{"id":1136,"date":"2026-09-05T11:49:42","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T10:49:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/?p=1136"},"modified":"2026-09-05T11:49:42","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T10:49:42","slug":"terryland-castle-oflahertys-rent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/2026\/09\/05\/terryland-castle-oflahertys-rent\/","title":{"rendered":"Terryland Castle & O\u2019Flaherty\u2019s Rent"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Most sources indicate that the original Terryland Castle was built by Ulick De Burgo during the late fourteenth or early fifteenth century. The De Burgo (Burke) family were founders of the early town of Galway. They were one of the most powerful Anglo-Norman families in Ireland. The Castle was constructed at an important fording point on the river. The remains of the present castle have been dated to the seventeenth century. It was then owned by Sir Ulick Burke, Earl of Clanricade and many important guests from around Ireland and, indeed, Europe were entertained in the castle.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The ruins of Terryland Castle. A modern maze is present in the field above the castle. Most of the people passing over the Quincentennial Bridge are unaware of the importance of the castle. Photo courtesy Mick Duffy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In 1651, the castle fell to the army of Oliver Cromwell. Galway was placed under siege. Clanricade and his men evacuated the castle and made their way into the city. It was then occupied by the Cromwellian Commander, Sir Charles Coote. Shortly after the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, King Charles II ordered Coote to hand Terryland Castle back to the Clanricade family.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Terryland Castle. Looking out from a distance past \u2013 Left: Sir Ulick Burke, Earl of Clanricarde, and right: Sir Charles Coote. Inserts, David Henry. Author\u2019s Collection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In July 1691, the castle was attacked again, this time by the army of William of Orange (Williamites). Clanricade placed the castle under the protection of a unit of French Musketeers who were supporting the Irish army of James II. Under heavy and sustained fire, the garrison soon realised there was little hope of defending their position against the Williamites. The Musketeers burnt the castle rather than let it fall into enemy hands and made their way down-river into the city. The castle has been a ruin since that time. It is interesting that a number of skeletons were found during excavations carried out to the rear of the castle in recent years. It is believed that these were the remains of English soldiers killed during the skirmish with French and Irish troops in the castle in 1691.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many stories associated with the castle; one of the most infamous is the tale of the \u2018O\u2019Flaherty Rent\u2019. This account involves the local O\u2019Flaherty chief swearing allegiance to the King of England. By doing so most of the native Irish population were able to hold onto their land; it was part of a \u2018submit and re-grant policy\u2019. O\u2019Flaherty took the oath and his land was re-granted to him. However, he was obliged to pay an annual rent to an overlord appointed by the royal authorities, which was De Burgo of Terryland Castle in this particular case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019Flaherty had no intention of paying. One story mentions that when Henry VIII heard of their submission, he supposedly said, it wasn\u2019t worth the paper it was written on as they didn\u2019t give hostages as security. Some three years passed without the rent being paid and De Burgo became annoyed. He sent his son to the O\u2019Flaherty stronghold at Aughnanure Castle near Oughterard to collect the money. Upon arrival the young man was admitted to the castle. He had arrived during a banquet and was invited to join the feast. The young man was delighted with the rich food and wine laid out before him. The hall echoed to the sound of the finest musicians and singers of the day. De Burgo was seated in a place of honour, close to his host, the O\u2019Flaherty chief.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Aughnanure Castle \u2013 Stronghold of the O\u2019Flaherty Clan. Author\u2019s Collection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

At some point during the banquet, De Burgo requested the rent that was owed to his father. The O\u2019Flaherty chief was insulted and said, \u2018If its payment ye want, ye will have it\u2019. The young man was pleased with himself until his host, rather than produce the money, pulled a leaver under the table, which was used to remove unwelcomed guests quickly. De Burgo disappeared from the hall, falling through the trap-door, known as the \u2018Flag Stone of Treachery\u2019. De Burgo landed in a shallow river beneath the banqueting hall and O\u2019Flaherty sent his men down after him. They killed the stunned young man; cut off his head and placed it in a sack. O\u2019Flaherty and his men then rode through the night until they reached Terryland Castle. As they crossed the river on that bright moon-lit night, a sentry at the castle called out asking the purpose of their business. O\u2019Flaherty identified himself; and threw the sack over the wall landing at the feet of the sentry and said, \u2018Give this to your master and tell him it\u2019s the O\u2019Flaherty Rent, paid in full with interest and arrears\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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De Burgo falls through the Flag Stone of Treachery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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O\u2019Flaherty throwing the sack over the castle wall containing the head of De Burgo\u2019s son<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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O\u2019Flaherty and his men then rode back to Aughnanure. Meanwhile, the guard took the sack to his master and informed him that it was the rent from O\u2019Flaherty. De Burgo was pleased thinking that he was paid at last, but wondered why his son hadn\u2019t brought the rent himself. He didn\u2019t have to think about this for very long. Upon opening the sack, he cried out in horror at the sight of the blood-stained head of his son. According to the story, De Burgo became extremely fearful for his own safety and moved away from Terryland and never returned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The O\u2019Flaherty clan were notorious and ruled much of Connemara during this period. They were feared throughout Connacht and certainly earned their reputation in the story of the \u2018O\u2019Flaherty Rent\u2019. According to another legend there was a plaque erected over the Great West Gate leading into the city of Galway with the following inscription:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cFrom the Ferocious O\u2019Flaherties Good Lord Deliver Us\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Most sources indicate that the original Terryland Castle was built by Ulick De Burgo during the late fourteenth or early fifteenth century. The De Burgo (Burke) family were founders of the early town of Galway. They were one of the most powerful Anglo-Norman families in Ireland. The Castle was constructed at an important fording point … Continue reading “Terryland Castle & O\u2019Flaherty\u2019s Rent”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,188,18],"tags":[348,347,321,346],"class_list":["post-1136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-folklore-traditions","category-galway-families","category-galway-history","tag-aughnanure-castle","tag-oflaherty","tag-terryland-castle","tag-ulick-de-burgo"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1136"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1136\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1143,"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1136\/revisions\/1143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}