Galway city on the west coast of Ireland is one of the Islands brightest and best. Known for its culture and festivals it has also given us the famous Mens Aran Sweaters from the islands out in it’s bay. A great example of this can be seen at Shamrock for Mens Aran Sweaters. However the tale of the city is not one of peace. It is a tale of two warring families in the early middle ages.
At one time Galway was the domain of the O’Flaherty Clan. A proud and noble family they were bested by an invading Norman family called the De Burghs. With their military might the De Burghs ousted the O’Flahertys and a huge grudge was born. The De Burghs would go on to create the fourteen tribes of Galway and the O’Flahertys were determined to make them all pay.
Adopting the position of if you can’t beat them, copy them the O’Flahertys built castles to defend themselves. Aughnanure Castle was one of their best and served as the ancestral seat where they would show off and plan raids.
It all gets a bit Game of Thrones between the two sides. The De Burghs tried to starve the O’Flahertys out of Aughnanure and the O’Flahertys duly promised to pay tribute. When the De Burgh’s eldest son went to get it he was thrown into the river and beheaded. The youngest O’Flaherty took the head back and threw it through the gates of the De Burgh Castle declaring that tribute was paid. He lured the De Burgh army in outrage after him where a force of O’Flaherty’s put most of them to the sword.
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