You’re never far away from your history in Ireland. Just driving along, there can be the remains of a castle. This one is on private land, but you can see the structure and stone-hauling capability of the builders.
Carrickahowley, or Rock of the Fleet Castle, was built by Gráinne’s second husband, Risdeárd an Iarainn (Richard of the Iron) Burke while Grainne was away in County Galway in her first marriage to Donal of the Battles Ó Flaithbheartaigh. (That’s how you really spell O’Flaherty. You can see why I need classes.) While the O’Malleys controlled the southern shore of Clew Bay, they were subject to Richard of the Iron’s clan who controlled the northern side of Clew Bay. This was a good location from which to keep an eye on things.
Carrickahowley is not really a castle, but a Tower House built right up to the water at high tide. There’s only one door in, and it’s small. You can see me standing in it and I’m 5’2”. It looks like there was some kind of lintel or protuberance on one side, and it’s not over the door. There are four stories altogether.
Patricia tells me that she used to bring her children there to play house inside. Can you imagine?! Currently, the tower is closed for repairs and will one day open again. Really. Watch this professional video about the restoration project.
Here is a brief video of the day we were there: https://youtube.com/shorts/z4_sCyAmPN4?feature=share
And as a quick treat, and so I could make sure I can upload videos to YouTube and this site, here is a brief reel of St. Brandan’s National School, My Grandmother’s Schoolhouse, or one like the one she went to.
It used to be that the boys went to school on one side and the girls on the other. Nowadays, it’s a B&B.