Name: O'Brien's Castle (Dún Formna)
Rating: 2

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O'Brien's Castle (Dún Formna)

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O'Brien's Castle (Dún Formna)

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Location: Galway, Ireland

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Best Hikes to O'Brien's Castle (Dún Formna)

4.8

(8)

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1. MV Plassy Shipwreck – O'Brien's Castle (Dún Formna) loop from Ballyhees

8.61km

02:17

90m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.7

(13)

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2. MV Plassy Shipwreck – O'Brien's Castle (Dún Formna) loop from Ballyhees

6.68km

01:48

90m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.9

(7)

hikers

3. MV Plassy Shipwreck – O'Brien's Castle (Dún Formna) loop from Ballyhees

8.42km

02:13

70m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

Tips

🅰️H🍀

November 4, 2022

Wikipedia (O'Brien's Castle (Inisheer) (Irish: Caisleán Uí Bhriain), 2022-11-04):

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/O'Brien's_Castle_(Inisheer)

de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dún_Formna

“… A ringfort once stood on the site, named Dún Formna ... and dated to between the 5th century BC and 1st century AD. …”Wikipedia (List of national monuments in County Galway, 2024-08-09):

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_monuments_in_County_Galway

“41.07 … O'Brien's Castle (Great Fort, Furmina Castle) … Cashel”

Scout Jens

October 26, 2023

A very old fortified house with a wall for additional protection. This is what we call a ring castle. This was probably already in the 5th century BC. Built in 200 BC and has long since been abandoned. There is still a lot to see. And the view from here is wonderful.

Translated by Google •

Cooli 🆒77🦀

January 4, 2025

A Caisleán / O'Briens Castle

Caisleán Uí Bhriain (O' Briens Castle) was built in the 14th century. It was built within an older ring fort called Dún Formna, which is thought to date from 400 BC.

As well as fantastic views of the island, there are also magnificent views from the Cliffs of Moher, stretching to the left to the Burren, across Galway Bay to the 12 Pins of Connemara and to the west to Inis Meáin and Inis Mór. On a fine day you can even see the Kerry Mountains in the distance. It's worth taking your camera, especially for a spectacular sunset.

The castle is a rectangular keep built by the O'Briens. They were a clan from County Clare who ruled the islands and large parts of Clare in the Middle Ages. From this castle they were able to control the shipping routes to Galway and are said to have operated protection rackets there.

Due to its strategic location the castle was the subject of numerous competing interests. It was captured by the O'Flahertys around 1582 and was in use until it was supposedly captured and destroyed by Cromwell in 1652.

The original entrance led to the first floor and was accessed via an external wooden staircase. Inside there was a hall taking up the whole of the first floor with an internal staircase in the SW wall leading up to the parapets. The ground floor was originally a basement with three vaulted chambers accessed from the first floor. Look out for the corbel of a watchtower which survives on the external wall and has a human face carved into it.

The original Dún Formna has been restored a number of times throughout its history. It dates from the same period as the more famous Dún Aonghasa on Inis Mór and probably contained some clocháns, of which no trace remains today.

(Source: rothai-inisoirr.com/an-caislean/)

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 50 m

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Friday 19 September

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Take Me There

Location: Galway, Ireland

O'Brien's Castle (Dún Formna)

1. MV Plassy Shipwreck – O'Brien's Castle (Dún Formna) loop from Ballyhees

2. MV Plassy Shipwreck – O'Brien's Castle (Dún Formna) loop from Ballyhees

3. MV Plassy Shipwreck – O'Brien's Castle (Dún Formna) loop from Ballyhees

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