Shrule Castle

Shrule Castle is a rectangular tower fortress located near the Black River at the boundary between County Mayo and County Galway. The stone structure features thick defensive walls built to command views of the surrounding landscape from its elevated position.

The de Burgh family built the fortress in 1238, establishing it as a center of English authority in this Irish region. Over the following centuries, different powers gained control of the structure, reflecting the ongoing shifts in political dominance across the area.

The fortress represents a point of conflict between Irish clans and English settlers who fought for control of the region across centuries. These tensions shaped how local communities remember and relate to this place as part of their shared past.

The castle ruins stand on private farmland, so you need to ask the owner for permission before visiting the site. The structures are partially unstable, so exercise caution and avoid areas that appear unsafe or at risk of collapse.

The McDonnell warriors from Knocknacloy attacked the fortress in 1570 in a battle that altered the fate of their leader Calvagh McDonnell. This assault marked a turning point in who held power over the structure and its strategic role in the region.