Shrule Castle is a ruined tower castle

Castle

A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...

 near Shrule

Shrule

Shrule is a village in County Mayo, Ireland. The boundary between Mayo and County Galway lies on the edge of the village. The Black River divides Shrule between Galway and Mayo....

 in County Mayo

County Mayo

County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...

, Ireland

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

. The castle was built in c.1238, near the Black River

Black River (Ireland)

The Black River is a river in Connacht in Ireland. For much of its length it forms the border between County Galway and County Mayo. It flows past Shrule, and drains into Lough Corrib....

 at the County Mayo and County Galway

County Galway

County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...

 border by the de Burgh family. It was gifted to John de Burgh in 1308 by his father Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster

Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster

Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster and 3rd Baron of Connaught , called The Red Earl, was one of the most powerful Irish nobles of the late 13th and early 14th centuries.-Early life:...

.

The castle was captured in 1570 by a strong force led by Sir Edward Fitton

Edward Fitton (the elder)

Sir Edward Fitton , known as Edward Fitton the elder, was Lord President of Connaught and Thomond and the Vice-Treasurer of Ireland. He was the eldest son of Sir Edward Fitton of Gawsworth and Mary Harbottle...

, President of Connaught and Vice Treasurer of Ireland and consisting of McDonnells of Knocknacloy

McDonnells of Knocknacloy

The McDonnells of Knocknacloy are a branch in Ireland of the Highland Scottish clan, Clan Donald. The McDonnells of Knocknacloy are descended from Somerled Macdonald son of Alastair Og MacDomhnaill and Juliana MacDougall....

 gallóglaigh. Mac Uilliam Ochtair, Lord of Thomond, the de Burghs of Mayo and McDonnells of Mayo led a force to retake the castle however the castle was not retaken. The chief of the McDonnells of Knocknacloy Calvagh McDonnell was killed on 18 June 1570 and during the battle Edward Fitton was unhorsed and severely wounded in the face.

William Burke occupied the castle, and passed to his son John Burke in 1574 and in 1610, Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde

Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde

Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde was an Irish nobleman. He was the son of Ulick Burke, 3rd Earl of Clanricarde and Honora Burke, daughter of John Burke....

leased the castle and lands to Pierce Lynch of Galway.