The word 'Aughnanure' itself comes from the Irish "Achadh na n-Iubhar" which translates to "The Field of Yews", as the area is surrounded in woodland containing, amongst others, an abundance of Yew trees. This 16 th century Irish Tower House was built by the Anglo-Norman adventurer Walter de Burgo in 1256, though was quickly re-conquered the O’Flaherty clan who held sway in this area prior to the arrival of the invading Normans . The fortunes of the castle changed hands numerous times in the 16 th & 17 th centuries as a result of changing loyalties in Ireland being used as a buffer in defense of Galway during the Cromwellian siege. The castle was built beside, and at some positions straddling, a small river, the Drimneen, that has cut intriguing caverns in the stone below it. The building consists of a small guard look-out, a lower floor for storage and two upper floors - one for used for living quarters (containing a secret room) and the other for sleeping. At the top of the castle, there is an area to take in the fabulous views of the surrounding area. Outside the castle are two courtyards, one original and one that was added at a later period. There is well-known fable that there was once a trap door where unwelcome guests could be dropped into the river flowing below the courtyard.