Isert Kelly Castle
{{Short description|Tower house in County Galway, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use Irish English|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Isert Kelly Castle
| native_name = Caisleán Íseart Uí Cheallaigh
| native_language = ga
| image = Castles of Connacht, Isert Kelly, Galway (2) - geograph.org.uk - 1953623.jpg
| caption =
| other_name = Isserkelly Castle
| locmapin = Ireland
| coordinates = {{coord|53.157982|N|8.718990|W|display=inline,title}}
| location = Castlepark, Kilchreest,
County Galway, Ireland
| area =
| built = 15th century
| architect =
| architecture =
| governing_body =
| owner = State
| type = tower house
| height = {{Convert|21|m|abbr=on}}
| designation1 = National Monument of Ireland
| designation1_offname = Isert Kelly Castle
| designation1_date =
| designation1_number = 272
}}
Isert Kelly Castle is a tower house and National Monument located in County Galway, Ireland.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/IrishEcclesiasticalRecordV12-1891|quote=ISSER.|title=The Irish Ecclesiastical Record|date=5 December 1891|publisher=Browne and Nolan|via=Internet Archive}}
Location
Isert Kelly Castle is {{Convert|5|km|abbr=on}} southwest of Kilchreest.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/421371671364334/photos/a.500956913405809.1073741850.421371671364334/500957086739125/|title=Sean Brady Aerial Photography.|website=www.facebook.com}}
History
The tower house was built some time in the 15th century.{{cite web|url=https://www.archaeological.org/fieldwork/afob/14447|title=Archaeological Fieldwork Opportunities Bulletin - Galway Archaeological Field School|website=www.archaeological.org}} It belonged to the MacHubert Burkes, who claim descent from Hubert, son of Richard Óg de Burgh, a Hiberno-Norman knight of the 13th century. It later passed to the MacRedmonds, another branch of the Burkes (de Burgo, de Búrca).{{cite web|url=http://www.geograph.ie/photo/1953616|title=Castles of Connacht: Isert Kelly, Galway (C) Mike Searle|website=www.geograph.ie}}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eL0_AAAAcAAJ&q=%22Isert+Kelly%22&pg=PA945|title=Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the four masters, from the earliest period to the year 1616: Ed. from the autograph. manuscript with a transl. and copious notes by John O'Donovan|first=John|last=O'Donovan|date=5 December 2017|publisher=Hodges and Smith|via=Google Books}}
It was burned by the Ó Doṁnaill (O'Donnells) in 1596. A fireplace within is dated 1604.{{fact|date=June 2020}}
After the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland Isert Kelly Castle passed to Dudley Persse. William Persse owned it in the 19th century.{{fact|date=June 2020}}
Substantial excavation took place in 2014–16.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.948251785266568.1073741843.540223739402710&type=3|title=Shotgun cartridges from Isert Kelly Castle! - Facebook|website=www.facebook.com}}
Description
The tower house is well-preserved and stands {{Convert|21|m|abbr=on}} tall, within a bawn {{Convert|60|m|abbr=on}} square. Secondary buildings may have included a hall, stables, cottages and barns. The surrounding "Castlepark" townland covers {{Convert|20.5|ha|abbr=on}}.
The first floor is vaulted and has a fireplace. The second floor has arcades. The main room is at the third storey with a dated fireplace of 1604 with the initials W.H.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ZjpAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Isert+Kelly%22|title=Guide to the national monuments in the Republic of Ireland: including a selection of other monuments not in state care|first=Peter|last=Harbison|date=1 August 1970|publisher=Gill & Macmillan|isbn=9780717102754 |via=Google Books}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|nZkfrNztPGg|Archaeological Excavations, Isert Kelly Castle 2015}}