08. Na Túir

Na Túir

Seacht gcinn de thúir a bhíodh le balla na meánaoise thart ar Bhaile Átha an Rí. Bhí an chuid is mó acu tite agus caitheadh athchóiriú a thabhairt orthu le gairid. Bhíodh siad in úsáid ag fir faire ag coinneáil súil an raibh aon ionsaí á bheartú. Bhíodh go leor túir le ballaí caisleáin an tráth sin agus go leor gardaí curtha leis an gcuid is mó den túr ag faire.

Bhíodh túir arda a raibh rothaí fúthu in úsáid chun bealach a bhriseadh isteach i gcaisleáin; trí léim isteach na fuinneoga, d’fhéadfadh duine a bheith istigh sula n-ionsófaí é. Múr cosanta nó rampar a thugtaí ar mhullach an túir. Bhíodh túir in úsáid freisin leis an dream a d’ionsódh caisleán a ionsaí iad féin gan choinne acu le daoine a bheith os a gcionn.

The Towers

There were 7 towers in the medieval wall of Athenry, most of them were ruined and had to be recently restored. They were used to spot attackers. There were usually lots of towers on castle walls and guards were stationed on most of the tower to keep watch.

Tall towers on wheels were used to break into castles, by jumping into windows, you could easily get in without getting attacked. The top of the tower was known as the rampart. The towers were also used to surprise attackers from above.