Oranmore Castle
Native name
Irish: Caisleán Órán Mór
Typetower house
LocationOranmore, County Galway, Ireland
Coordinates53°16′5.72″N 8°56′6.25″W / 53.2682556°N 8.9350694°W / 53.2682556; -8.9350694
Built15th century
OwnerLeonie Finn[1]
Oranmore Castle is located in County Galway
Oranmore Castle
Location of Oranmore Castle in County Galway
Oranmore Castle is located in Ireland
Oranmore Castle
Oranmore Castle (Ireland)

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.[2] 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.[2] Clanricarde supplied the Fort of Galway from the sea until 1643, when, without the Marquess's sanction, Captain Willoughby Governor of Galway surrendered.[2][3]

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.[2] It was then abandoned.[4]

The castle, which had fallen into disrepair, was reroofed after Anita Leslie purchased it in 1947 for £200.[5][6] 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.[7]

Structure and layout

The castle, a rectangular towerhouse, has four storeys, a square staircase turret, and gunloops on the bottom floor. [8]

Oranmore Castle was featured in the 23 March 2001 episode of Scariest Places on Earth.[4] It was also used for the shooting of Alfred the Great,[9] 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

  1. ↑ Kelly, Briain (2 April 2020). "Plans for cultural exhibition space at Oranmore Castle".
  2. 1 2 3 4 "History". Oranmore Castle. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  3. ↑ Furey, Brian (1991). Oranmore Maree: a history of a cultural and social heritage. p. 43.
  4. 1 2 "Oranmore Castle". discoverireland.ie. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Wartime submarine commander and adventurer turns 100". Galway News. 25 June 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  6. ↑ Bence-Jones, Mark (1978). Burke's Guide to Country Houses. Burke's Peerage. p. 229.
  7. ↑ "Obituary: Alec Finn". Independent.ie. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  8. ↑ "Oranmore Castle". phouka.com. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  9. ↑ "Film Location". Oranmore Castle. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
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