Ireland · 15th century
Carrickkildavnet Castle ranks #5,383 of 9,040 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #89 of the 178 mapped in Ireland. Founded c. 1429, it is older than 49% of the atlas's dated landmarks, one of 556 atlas entries founded in the 15th century. 1 more atlas landmarks stand within 25 km. The nearest day-trip guide is Galway, 90 km away. See how Ireland compares in the castle statistics.
Carrickkildavnet Castle or Kildavnet Castle is a tower house and National Monument located in Achill Island, Ireland.
Carrickkildavnet Castle is located in the southeast corner of Achill Island, across from the Corraun Peninsula. This is an important strategic site, protecting the mouth of Achill Sound and the passage that connects Clew Bay with Blacksod Bay.
Carrickkildavnet Castle was built c. 1429 by the Ó Máille (O'Malley), Kings of Umaill. It was later the stronghold of Gráinne Ní Mháille (Grace O'Malley, c. 1530 – c. 1603), the famous "pirate queen." Her other strongholds were at Rockfleet Castle (on Clew Bay) and Clare Island.
It is a tower house of four storeys' height. It is vaulted above the first floor and a hole at the corner of this vault is the only access to the higher levels, presumably for defensive reasons. Other defensive features include a mural chamber, machicolation, defensive loops, buttress fortifications at the top and a ruined bawn wall.
Text adapted from “Carrickkildavnet Castle” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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