Castlegar Castle Travel Guide

Castlegar Castle, or what remains of it, is situated in the village of Castlegar in County Galway. The castle's name, derived from the Irish 'Caisleán Gearr,' meaning 'short castle,' hints at its history. Built in the 16th century by Richard Burke (De Burgo), the 4th Earl of Clanricarde, it served as a defensive fort. Legend has it that De Burgo constructed Castlegar Castle after his son was beheaded by the O'Flaherty clan over a tax dispute, but he only resided there for one night.The castle was a four-story tower house with a stone arch and narrow slit windows. In 1574, it was held by Roland Skerrit, another Anglo-Norman settler. Over time, the castle fell into ruin, with only half of the southeast wall of the tower remaining. In more recent times, the castle was repurposed as a handball alley, with side walls added; these can still be seen today.Today, Castlegar Castle offers visitors a tangible link to the past. While exploring the site, one can appreciate the stonework and imagine the lives of those who inhabited it centuries ago. Although access may be challenging due to its state of disrepair, the castle remains an interesting structure to explore.