Ardamullivan Castle

Ardamullivan Castle is located {{Convert|8.2|km|abbr=on}} south of Gort and {{Convert|2|km|abbr=on}} southwest of Lough Cutra.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_odiAAAAMAAJ&q=Ardamullivan|title=Irish Bardic Poetry and Rhetorical Reality|first=Michelle O.|last=Riordan|date=14 January 2018|publisher=Cork University Press|isbn=9781859184141|via=Google Books}}

Ardamullivan Castle was built in the 16th century by the Uí Sheachnasaigh (O'Shaughnessy) clan, rulers of the region known as Cenél Áeda na hEchtge until being disposed by Cromwell's invasion (1650s).{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xc-d1qxTg9AC&q=Ardamullivan+Castle&pg=PA268|title=Ireland|first=Catharina|last=Day|date=14 January 2018|publisher=New Holland Publishers|isbn=9781860113277|via=Google Books|access-date=14 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114074603/https://books.google.ie/books?id=Xc-d1qxTg9AC&pg=PA268&dq=Ardamullivan+Castle&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiRv5XrldXYAhVrDsAKHWVoD0sQ6AEIKTAA#v=onepage&q=Ardamullivan+Castle&f=false|archive-date=14 January 2018|url-status=dead}} It is first mentioned after the 1567 death of Ruaidhrí Gilla Dubh Ó Seachnasaigh. In 1579, Diarmaid Riabach Ó Seachnasaigh and his nephew John, fought each other in a dispute over the castle, which resulted in death for both.{{cite web|url=http://www.irelandseye.com/aarticles/travel/attractions/castles/Galway/ardamullivan.shtm|title=Ardamullivan Castle, County Galway|website=www.irelandseye.com}} Diarmaid Riabach had previously acquired notoriety after betraying Richard Creagh, the fugitive Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, to the authorities.{{cite web|url=http://gort.galway-ireland.ie/ardamullivan-castle.htm|title=Ardamullivan Castle Gort County Galway Ireland Castles Gort Ireland|website=gort.galway-ireland.ie}}

The castle was restored in the 1990s, including reroofing and plastering with lime mortar.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QstRAAAAMAAJ&q=Ardamullivan|title=Repair And Renovation of Concrete Structures|first1=Ravindra K.|last1=Dhir|first2=M. Roderick|last2=Jones|first3=Li|last3=Cheng|date=14 January 2018|publisher=Thomas Telford Limited|isbn=9780727734051|via=Google Books}} Late medieval wall paintings were discovered on the first and fourth levels;{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QY0iAQAAIAAJ&q=Ardamullivan|title=Medieval Castles of Ireland|first=David|last=Sweetman|date=14 January 1999|publisher=Collins Press|isbn=9781898256755|via=Google Books}} they have been compared to those at Abbeyknockmoy and Clare Island Abbey. Depicted is a bishop, a stag hunt, Saint Christopher, a Passion cycle,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IpYz-JIpjR8C&q=Ardamullivan&pg=PA298|title=Reassessing the Roles of Women as 'Makers' of Medieval Art and Architecture (2 Vol. Set)|first=Therese|last=Martin|date=14 January 2018|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-9004185555|via=Google Books}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=So8iAQAAIAAJ&q=Ardamullivan|title=New Survey of Clare Island: The Abbey|first1=Conleth|last1=Manning|first2=Críostóir Mac|last2=Cárthaigh|first3=Kevin|last3=Whelan|first4=Paul|last4=Gosling|first5=John|last5=Waddell|date=14 January 2018|publisher=Royal Irish Academy|isbn=9781904890058|via=Google Books}} and St Michael weighing souls on Judgement Day.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a7uTAgAAQBAJ&q=Ardamullivan+Castle&pg=PA839|title=Medieval Ireland: An Encyclopedia|first=Seán|last=Duffy|date=15 January 2005|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781135948245|via=Google Books}}{{cite web|url=http://connachttribune.ie/opw-urged-reopen-castle-local-tourism-attraction-111/|title=OPW urged to reopen castle as local tourism attraction - Connacht Tribune|first=Dara|last=Bradley|date=5 February 2017|publisher=}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rRnqAAAAMAAJ&q=Ardamullivan|title=Art and devotion in late medieval Ireland|first=Rachel|last=Moss|date=14 January 2018|publisher=Four Courts Press|isbn=9781851829873|via=Google Books}}

The tower house six storeys. Part of the original attacking wall remains.{{cite web|url=http://www.britainirelandcastles.com/Ireland/County-Galway/Ardamullivan-Castle.html|title=Irish Castles - Ardamullivan Castle|website=www.britainirelandcastles.com}}

There are traces of bartizans on the NE and SW corners and along the south wall. Other features include a machicolation, murder hole, many slit windows, fireplaces and a slopstone. Traces of walls around the castle may be part of the original bawn.{{fact|date=June 2020}}

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• {{Youtube|DMuFx_tl1ec|Ardamullivan Castle}}

Category:National monuments in County Galway

Category:Castles in County Galway

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