Castle and Manor (...and a gruesome story below.)
To defend the Manor of Headford in what is now County Galway, Ireland from the O’Flaherty raids across Lough Corrib, the De Burgos built two castles, Annaghkeen Castle and Carigin Castle to protect it from attacks across the lake.
Annaghkeen Castle pictured here is remarkable for its construction technique, as it was built entirely from undressed stone, without any mortar or cement. The stones were carefully selected and fitted together to form a solid structure that has survived for almost 700 years. The castle measures about 15 meters by 8 meters, and has walls that are about 1.5 meters thick.
The history of Annaghkeen Castle is intertwined with the history of the De Burgo family and their feud with the O’Flaherty clan. They engaged in constant warfare with their neighbours, especially the O’Flahertys, who refused to acknowledge their authority or pay them rent.
One of the most famous episodes of this feud occurred in the 16th century, when an O’Flaherty chieftain invited a De Burgo envoy to his castle at Aughnanure, near Oughterard, to discuss the rent issue. O’Flaherty treated his guest with great hospitality and invited him to join a banquet. During the feast, however, he pressed a hidden lever that opened a trapdoor under the De Burgo’s seat, sending him plunging into the river below. O’Flaherty then cut off his head and sent it back to his relatives as “O’Flaherty’s rent”.
The feud between the De Burgos and the O’Flaherty’s continued for centuries, until both families were weakened by internal divisions and external pressures. Annaghkeen Castle was eventually abandoned and fell into ruin. In the early 19th century, a new manor house was built nearby by another branch of the De Burgo family, but it was also deserted after the Great Famine of 1845-1849. Today, both buildings stand as silent witnesses of a turbulent past. (Text lifted from the Visit Galway site.)
Castle and Manor (...and a gruesome story below.)
To defend the Manor of Headford in what is now County Galway, Ireland from the O’Flaherty raids across Lough Corrib, the De Burgos built two castles, Annaghkeen Castle and Carigin Castle to protect it from attacks across the lake.
Annaghkeen Castle pictured here is remarkable for its construction technique, as it was built entirely from undressed stone, without any mortar or cement. The stones were carefully selected and fitted together to form a solid structure that has survived for almost 700 years. The castle measures about 15 meters by 8 meters, and has walls that are about 1.5 meters thick.
The history of Annaghkeen Castle is intertwined with the history of the De Burgo family and their feud with the O’Flaherty clan. They engaged in constant warfare with their neighbours, especially the O’Flahertys, who refused to acknowledge their authority or pay them rent.
One of the most famous episodes of this feud occurred in the 16th century, when an O’Flaherty chieftain invited a De Burgo envoy to his castle at Aughnanure, near Oughterard, to discuss the rent issue. O’Flaherty treated his guest with great hospitality and invited him to join a banquet. During the feast, however, he pressed a hidden lever that opened a trapdoor under the De Burgo’s seat, sending him plunging into the river below. O’Flaherty then cut off his head and sent it back to his relatives as “O’Flaherty’s rent”.
The feud between the De Burgos and the O’Flaherty’s continued for centuries, until both families were weakened by internal divisions and external pressures. Annaghkeen Castle was eventually abandoned and fell into ruin. In the early 19th century, a new manor house was built nearby by another branch of the De Burgo family, but it was also deserted after the Great Famine of 1845-1849. Today, both buildings stand as silent witnesses of a turbulent past. (Text lifted from the Visit Galway site.)