Aughinish Tower, Martello tower in Aughinish Island, Ireland

Aughinish Tower is a three-level stone defensive structure on an island off Ireland's coast, constructed from limestone and granite blocks with thick walls and a central support column. The building contains separate storage, living quarters, and an upper section previously designed for military equipment.

Aughinish Tower was built from March 1811, when six acres of land for the site were bought from a Major Lynch, as a signal and gun tower against French invasion during the Napoleonic Wars. It had room for one officer and thirty-nine men on the first floor, with a basement water tank, magazine, cellar and store at ground level. A twenty-four pound cannon remained in place until 1992.

The tower became a social hub during the 1950s where the local community gathered for dancing, celebrations, and traditional Irish festivities.

Access to the island requires planning ahead, as it may depend on tides or boat services depending on seasonal conditions. Check local weather and water conditions before visiting to ensure safe access.

Aughinish Tower's original twenty-four pound cannon remained in place until 1992, long after the tower had ceased to serve a military role. The small ordnance storage building that once stood just west of the tower, present at the neighbouring Finavarra Tower, no longer exists.