Castlerea Historical Walk

Discover the history of Castlerea with this short walk through the town. From Cindy the elephant's grave to the birthplace of Oscar Wilde's father, there's so much to see along the route. Explore the scenic grounds of the demesne, delve into Castlerea's famine history, and learn more about the town's ancient landmarks. Before you begin, here's a little bit about how Castlerea came to be: Castlerea derives its name from the Irish "Caislean Riabhach", the "stripped or grey castle". The Castle was constructed by the O'Conors, then Kings of Connacht, in approximately the 15th Century. The Castle was located at the point where it joins the river Cloonard, locally called the river Francis, around which the town developed. In the 17th century, Theophilus Sandford was the first Sandford to obtain extensive lands in Castlerea for his services during the civil wars in England. These lands had been taken from the O'Conors. He built Castlerea House c.1640 on the old O'Conor Castle site. Castlerea developed under the Sandfords, and they established a distillery, a brewery and a tannery as well as building a number of the town’s other landmark buildings. His descendants continued to hold their power through the troublesome 19th century, but they lost ground in the early years of the 20th century. The estate was acquired by the Land Commission and the Congested Districts Board. The Demesne in which it was set survives and the people of Castlerea now enjoy it as a public park.