Granuaile's Castle

Granuaile's Castle
Native name Caisleán Ghráinne (Irish)
Type	tower house
Location	Glen, Clare Island, County Mayo, Ireland
Coordinates	53.799753°N 9.951312°W / 53.799753; -9.951312
Height	12 m (39 ft)
Built	16th century
Owner	State
National monument of Ireland
Official name	Granuaile's Castle
Reference no.	198
Location of Granuaile's Castle in Ireland

Granuaile's Castle is a tower house and National Monument located in Clare Island, Ireland.[1]

Location

Granuaile's Castle is located on the east coast of Clare Island.[2][3]

History

Granuaile's Castle was built in the 16th century by the Ó Máille (O'Malley), Kings of Umaill. It was a stronghold of Gráinne Ní Mháille (Grace O'Malley, c. 1530 – c. 1603), the famous "pirate queen." Her other strongholds were at Rockfleet Castle (on Clew Bay) and Carrickkildavnet Castle.[4]

In the 1820s the castle was converted into a police barracks, when the purple slate flashing was added to the two bartizans.^[citation needed]

Building

The main living room was at that first floor level with access to the bartizans and the garderobe.[5][6][7]

Gallery

• 
  The castle in 1994
• 
  Castle exterior
• 
  Castle interior

References

1. "Granuaile's Castle". 20 October 2009.
2. "Granuaile's Castle Sept 09".
3. "Grania-u-aile Castle, Clare Island".
4. Academy, Royal Irish (1 January 1915). "Clare Island Survey: A Biological Survey of Clare Island in the County of Mayo, Ireland and of the Adjoining District ..." Hodges, Figgis – via Google Books.
5. "Granuaile's Castle, Clare Island • Destination Westport".
6. "Irish Castles - Granuailes Castle".
7. "Clare Island – The Castle".