From this week’s Galway City Tribune – An outdoor performance space on the banks of the River Corrib is among the ideas being considered to bring Terryland Castle into the public realm.

A meeting of Galway City Council heard on Monday that conservation works at three of the city’s iconic castles were progressing well and the focus for two of them – Terryland and Merlin Castles – was shifting to “giving them back” to the people of Galway.

Conservation Architect Fergal McNamara told councillors that the Three Castles Project got underway in March 2020 and since then, extensive works had been carried out – in the first instance to ensure safety, but also to protect architectural and natural heritage.

Referring to Terryland Castle, Mr McNamara said there was potential for the medieval ruin to complement the proposed water sports facility at the old waterworks.

“Galway is a rich cultural city and we’re looking at how the site could be reinvigorated for that, perhaps for the [Arts] Festival.

“That could be a more permanent thing, having the castle in the background with the area around it used for performance,” said Mr McNamara.

Conceding that any plans would be constrained by budget, he said another option under consideration was to bring valuable stone fragments gathered from the site back to the castle where they could be exhibited.

“In the next few weeks, we hope to turn on the lights,” continued Mr McNamara explaining that existing lights on Quincentenary Bridge would be used to “create a landmark” while being sensitive to wildlife in the area.
This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read the rest of the article, and support our journalism, see the November 11 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.