Meelick Martello Tower is a Martello tower constructed on Moran Island in the River Shannon between Meelick, County Galway and Clonahenoge, County Offaly. The tower was built about 1811 to protect the river at Meelick rapids where there is a fording opportunity. It was feared at the time that the French would invade Ireland from the west coast.[1] Unusually the tower is cam-shaped with three gun emplacements. It reinforced the existing defences at Keelogue Battery on Incherky Island.[2]
| Meelick Martello Tower | |
|---|---|
| County Offaly | |
 | |
 | |
  Meelick Martello Tower | |
| Coordinates | 53°10′18″N 8°04′50″W / 53.17162°N 8.08051°W |
| Type | Defence Martello tower |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public | yes |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1810-1815 |
| Materials | stone |
Protected Status
editThe County Offaly Record of Protected Structures[3] lists the tower as a protected structure (ref 38-03).[4]
References
edit- ^ "Meelick Martello Tower, County Offaly: Buildings of Ireland: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage". Buildingsofireland.ie. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Protected structures". Citizensinformation.ie. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- ^ "Error - Offaly County Council" (PDF).