Bridged: An 800—Year Gap in Tuam's History
The Tuam Herald and Western Advertiser, Saturday, April 30, 1988
By David Burke
Photograph of the Excavation
Tuam's historic links with the last High King of Ireland, Rory O'Connor, were strengthened by the discovery on Monday of an ancient tower that is likely to be a part of the wonderful castle King Rory built in 1164.
The find was made on the traditional site of the Chair of Tuam by Paul Gosling, an archaeologist working on a contract for local businessman, Joe O'Toole who is developing a new drapery store near the site.
If it can be proved that the curved section of wall that was uncovered is indeed a tower from King Rory's castle, it will be the most important find of the decade, as this will then be he oldest surviving stone castle in Ireland.
When Mr. O'Toole applied for planning permission for the development he was requested by Galway County Council to prepare a report on the archaeological implications of the development.
A result of this was the decision to dismantle under supervision the semi—circular structure in which was placed a monument commemorating the traditional Chair of Tuam.
When Martin Monaghan, an employee of Rattigan's of Milltown, contractors for the new store started to remove stone by stone the wall of an old store that backed on to the Chair of Tuam site, Paul Gosling knew within minutes that a much older structure stood behind it.
The curved wall is now exposed to ground level, and stands about 2.5 metres, or eight feet, high. A previous excavation of the site by Prof. Etienne Rynne of U.C.G. shows that the wall goes another 2 metres approximately below existing ground level.
The plan now is to clean away all the modern accretions, re—point the stonework, rail the wall off and floodlight it as an amenity for the people of Tuam and a further attraction for visitors.
Mr. O'Toole said he was delighted that his development had helped to uncover something of value that was hidden for centuries, and he would facilitate further excavations if they were necessary.
"We felt our plans would add something to the overall appearance of the town, and it is wonderful that this priceless bonus is added as a result," he said.
Paul Gosling said it would be difficult to date the wall accurately, but it was something very ancient. It was now much more likely that the traditional site of the castle was the actual location.
"We will attempt to date it by comparing mortar samples with some from St. Mary's Cathedral, but the real answers lie in excavation. The great thing about this is that if what is uncovered is indeed a tower from King Rory's castle, it will be the most important find of the decade, as this will then be the oldest surviving stone castle in Ireland."
Dr. Tony Claffey, an expert on Irish history and Tuam's medieval past, was delighted with the discovery.
He explained, that the Annals of Tigernach mentioned Rory O'Connor's 'castellum mirificum' (wonderful castle) being built at Tuam in 1164. Writers of the 17th century said the walls were still standing then, and 19th century tradition gave the location as the one, where the M.P. for Tuam sat after his election.
"If this is Rory's castle we are pinpointing a tangible connection with the last High King of Ireland," Dr. Claffey said. "It would be proof of the civic greatness of Tuam, the first urban centre in the country after the Viking settlements at Dublin, Waterford and other points on the coast. It would also prove that the Irish were building stone castles before the coming of the Normans in 1169, and that they had contact with England and the Continent from which would have come the architecture of the tower."
Dr. Claffey added that as a tourist attraction, Tuam was being developed as a centre of interest for the 12th and 19th centuries. The discovery and verification of a medieval tower would add greatly to its attractiveness from that point of view.