Aughnanure Castle

Aughnanure Castle rises dramatically from a rocky outcrop overhanging the Drimneen River near Lough Corrib in County Galway, representing one of the region's most strategically positioned medieval fortifications. Built in the late 15th century as the stronghold of the O'Flaherty Gaelic lords, the castle features an unusual double bawn defensive structure unique among Irish castles. The name derives from Irish 'Achadh na nlubhar', meaning 'the field of the yews', reflecting the landscape's natural character. Abandoned for centuries before restoration by the Office of Public Works in the 1960s, Aughnanure now welcomes visitors from March to November, offering a tangible connection to the O'Flaherty clan's two-century dominion over West Connacht and the castle's pivotal role during the Cromwellian invasion of 1652.