Information Gort Ireland
Gort (which in Irish is “Gort Inse Guaire” or, officially, “An Gort”) is a County Galway town. The town is north of Galway’s border with County Clare, on the N18 route. Gort derives its name from the word for meadow. The Middle Ages saw the O’Shaughnessys set up their main stronghold at Gort. The site itself later became a barracks for cavalry. The O’Shaughnessy lands were stripped and given to the Prenderghast family, who retained the title Viscount Gort. The population of Gort stood at over three thousand in the 1830s, with over five hundred houses. As with every town in the West of Ireland, the Great Famine of the late 1840s had a devastating effect on the people of Gort. The area around Gort has a number of structures of historical importance. For example, Kilmacduagh monastery and round tower can be found three kilometres to the west of Gort. Castles near Gort include Ardamullivan to the south (on the Ennis Road) and Ballylee to the northeast (off the Loughrea Road). The former is a sixteenth century tower house that was home to the O’Shaughnessy clan, some of whom were loyal to the Crown and had little popularity among the locals as a result. As already mentioned, this had changed by the end of the seventeenth century, when the Prenderghasts took control of their estates. The O’Shaughnessy clan had a second residence, Fiddaun Castle, also near Gort. Ballylee Castle, meanwhile, belonged to the Burke family and is of the same era. Ballylee Castle was a source of inspiration for WB Yeats. He used it as a summer home for over a decade. There is now a Yeats themed interpretive centre at the castle. Yeats was also a frequent visitor to Lady Gregory’s home at nearby Coole Park. Coole Park is a short distance from the centre of Gort. The Wild Swans at Coole is both a collection of poetry and a poem by William Butler Yeats, first published in 1917.
Attractions Gort Ireland
Athenry - Mediaval Town with Arts and Heritage Centre - Athenry
Amedieval town situated 23km from Galway City is steeped in history. Founded in the 13th century by Meiler de Birmingham, who surrounded the town with a curtain wall with towers and a moat. It is the only walled town in Ireland whose still-intact walls are clearly visible to the approaching visitor
Athenry Castle - Athenry
Athenry is one of the most notable medieval walled towns surviving in Ireland, owing its foundation to Meiler de Bermingham who built his Castle there c.1250. The great three-storey tower, surrounded by defensive walls, is entered at first-floor level through an unusual decorated doorway. Recently re-roofed, the interior contains an audio visual room and exhibition.
Aughnanure Castle Galway - Oughterard
Built by the O'Flahertys c. 1500, Aughnanure Castle lies in picturesque surroundings close to the shores of Lough Corrib. Standing on what is virtually a rocky island, the Castle is a particularly well-preserved example of an Irish tower house. In addition, visitors will find the remains of a banqueting hall, a watch tower, an unusual double bawn and bastions and a dry harbour.
Battle of Aughrim Interpretative Centre - Aughrim
Relive the bloodiest battle in Irish history fought in a small Connaught village. Move back in time and place to that fateful day in 1691 through an audio-visual show based on the moving account of Captain Walter Dalton who fought at the Battle of Aughrim.
Clifden in West Galway - Clifden
The location of the landing of the first Trans-Atlantic air crossing by Alcock and Brown. A very scenic part of Ireland.
