'Malley (or Gráinne Ní Mháille) (c. 1530 – c. 1603), the infamous "pirate queen", who came to live here after her husband, Donal O'Flaherty of Bunowen Castle, was slain in battle. Her other strongholds were at Rockfleet Castle (on Clew Bay) and Carrickkildavnet Castle.[2]

In the 1820s the castle was converted into a police barracks, and at this point the purple slate flashing was added to the two bartizans.

Building

File:Granuaile's castle exterior - geograph.org.uk - 965112.jpg
Castle exterior
File:Granuaile's castle interior - geograph.org.uk - 965110.jpg
Castle interior

The main living room was at that first floor level with access to the bartizans and the garderobe.[3][4][5]

File:Commons-logo.svg
("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Granuaile's Castle)

References