The English Army’s Stone Masons

When the English army moved into Connaught in 1579, they brought a large crew of stone masons with them.

The masons were not along to build anything. Rather, the masons were to tear down the fortresses of ClanDonnell, when and if the English army took control of them. The English army was partially successful – they captured a few, but not all, of the ClanDonnell castles.

The masons were partially successful as well – they took done a few, but not all, of the castle walls. This is Cloneen Castle in County Galway, originally built in the 14th Century. The stone masons didn’t quite get it all down.

Photograph by Linda McDonnell