| Athenry Castle | |
|---|---|
| Native name Irish: Caisleán Bhaile Átha an Rí | |
| King John's Court Bermingham's Court | |
 | |
| Type | Tower house |
| Location | Court Lane, Athenry, County Galway, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°18′00″N8°44′41″W / 53.299990°N 8.744619°W |
| Built | c. 1235–50 |
| Owner | State |
  Location of Athenry Castle in Ireland | |
| Official name | Athenry Castle |
| Reference no. | 406 [1] |
Athenry Castle is a tower house and National Monument located in Athenry, Ireland. [2] [3]
Athenry Castle is located off Court Lane in the eastern part of Athenry, on the west bank of the River Clarin. It is sited on a natural rise and defended a ford in the river. [4] [5]
Despite being locally known as King John's Castle or King John's Court (after the Lord of Ireland 1177–1216), it wasn't built until twenty years after his reign. [6]
The original keep (constructed 1235/40) was low and squat, the roof being at the level of the present second floor. Meyler de Bermingham extended it c. 1250. In 1316 the castle was attacked, leading to the construction of city walls. In the 15th century the Berminghams moved from it to their town house near the market cross in the square. In 1596 (during the Nine Years' War) the castle fell into the hands of the O'Donnells. [7]
The battlements are 13th century and in the 15th century, these parapets were incorporated into gables for a new roof. [8]
The castle was restored in 2005. [9]
Athenry Castle is a large rectangular building with base-batter, originally containing only a hall on the upper level and storerooms at ground level. The battlements are 13th century with tall arrowslits in the merlons. In the 15th century, these parapets were incorporated into gables at the north and south ends for a new roof. Parts of the original enclosure wall of the castle survive. [10]
The original entrance was at first-floor level and was reached by an external wooden stairs. Heat was probably provided by a brazier in the centre of the hall, with the smoke exiting through a louver or opening in the roof directly above. The garderobe is diagonally across from the main entrance.[ citation needed ]
There is fine carving on the exterior of the doorway and on the inner side of two of the window openings. The capitals are carved with floral motifs in a local style, known as the "School of the West", transitional between Romanesque and Late Gothic. [11]
A mural staircase led to the top floor. Wall-towers were built at the northeast and southeast corners, while the southwestern corner was fortified by the gate. [12] [13]
The castle features in the 2005 children's historical novel: Hoofbeats: Lara at Athenry Castle by Kathleen Duey. [14]
Athenry is a town in County Galway, Ireland, which lies 25 kilometres (16 mi) east of Galway city. Some of the attractions of the medieval town are its town wall, Athenry Castle, its priory and its 13th century street-plan. The town is also well known by virtue of the song "The Fields of Athenry".
A battlement, in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet, in which gaps or indentations, which are often rectangular, occur at intervals to allow for the launch of arrows or other projectiles from within the defences. These gaps are termed embrasures, also known as crenels or crenelles, and a wall or building with them is described as crenellated; alternative older terms are castellated and embattled. The act of adding crenels to a previously unbroken parapet is termed crenellation.
Roslin Castle is a partially ruined castle near the village of Roslin in Midlothian, Scotland. It is located around 9 mi (14 km) south of Edinburgh, on the north bank of the North Esk, only a few hundred metres from the famous Rosslyn Chapel.
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Kirkhope Tower is a Scottish Pele, located in the Ettrick Valley, in the historic county of Selkirkshire, now a division of the Scottish Borders. The tower lies a mile to the north west of Ettrickbridge, and seven miles (11 km) from the Burgh of Selkirk.
Rickard de Bermingham, otherwise Rickard Mac Fheorais, was Anglo-Irish lord of Athenry.
The Church of Saint Andrew is an Anglican parish church located on Turnhill Road, in High Ham, Somerset, England. It shows evidence of 12th- and 14th-century building and was largely rebuilt in 1476. On 17 April 1959, it was designated as a Grade I listed building.
Meyler de Bermingham was an Anglo-Irish lord, founder of Athenry.
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Athclare Castle is a Tudor tower house in the Dunleer area of County Louth in Ireland. Built in the 1550s, Athclare was built for the Barnewell family, and is typical of defensive architectural structures built in the Pale during the Tudor period in Ireland. Athclare has been extended and adapted in the centuries since its construction and is classified as a site of National social historical importance by the Irish National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
Taghmon Church is a fortified church and National Monument in County Westmeath, Ireland.
Slade Castle is a tower house and National Monument in County Wexford, Ireland. It is located in the village of Slade on the Hook Peninsula and primarily dates to the late 15th or early 16th century.
Pallas Castle is a tower house and National Monument located in County Galway, Ireland.
Ardamullivan Castle is a tower house and National Monument located in County Galway, Ireland.
Dunmore Castle is a castle and National Monument located in County Galway, Ireland.
Feartagar Castle, also called Jennings Castle, is a tower house and National Monument located in County Galway, Ireland.
The Priory Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Athenry, also called Athenry Priory, is a medieval Dominican priory and National Monument located in Athenry, Ireland.
Dunmore Abbey is a medieval Augustinian friary and National Monument located in County Galway, Ireland.
O'Brien's Castle, also called Furmina Castle, is an early 15th century tower house and National Monument located on Inisheer, Ireland.