History

  A panel at the entrance signed by the Galway Civic Trust [1] states that Castlegar castle is a four-storey tower house built by Richard De Burgo, the 4th Earl of Clanricarde [2, 3], in the 16th Century as a defensive fort. As stated in [3], the De Burgo was a powerful family, ruling over much of Connacht, but opposed by the native Irish clans like the O’Flaherty’s. According to a legend, Richard De Burgo built Castlegar castle after his son was behaded by the O’Flaherty’s, however he stayed in the castle one night only, before moving to his residence, Portumna castle [3].
In 1574, the castle was held by another Anglo-Norman settler, Roland Skerrit [3].
  The original Irish name An Caisleán Gearr means “short castle” [2]. Perhaps this derives from its height, shorter than other castles in the area, or maybe because it was inhabitated only for a short time [1].
  As reported in the panel [1], the northeast wall was used as a handball alley up untill the mid 20th Century.

References


Other useful links

Tips

  Although in an advanced stage of desrepair, Castlegar still remains a very interesting structure and even though the odds seem to make it difficult to gain access, you should definitely give it a chance.
  Parking might seem challenging, as the castle is located on a small road in Castlegar village, but don’t be afraid: there isn't too much traffic around (…hopefully 😅), so you can leave the car in front of the ruin, hop the fence and find your way around it.
  The round tower with its roofless top offers a magical perspective. We missed the sunrays though, so with a bit of luck, if you happen to be there on a sunny day, you will definitely walk away with some beautiful pictures in your pocket and the memory of another Irish gem.