Isert Kelly Castle is a tower house and National Monument located in County Galway, Ireland.[1]
| Isert Kelly Castle | |
|---|---|
| Native name Irish: Caisleán Íseart Uí Cheallaigh | |
| Isserkelly Castle | |
_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1953623.jpg) | |
| Type | tower house |
| Location | Castlepark, Kilchreest, County Galway, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°09′29″N 8°43′08″W / 53.157982°N 8.718990°W |
| Height | 21 m (69 ft) |
| Built | 15th century |
| Owner | State |
| Official name | Isert Kelly Castle |
| Reference no. | 272 |
  Location of Isert Kelly Castle in Ireland | |
Location edit
Isert Kelly Castle is 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Kilchreest.[2]
History edit
The tower house was built some time in the 15th century.[3] It belonged to the MacHubert Burkes, who claim descent from Hubert, son of Richard Óg de Burgh, a Hiberno-Norman knight of the 13th century. It later passed to the MacRedmonds, another branch of the Burkes (de Burgo, de Búrca).[4][5]
It was burned by the Ó Doṁnaill (O'Donnells) in 1596. A fireplace within is dated 1604.[citation needed]
After the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland Isert Kelly Castle passed to Dudley Persse. William Persse owned it in the 19th century.[citation needed]
Substantial excavation took place in 2014–16.[6]
Description edit
The tower house is well-preserved and stands 21 m (69 ft) tall, within a bawn 60 m (200 ft) square. Secondary buildings may have included a hall, stables, cottages and barns. The surrounding "Castlepark" townland covers 20.5 ha (51 acres).
The first floor is vaulted and has a fireplace. The second floor has arcades. The main room is at the third storey with a dated fireplace of 1604 with the initials W.H.[7]
References edit
- ^ The Irish Ecclesiastical Record. Browne and Nolan. 5 December 1891 – via Internet Archive.
ISSER.
- ^ "Sean Brady Aerial Photography". www.facebook.com.
- ^ "Archaeological Fieldwork Opportunities Bulletin - Galway Archaeological Field School". www.archaeological.org.
- ^ "Castles of Connacht: Isert Kelly, Galway (C) Mike Searle". www.geograph.ie.
- ^ O'Donovan, John (5 December 2017). "Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the four masters, from the earliest period to the year 1616: Ed. from the autograph. manuscript with a transl. and copious notes by John O'Donovan". Hodges and Smith – via Google Books.
- ^ "Shotgun cartridges from Isert Kelly Castle! - Facebook". www.facebook.com.
- ^ Harbison, Peter (1 August 1970). Guide to the national monuments in the Republic of Ireland: including a selection of other monuments not in state care. Gill & Macmillan. ISBN 9780717102754 – via Google Books.