History
Located close to the village of Tynagh, Pallas castle is a 16th century five storey tower house, surrounded by a strong bawn wall with towers and a two storey gatehouse guarding the entrance [1-3]. As the information panel placed at the entrance by the Office of Public Works (OPW) states, Pallas is probably the best preserved tower house in County Galway and one of the best preserved of Ireland.
First erected by the Burke family, Pallas was then owned by the Nugent family and finally by the Trench family, before becoming a National Monument in 1934 [1-3].
Descending from William de Burgh, an Anglo-Norman knight who came to Ireland in the 13th century, the Burkes owned the castle with no interruption till the 16th century, when Jonyck Fitzthomas Burke was captured and executed after several rebellions against Queen Elizabeth I and his lands were confiscated and granted to the English settlers [1]. However, some of his relatives managed to recover Pallas Castle and held it until the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, when the castle was given to Richard Nugent, as well originally Norman, nominated the first Earl of Westmeath in 1621 [1-3].
Pallas Castle was probably owned by the Nugents until the late 18th century [1]. It was then sold to the Trench family before being abandoned by the 19th century [1]. As previously stated, since 1934 it has been declared a National Monument [1-3].
Rising to about 20 metres, the tower house measures about 16 metres by 10 metres at the base and its surrounding bawn measures about 40 metres by 35 metres [1]. The five storeys were used for different purposes. In particular, the first floor was the hall probably used for feasts, the second floor was likely the private chamber of the lord and his wife [1]. The bawn has two towers with turrets at each corner and has internal steps and parapets [2]. Many details are present to enrich the tower house (fireplaces, vaults, stone seats, windows with mullions, …) and more information about its architecture can be found in [1].
