O'Brien's Castle: A Sentinel of Inisheer

O'Brien's Castle, also known as Furmina Castle, stands as a proud, if crumbling, sentinel on Inisheer (Inis Oírr), the smallest of the Aran Islands. Built around 1400 by the Clann Teige, a branch of the powerful O'Brien family, the castle occupies the site of Dún Formna, an ancient ringfort dating back to between the 5th century BC and 1st century AD. The location was strategically chosen, offering commanding views of Galway Bay and the mainland. Throughout its history, O'Brien's Castle has been a focal point of conflict. In 1582, the O'Flahertys of Connemara, rivals of the O'Briens, seized the castle. Then, in 1652, during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, Oliver Cromwell's army captured and intentionally damaged the castle to prevent its future use as a stronghold. Today, O'Brien's Castle is a National Monument of Ireland. Though largely in ruins, its rectangular donjon (keep) still evokes a sense of its former grandeur. Visitors can explore the remains of the four-story structure, including the great hall on the first floor and the vaulted chambers in the basement. A notable feature is the corbel of a bartizan, which features a human face carved into it. From the castle's elevated position, one can appreciate the island's unique landscape, characterized by stone walls, fields, and other landmarks like Teampall Chaomháin and the Plassey shipwreck.