Carrickkildavnet Castle

Carrickkildavnet Castle is a tower house and National Monument located in Achill Island, Ireland.[1][2]

Carrickkildavnet Castle
Native name
Irish: Caisleán Ghráinne
Kildavnet Castle/Tower
Grace O'Malley's Castle
Kildownet Tower
Typetower house
LocationCarrickkildavnet, Achill Island,
County Mayo, Ireland
Coordinates53.880875°N 9.945935°W / 53.880875; -9.945935
Height12 m (39 ft)
Builtc. 1429
OwnerState
Official nameCarrickkildavnet Castle
Reference no.458
Location of Carrickkildavnet Castle in Ireland

Location

Carrickkildavnet Castle is located in the southeast corner of Achill Island, across from the Corraun Peninsula. This is an important strategic site, protecting the mouth of Achill Sound and the passage that connects Clew Bay with Blacksod Bay.[3]

History

Carrickkildavnet castle was built c. 1429 by the Ó Máille (O'Malley), Kings of Umaill. It was later the 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 Clare Island.

Building

It is a tower house of four storeys' height. It is vaulted above the first floor and a hole at the corner of this vault is the only access to the higher levels, presumably for defensive reasons. Other defensive features include a mural chamber, machicolation, defensive loops, buttress fortifications at the top and a ruined bawn wall.[4][5][6][7][8]

  • Castle with Achill Sound and Corraun Hill beyond
  • View of the tower house

References
  1. Mullen, Michael (1 January 2004). Mayo: The Waters and the Wild. Dundurn. ISBN 9781900935401 – via Google Books.
  2. Greenwood, Margaret; Connolly, Mark; Wallis, Geoff (1 January 2003). Ireland. Rough Guides. ISBN 9781843530596 – via Google Books.
  3. http://www.ait-themes.com, AitThemes.com. "Granuaile's Tower, Kildavnet, Achill Island, Ireland - Achill Tourism".
  4. "Kildavnet Castle, Achill Island • Destination Westport".
  5. "Kildavnet Castle (2013) - Achill Archaeological Field School".
  6. "Kildavnet Castle".
  7. "Kildavnet Castle Stock Photos and Pictures - Getty Images".
  8. "Carrickkildavnet Castle & Church Co Mayo". 2016-01-25.
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