Top 5 things to do around Oughterard

Aghnanure Castle
Located just two miles outside Oughterard, approaching from Galway on the N59, is this 16th century Irish Tower House. Much of the surrounding area was occupied by the O'Flaherty clan, up until this time, but was taken over by The first Earl of Ulster, Walter de Burgo, in 1256. The original castle was probably built by the Earl during this time but was re-conquered by the O'Flaherty Clan by 1300.

By 1569, Aughnanure Castle and surrounding lands were declared to be property of the crown and in control of Murrough na Doe O'Flaherty was named chief, undermining the rightful chief, Donal an Chogaidh. This decree split the tribe and the eastern portion of the property, including Aughnanure Castle, were controlled by Murrough and the western portion remained with Donal. For 60 years, the castle remained in possession of the crown and was used as a stronghold against attacks from Galway during Cromwellian times.

In 1630, Roderick O'Flaherty petitioned to have the castle returned and the scholar and writer was successful in, once again, retaining possession. It, however, in the difficult years to come, with Roderick being a Catholic, the castle suffered the poverty which he eventually died in.

In recent years, the castle was bought by the Office of Public Works and was fully restored.

The castle was built beside, and at some positions straddling, a small river, the Drimneen, that has cut intriguing caverns in the stone below it. The building consists of a small (probably) guard look-out, a lower floor for storage and two upper floors - one for used for living quarters (containing a secret room) and the other for sleeping. At the top of the castle, there is an area to take in the fabulous views of the surrounding area.

Outside the castle are two courtyards, one original and one that was added at a later period. There is well-known fable that there was once a trap door where unwelcome guests could be dropped into the river flowing below the courtyard.

There is a small fee to enter the castle.

Inchagoill Island

You can easily hire a boatman to visit this historic island, in the Lough Corrib. There is evidence of an early monastic settlement which still mostly remains a mystery.
There are two churches remaining, St. Patrick's and the 12th century church known as the "saints" church. There are several paths around the island, an old cemetery and remains of four or five cottages which housed the few inhabitants on the island.

Ross Castle

Ross Castle is located only 5 miles outside Oughterard, approaching from Galway on the N59. The visible mansion was built by the Martin Family in the 17th century but there is some evidence still present of the original castle structure, built in the 15th century by the O'Flaherty Family, in its foundation.

Ross Castle was once the residence of Major Poppleton, a former guardian of Napoleon, who married one of the Martin daughters. It was also the home for Violet Florence Martin in the late 1800's who wrote, along with her cousin Edith Somerville under the pen-name Martin Ross, Stories of an Irish R.M. and The Real Charlotte. They were known as Somerville and Ross and there was eventually a television adaptation of their work in the 1980's.

Kylemore Abbey

Kylemore Abbey was built in 1852 when a Londoner, Mitchell Henry, married a County Down woman, Margaret Vaughan and when she fell in love with the area during a visit, Henry decided to make it the site on which he would build her a spectacular estate. The home was to be modelled after Norwich Cathedral and among many other luxury features, it contained 33 bedrooms and took over 7 years to construct.

Unfortunately, the couple only lived there a short time. A further 7 years later Margaret, now a mother of 9 children, fell ill of Nile fever following a trip to Egypt and died.

Since then the estate has passed hands a couple of times and is now an exclusive girl's school. The nuns have permitted it to be shown and it is open to the public for tours. There is a craft shop where you may watch pottery being made and many other souvenirs may be purchased.

From Oughterard, follow the N59 all the way to Kylemore. For a more scenic route, take the N59 through Maam Cross and when you reach the R344, turn right along th Inagh Valley. At the T-junction take a left back onto the N59 for the rest of your journey.

Quiet Man Bridge

The Quiet Man Bridge is located 5 miles passed Oughterard, down the Sky Road, which was the setting for the 1950 film "The Quiet Man" starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. The bridge is set in a bit to the left but is visible from the road and is clearly signposted.