The wall of the court was about 12 feet high and well flanked. On the other side the place was secured by a river. Other historical references also attest to the fact that the castle stood on the island in the river, while the mansion stood opposite on the north bank secured by a wall and a ditch. From these references, it is probable that the O'Shaughnessy castle was a fortified Tower House with a bawn, though the character of 'the mansion' which stood within the fortifications on the north bank of the river is unclear. The castle was burned but the mansion was preserved. Roger fought for King James at the Boyne and returned from that defeat to die at Gort. Prendergast removed every trace of the castle and mansion in 1796.
Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society Vol. 61 (2009), pp. 107-114 (8 pages)
Shaughnessy mansion (F.) was being used by the British as barracks during the occupation. Shaughnessy Castle was south of the mansion next to Gort River (Cannalowna River).
A. The Church (dedicated to St. Anne)
B. The Market House
C. The House of Sir Thomas Prendergast
D. ???
E. The Barrack Yard
F. The Barracks (Shaughnessy Mansion)
G. The ???? House
H. Gort Bridge
I. Gort Island
K. Gardens
L. ???
M. Stone Quarry
N. Houses of the town
O. Houses of the town
Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society
Vol. 42 (1989/1990), pp. 143-150 (8 pages)
During the course of the OPW/UCG Preliminary Archaeological Survey of Co. Galway, a late medieval window was discovered set into the southern perimeter wall of the 18th century cavalry barracks at Gort. The window is all that can be see of the once famous O'Shaughnessy castle.