67 Old Ruins to Explore in Connacht

The Meehambee Dolmen is a megalithic portal tomb dating from about 3500 BC located in County Roscommon, Ireland. Dating back to about 3500 B.C., it will impress you with its size and picturesque setting on the edge of the forest. The capstone is estimated to weigh twenty-four tonnes. The portal stone supporting the back of the capstone has collapsed, allowing the capstone to slide backwards out of position, causing the doorstone to collapse also. The capstone now rests at a 45-degree angle.

Moore Hall House was built by George Moore in 1792 and completed in 1796. It is situated to the south of the village Carnacon in the barony of Carra, County Mayo in a karst limestone landscape. The house was burned down in 1923 by anti-Treaty irregular forces during the Irish Civil War as Maurice Moore was viewed as pro-Treaty.

Moyne Abbey, close to Crosspatrick, lies on the west side of Killala Bay, near Ballina. It is one of most impressive ecclesiastical ruins in Mayo and a National Monument. The friary was built in the late Irish Gothic style and has extensive ruins, consisting of a church and domestic buildings situated around a central cloister. Its west doorway is a seventeenth century insertion, and its east window displays fine switchline tracery.

This was probably the most important pilgrimage site on the Aran Islands during the Middle Ages. It have been home to seven houses of worship, but today only Teampall Brecan and Teampall an Phoill survive. Temple Brecan was built around 1200 and is flanked by a number of rectangular houses, which are believed to be the only pilgrim hostels to survive from late-Medieval Ireland.

O'Rourke's Castle is a ruined castle in Ireland. The castle, undoubtedly a tower house, was originally a MacRaghnall stronghold with references in 1491 and 1499, but by 1540 it was in the hands of Brian Ballach O'Rourke. The castle was destroyed in 1580 by Brian of the Ramparts O'Rourke to prevent it falling to Sir Nicholas Malby. Sir Nicholas rebuilt and garrisoned it, but the castle was immediately besieged by O'Rourke and abandoned by its garrison shortly afterwards.

This beautiful castle was home to the O'Dowd chieftains of the barony of Tireragh (West Sligo), having been originally built for Oliver McDonnell who came to the area to marry an O'Dowd widow. Situated adjacent to Easkey pier, the 63 feet high castle is a dominant landmark and the highest part is known as the 'Sailor's Bed'.

Oranmore Castle is a castle in Oranmore, County Galway, in Ireland. It was built between the 13th and 15th centuries. The Castle of the Well played a pivotal part in the defence of Galway during the Confederate Rebellion in the 1640s. It belonged to the Clanricardes, a prominent Norman family in Galway. Galway was under the rule of the Marquess and fifth Earl Clanricarde in 1642 when the town revolted and joined the confederate forces.

A majestic restored plantation castle from the early 17th century and is situated on the picturesque shores of Lough Gill. It was originally the stronghold of the O'Rourke Clan, rulers of the kingdom of Breffni. It has been beautifully restored using Irish oak and traditional craftsmanship.A permanent exhibition of artefacts from the 17th century including replica period costumes and furniture, is on display inside the grounds.

Pearse's Cottage in Rosmuc is the former holiday home of Patrick Pearse leader of the 1916 Rising. Pearse also used the house as a summer school for his pupils from St. Enda's where in taught in Dublin.The interior which was burned during the War of Independence has been reconstructed and an exhibition in the cottage is dedicated to the life and work of Pearse.

Portumna Castle is a semi-fortified house in Portumna, County Galway, Ireland. It was built in the early 17th century by the 4th Earl of Clanricarde, Richard Burke. The castle is a unique example of the transitional Irish architecture of the early 1600s. Its bold design combines elements of medieval and Renaissance style that complement each other perfectly.

This is the largest and most visible neolithic monument in the west of Ireland. The huge monument, which was probably built between 3,500 and 3,200 BC, is part of the Irish passage-grave culture. The oldest dated monument in Sligo is the very early causewayed enclosure at Magheraboy, between Carns Hill and the Carrowmore megalithic complex.

Rathcroghan Visitor Centre in the medieval village of Tulsk, County Roscommon is part of the archaeological landscape of Cruachan Aí, the oldest and largest unexcavated royal site in Ireland. Explore the history of the area and discover the origins of Halloween. Discover archaeological sites and protected national monuments in the Rathcroghan landscape.

Rindoon is an abandoned medieval town with great historical and cultural significance. It is located on St. John’s Point, a lonely peninsula on the western shore of Lough Ree, just a few miles away from the picturesque village of Lecarrow in County Roscommon, central Ireland. The remains comprise an outstanding complex of buildings.

Rockfleet Castle, also known as Carrickahowley Castle, stands at the mouth of a small inlet on the northern shores of Clew Bay in County Mayo. The Castle is renowned for its links with Grace O`Malley, a pirate sea Queen who inhabited the castle in the latter part of the 16th Century. It has four floors and is over eighteen metres in height looking out towards the drumlins of Clew Bay. Though entry to the castle was once available to the public, it is now strictly prohibited for safety reasons.

Roscommon Castle is a National Monument in the guardianship of the State, located in the townland of Cloonbrackna. One of the most important royal castles in Ireland during the late 13th and early 14th centuries, it was built to a design similar to contemporary royal castles such as Harlech Castle in Wales. Roscommon Castle was commenced by the Crown in 1269 and was originally occupied by Robert de Ufford, Lord Justice of Ireland.

St. Mary’s Dominican Priory is located on the outskirts of the historical medieval town of Roscommon, which at its core includes the Anglo-Norman castle and house of Augustinian canons located on the site of the earlier monastery of St Commán. The church had a long north aisle, but only part of the arcade remains. There was a nave and chancel with a central tower and cloister. Nothing remains of the tower or the cloister.

Shrule Castle was built in the early part of the 13th century by the Norman de Burgh family. It was granted to John de Burgh in c.1308 by his father Richard be Burgh, the 2nd Earl of Ulster. The castle was attacked in 1570 by english forces led by Sir Edward Fitton, the first Lord President of Connaught, 1569-1572. In 1642, during the Confederate Wars, a number of English settlers surrendered to Irish authorities.

This Dominican Friary was founded in the mid-13th century and served as both a religious centre and community gathering space, especially as a refuge for displaced landowners. It was built in the Romanesque style with some later additions and alterations. Extensive ruins remain, mainly of the church and the cloister.

Visit Strokestown Park House, a beautifully restored 18th-century mansion in County Roscommon. This unique property gives you an authentic glimpse into the lives of generations of people who lived and worked here over the centuries, each adding their own chapter to the story and leaving their mark. The house is open to the public, as is the Famine Museum on the grounds.