Oranmore Castle, Medieval tower house in Oranmore, Ireland
Oranmore Castle is a rectangular stone tower house in the village of Oranmore, on the shore of Galway Bay in Ireland. It stands four stories tall and features a square staircase turret projecting from one of its outer walls.
The tower was built in the 15th century by the Clanricarde family to control access along Galway Bay. In the 17th century it changed hands during the Irish civil wars, passing between Confederate and Parliamentary forces.
The name Oranmore comes from Irish and means golden spring, a reference to the water sources that once shaped life in the surrounding area. The tower sits at the edge of a small coastal village where it serves as a familiar landmark for the local community.
The castle sits right at the water's edge and is easy to reach on foot from the village center of Oranmore. The interior stairs are steep and narrow, so sturdy shoes are a good idea, especially in wet weather.
The tower appeared as a French tower in the television series Reign, even though it stands on the west coast of Ireland. Beyond its role as a filming location, it is one of the few medieval tower houses in Ireland that remains habitable and has been rented out as private accommodation.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
