More Family Art

Madi's contribution to the family art collection.

Madison Carbullido (age 12)

Galey Castle

Lying on western shores of Lough Ree, near Knockcroghery, Co. Roscommon, the ruins of Galey castle are just across the road from Galey Caravan Park. But bring your wellies if you want to see the actual ruins.  In this picture it is the dense green just left of center.  





Galey Castle "...was once the stronghold of the O'Kelly clan and was instrumental in the naming of the nearby village of Knockcroghery. The name change of the village occurred in Cromwellian times (17th century) when Sir Charles Coote laid siege to Galey Castle. The garrison resisted and for their defiance were taken to Creggan (The old name for Knockcroghery) and hanged on the hill just north of the village, now commonly known as Hangman's Hill. To mark this, the name of the village was changed to "Cnoc na Crocaire," the Hill of the Hangings, or in english - "Knockcroghery"." Galey Bay Camping

According to historical resources, Galey Castle was built in 1348 by our 17th/18th g.grandpa, William McDonagh Moynach O'Kelly (William Bui O'Kelly / Uilliam Bui Ó Ceallaigh). In 1351 he held a great feast at the castle, inviting all the poets, brehons, bards, harpers, gamesters or common kearógs, and jesters and other of their kind of Ireland.  A month long party resulted in verses extolling William for his bounty. 

This is the translation of the O'Kelly Welcome purported to have been written at the feast. 

A blessed, long living, great, courteous welcome,    
An affectionate, charitable, just, proper, true hearted welcome,    
A welcome and twenty, and I add, hundreds to them,    
Like the surge of the stream is, my welcome to you.  

The website  Ó Ceallaigh - The Noble Clan of Ui Maine gives the translation of Filid Erin Go h-Aoin Teach (The Poets of Ireland to One House Are Coming) a product of the party.

The view from the castle must have been spectacular, it certainly is today!

• More Pictures at Galey Bay