Drumharsna Castle, Medieval tower house in Ardrahan, County Galway, Ireland
Drumharsna Castle is a five-story stone tower house in County Galway with thick defensive walls, narrow windows, and two preserved chimneys at its top level. The structure displays typical features of a tower house design used by Anglo-Norman landholders across Ireland.
The castle was founded by the Anglo-Norman O'Shaughnessy family and received formal land title in 1577 through a royal grant. In the early twentieth century, the structure was briefly used as a base during a period of conflict in Ireland.
The tower reflects Anglo-Norman building practices that shaped Ireland's rural landscape and shows how local lords once lived and defended their territories. Visitors can see through the thick walls and narrow openings how residents adapted to both comfort and protection in medieval times.
The building can be viewed from the outside daily, but interior access is closed for safety reasons. It helps to wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for uneven ground around the structure.
The structure preserves two functioning chimneys on its roof, a rare feature that reveals how important heating and ventilation were to medieval residents. This detail often goes unnoticed but offers insight into daily life in earlier times.
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