mavic – Page 2

Explore #218: McDermott’s Castle, Lough Key, Ireland – September 2017

Explore #3 of the ‘Almost Died Tour’ Next up we have a ruined castle which really captivated me from the moment I first saw a photo of it online… History McDermott’s castle stands on Castle Island in Lough Key, County Roscommon. The Mac Diarmada (McDermott) ruling dynasty first built a castle on the site in the 12th century, and repeatedly came under seige in the 13th century. The McDermotts lost the island in 1586, and the current folly castle was…

Explore #217: Connacht District Lunatic Asylum / St Brigid’s Hospital, Ballinasloe, Ireland – September 2017

July 27, 2018

Adam X

Hospitals & Asylums, Ireland, Recommended Reports - some selected highlights

Explore #2 of the ‘Almost Died Tour’ The first proper explore of our Ireland trip was an absolute beauty… History (abridged and rewritten from here and here) Connacht District Lunatic Asylum (latterly known as St Brigid’s Hospital) was one of the earliest of the Irish district asylums, and opened in Ballinasloe Co. Galway in 1833 with an intial capacity of 150. It was designed by William Murray, based on an earlier design by Francis Johnson, and built to an X-shaped…