Ardamullivan Castle,
County Galway

Standing on the brow of a secluded valley and surrounded by trees, this is a well-preserved early 16th-century tower house of the O'Shaughnessys. The castle is first mentioned in 1567 on the death of Sir Roger O'Shaughnessy. He was succeeded by his brother Dermot, "the Swarthy", known as "the Queen's O'Shaughnessy" for his support of the Crown. He became very unpopular in the district and indeed among his own family after he betrayed Dr Creagh, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, who had sought refuge in the woods on O'Shaughnessy territory. In 1579 his nephew John, popular heir to the family estates and title, fought with Dermot outside the south gate of the castle and both claimants were killed. In the last century the ruin was renovated.

Click here Irish Castles to buy the newly reformatted book from Amazon.co.uk. The previous edition of Irish Castles is also still available from Amazon.co.uk.