Portumna Castle
Portumna Castle is a large semi forfitied Jacobeen house.It was built by Richard Burke 4th Earl of Clanricarde in the 17th century at a cost of 10,000 pounds. It has three storeys above basement with square corner towers. The castle was destroyed by fire in 1826.
Hubert De Burg Canning , 2nd Marquess of Clanricarde figured prominently during the Land War in the 1800's. During the 1860's , the building of another castle was begun at the western end of the estate.This was burned in 1922. |
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Cullinagh Bridge & Cross Roads Dancing at Aille cross
Recording memories of a past era, how local people spent their Sunday afternoon. The elders congregated at Cullinagh bridge to join in a game of "Pitch and Toss" whilst the younger generation danced the night away at Aille Cross.
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The Birr Portumna Railway Line
One hundred and thirty four years ago, the people of East Galway and particularly Portumna looked forward to the linking by rail, their naive area to the great Eastern side of the Shannon.
Linking Portumna to Birr became a reality in 1868. For ten years, the daily trains reached the terminus east of the river Shannon. Had it come to Portumna town, there's a possibility it might still be there. |
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Finnertys Mills
Finnerty's Mills have served its hinterland well over the past three hundred years.Relying solely on running water power it has shown what can be done by proper planning.The presence of a sparrow peck tool puts the origin of the building back to 1601. Today, Finnerty's Mills have been restored. A trip there has proven most interesting and educational. |
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Marion Whyte - Traditional Irish Crafts
A picture of a kind and industrious Ballinakill Lady who devoted so much of her time to home industry.
She excelled in the art of embroidery, knitting, crochet, basket making and rush work. She was a diligent worker , but also passed on the product of her talents to both children and adults. Many of her laudable accomplishments can be viewed in her native Ballinakill. |
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The Evictions at Ballygowan
The following gives a comprehensive view of Ballygowan and South East Galway towards the end of the 19th Century .
It delineates the power of the Plan of Campaign in maintain gin unity amongst it's members. It withstood the onslaught of rent increases imposed by the Landlords. |
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Clondagoff Castle
Towards the end of the 19th Century, Clandagoff castle was a focal point in the history of the Land Wars. Land owners at that time who had rented from the Landlords could re-rent portions to needy Kinsmen.
John Stanislaus Burke availed of the custom and re-rented portions to kinsman. The system brought John Burke as a member into the Plan of Campaign , severing his links with his Landlord Clanricarde. |
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Loughrea Lake & Mac Liag
Dedicated to the memory of the Poet Laureate Mac Liag who made his home on an island dating back to the 11th century. It is still known as Mac Liag's island.
A soul friend and constant visitor of the High King Brian Boru of Kincora, his poetry figures prominently in ancient manuscripts and in Árd Allah na h-Éireann in. "The Annals of the Four Masters". |
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Pallas Castle
Pallas Castle Tynagh, a living memory of fortified castles of a bygone era, and also an excellent example of stone construction carried out by the builders of the 13th - 14th centuries.
Built for defensive purposes , with ditch, drawbridge, fortified walls and towers, it remained defensive through the centuries. With the return of the Nugents as Earls of Riverstown, a new school was donated and Pallas Castle remained a success story and a visitors' paradise. |
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Brian Ború
Brian Boru’s fort is a large ring fort between the River Shannon and the Killaloe to Tuamgraney road. It has long been identified as the ancient seat of Brian Boru, the most famous High King of Ireland.Brian Boru’s fort is located in a very serene and spectacular setting, overlooking Lough Derg on the River Shannon, just one mile north of the picturesque village of Killaloe. Beal Boru, as it is more commonly known, stands on a spur of land which commands the point where the lake narrows into the River Shannon.
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Duniry / Dún Doighre Past and Present
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Duniry, sister parish of Abbey in South Galway , has a long and interesting history.
From the 16th Century, the Mac Aodhagáin family was foremost in promoting education in the area. They had become Ollamhs, Judges, Attorneys and Interpreters of the law. They established schools and centres of learning. A Bardic school was formed in the 16th Century with an Ecclesiastical college close by. From 1600-1800 they conducted a Bardic school . Here "An Leabhar Breac" was written. The Mac Aodhagáin school built on the site of the present cemetery had the status of a University. Remnants of the University remained until the beginning of the 20th Century. The corner stone of the University is still there to be seen. |
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