17. SITE OF DE BURGO CASTLE

53.1978, -8.5712
The castle of Loughrea was built in 1236 AD by Richard de Burgo, Lord of Connaught. It is suggested that the castle conformed to the classic Anglo-Norman type, with its pigeon- house and enclosed park with wild beasts. By the early 1300s, the town of Loughrea had established itself around the castle. The town was forti ed with a moat and wall and was laid out with burgage plots for development. James Hardiman, in The history of the town and county of the town of Galway, states that the foundations of the castle and the east fosse were all that remained in 1863. He also says that the keeps at the southeast gate and the northeast gate were demolished by public presentment about fteen years prior to this, as they were considered obstructions in the principal street of the town.