Heritage

One of the finest buildings to visit in this attractive Co. Galway town is Portumna Castle with its walled kitchen gardens. Although gutted by fire in 1826, the castle is still an incredible example of Irish 17th-century architecture. Built before 1618 by Richard de Burgo, 4th Earl of Clanricarde, the castle became the main seat

The old Abbey in Portumna is a favourite with kids, who love to play hide-and-seek in the many nooks of the ruins. With its stately arches, doorways and different sections, it’s a fantastic place for kids to run around and expend energy. For adults, it’s a striking relic of a medieval Cistercian abbey. It was

Workhouses are a checkered part of Irish history. 163 workhouses operated in Ireland from the early 1840s to the early 1920s. The workhouse or ‘poorhouse’ has been described as "the most feared and hated institution ever established in Ireland." During and after the Great Famine, people who could not support themselves came to workhouses, where