Castlegar

• Menlo Castle is just one of the many Castles in Castlegar, County Galway.

• Geographical Coordinates;  53.296556  and -9.073503.

• Elevation of 38 feet or 11.582 metres.
• Currently, the property of The Galway City Council, and current plans are to preserve it as a ruin. Before this, a lot of these Lands were Commonage.

• We've incorporated about thirty Photographs into a Menlo Castle on a Youtube video, featured below as well;

• Menlo Castle is a Unique and Spiritual place; turn off your "stuff" and you will feel it.
• Built on a water Highway of the time, inter-linking all the People centres around Lough Corrib and Mask, to Galway City - a shortcut if you like, unrestricted by hill, hollow and the trespass which could be associated with roads. Influenced only by current, wind and weather and a reliable boat of course.
• It must have stood with some Majesty - its Turrets/Castellated features; a powerful  Cosmetic display.
• Its own Quay / small Harbour still protects against the current from the Lake and offers safer boarding for those who come and go.
• Menlo Castle is built from Limestone, as are the Sheds, Entrance which used to have a Gate House, and River Embankments. These embankments seem structurally sound today, but are missing Stones - she's frayed at the edges like an old Shirt and your fondest Book.
• Others, are still close to where they came from - offering the possibility of re-constitution.
• This Corrib River, which abounds on the North West of the Castle property, is still healthy with various species of Fish -  Salmon, Trout, Perch, Tench, Pike and others. Down River, or towards Galway, are other Lakes at Coolough.
• Menlo Village is close by and due North East of here.
• Until recent years, Animals were free to roam throughout the remains of the Castle. The Estate Walls, too, were built at a distance from the River Corrib, indicating an understanding on the part of the "Engineers" of the time - understanding of the Bellows which can blow, and shovel, the land outside the wall.

The last man of the House was Sir Valentine Blake (M.P.)

Built circa 1569 and ravaged by fire in July 1910, claiming the life of Miss Elanor Eliza Blake. A Monument behind the Castle; cut from Granite, is "affectionately dedicated" to Elanor by her brother, T.P. Blake. A little weathered, the inscription can still be recognised and it ends with the words; "THY WILL BE DONE".

Two other women; Bridget Early and Annie Browne also died as a consequence of that night. Not by fire, but flight from it - both jumped from the roof in a bid for escape.

^ The Monument with the Castle in the background.

And below is the same entrance but taken viewing North;

The Castle is about 0.03 kilometres / 0.02 miles / 33 metres from the River Corrib, and faced South West, roughly aligned parallel to the river -another access point.

More folklore. Valentine Blake was said to be well liked by the locals, one explanation being that he was not a strict Economist and might overlook bills-due. A family member may be buried in what is still known as the Menlo Woods Graveyard.

Tom Kenny wrote an insightful article about the specifics of "The Fire at Menlo Castle" , with a photograph of the time - Read it in a new window Interesting!

^This wonderful view of Menlo Castle, has been offered to the Public Domain at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Menlocastle.jpg

^ The photo above is taken from the inside of the structure.

Noticable at first glance, is the profileration of Ivy - a Green Blanket, disguising almost,  Nature's success at revolving life of any species.

The sound effects are coming from youngsters on the other side of the River Corrib- and the cox of a rowing boat. It must be the natural acoustics and peaceful nature of this place, that makes these sounds seem much closer.

The Avenue feels solid underfoot, but no longer looks it - and passes through a dip greater than ten foot. The sheds are on the right of the approach.

So the sheds are done; a distraction..and the Castle comes into focussed view. Its not what you'd expect.

Ivy, is trying to claim the building. The Castle has many windows, maybe more than all our other Castles put together; implying that security was less of an issue.

The size of the rooms can be estimated, and are small enough. The fire consumed the timber, trappings, paintings and ceilings. Some of this residue increases the floor height.

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