Oranmore Castle
Oranmore Castle is a castle in Oranmore, County Galway, in Ireland.
History
Oranmore Castle was most likely built some time around the 15th century, possibly on top of an older fortified house.[1] The Clanricardes, a notable family from Galway, used it as a stronghold. In March 1642 the town, Oranmore, joined Confederate Ireland in a rebellion, against which the owners of the castle, the Marquess and the fifth Earl Clanricarde, held out.[1] Clanricarde supplied the Fort of Galway from the sea until 1643, when, without the Marquess's sanction, Captain Willoughby Governor of Galway surrendered.[1][2]
While ownership was temporarily lost, the 6th Earl regained possession, and in 1666 leased the castle to Walter Athy, whose descendants kept control of Oranmore until 1853.[1] It was then abandoned.[3]
The castle, which had fallen into disrepair, was reroofed after Anita Leslie purchased it in 1947 for £200.[4][5] Her daughter Leonie inherited the castle upon Anita's death. Leonie and her husband, Irish folk musician Alec Finn (1944-2018) have lived there since.[6]
Structure and layout
The castle, a rectangular towerhouse, has four storeys, a square staircase turret, and gunloops on the bottom floor. [7]
Popular culture
Oranmore Castle was featured in the 23 March 2001 episode of Scariest Places on Earth.[3] It was also used for the shooting of Alfred the Great,[8] as well as a film location for the Jack Taylor film The Pikeman. The exterior of Oranmore Castle is seen in the TV series Reign, as a French donjon.
References
- ^ a b c d "History". Oranmore Castle. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ Furey, Brian (1991). Oranmore Maree: a history of a cultural and social heritage. p. 43.
- ^ a b "Oranmore Castle". discoverireland.ie. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ "Wartime submarine commander and adventurer turns 100". Galway News. 25 June 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ Bence-Jones, Mark (1978). Burke's Guide to Country Houses. Burke's Peerage. p. 229.
- ^ "Obituary: Alec Finn". Independent.ie. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ "Oranmore Castle". phouka.com. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ "Film Location". Oranmore Castle. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
External links
Coordinates: 53°16′5.72″N 8°56′6.25″W / 53.2682556°N 8.9350694°W