{"id":2386,"date":"2025-12-22T23:42:55","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T23:42:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/galwaycivictrust.ie\/?page_id=2386"},"modified":"2026-03-10T01:00:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T01:00:22","slug":"tribes-of-galway-blake","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/galwaycivictrust.ie\/index.php\/tribes-of-galway\/tribes-of-galway-blake\/","title":{"rendered":"Tribes of Galway – Blake"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Motto<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>: Virtus sola Nobilitat. (Virtue is the only nobility)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Of British origin, the Blake family was among the most influential of Galway\u2019s Tribes. Believed to be descended either from Ap-Lake, a knight of Arthurian legend, or from the Saxon word <\/span><\/span>Blac<\/i><\/span><\/span>, they arrived with Strongbow and built a castle at Menlo. Richard Caddell, later surnamed Blake, served as sheriff of Connaught in 1306. The family held estates across Galway and Mayo, with significant branches at Menlo Castle (Galway), Ardfry, Ballyglunin, and Castlegrove. Joseph Henry Blake, (descended from the Ardfry line), became Baron Wallscourt in 1800.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In the City itself, they had four houses, featured on the Galway Pictorial Map of 1651<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Their original castle in Galway city is still to be seen at the foot of Quay Street facing towards the Spanish Parade, a section of it which still remains. It became known as <\/span><\/span>Blake\u2019s Southern Castle<\/b><\/span><\/span> to distinguish it from their William Street castle. After the 1652 confiscations, the Blakes were dispossessed of it, and by 1686 it was in use as the County Gaol. It remained so until 1811, when Nun\u2019s Island Gaol was put into service. Blake\u2019s southern castle remains have been restored, and today serves as a retail coffee-shop. (Marked as <\/span><\/span>T<\/b><\/span><\/span> on the map).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Blake\u2019s Northern Castle<\/b><\/span><\/span> was the <\/span><\/span>great castle of Sir Valentine Blake,<\/b><\/span><\/span> baronet, also of Menlo castle. It was located on the north side of William Street, and was variously known as his great castle, his mansion house, his town house and edifices, (or his great stone castle or house). It was generally referred to as his northern castle. There are numerous stone remnants of the castle and its windows and doors to be seen in William Street (which stood behind the general area where Caravans bar is located today).He paid a high price for his support of the confederacy during the 1641 rebellion, losing all of his property and estates in the town and county by confiscation in 1652. Although occupied by the Cromwellians after the town was taken, it soon went to ruin. (Marked as <\/span><\/span>W<\/b><\/span><\/span> on the map)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The town house of Sir Richard Blake<\/b><\/span><\/span>, knight is also featured on the Galway Pictorial Map. It was situated on Bridge Street North. It is mentioned in the 1661 forfeitures as a \u201cRuined Castle in Bridge Street\u201d. The ruined building was demolished, and replaced by the Shambles Barracks, constructed here in the 18th century. The site now houses a school premises since early 1955, when Saint Patrick\u2019s National School was opened here. There are no visible traces of the earlier tower house. (Marked as <\/span><\/span>Y<\/b><\/span><\/span> on the map).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The town-house of Sir Walter Blake, knight,<\/b><\/span><\/span> is referenced on the Pictorial map. It was located on Martin\u2019s Lane (off Quay Street, adjoining Kirwan\u2019s Lane; Marked as <\/span><\/span>b<\/b><\/span><\/span> on the map).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

1651 Map<\/strong>: https:\/\/galwaycivictrust.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Cantec_Scan-of-1651-map.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Sources Consulted<\/u><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Books<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n

Dargan, Pat, Galway \u2013 City of Heritage<\/i>, Eastwood Books, Dublin, 2024<\/span><\/p>\n

Dowd, Peadar, \u201cA Family Heritage in Stone\u201d, Galway Roots- Journal of the Galway Family History Society West<\/i>, Summer 1993, (pp6-8)<\/span><\/p>\n

Hardiman, James, Hardiman\u2019s History of Galway,<\/i> 1820 (reprint, Connacht Tribune 1985)<\/span><\/p>\n

Larkin, Patrick \u201cSOME TOWN CASTLES OF GALWAY.\u201dJournal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society<\/i> 72 (2020): 157\u201372. <\/span><\/p>\n

Martyn Adrian, The Tribes Of Galway; 1124- 1642<\/i>, Galway; Adrian Martyn, 2016<\/span><\/p>\n

O\u2019Neill T.P., The Tribes and other Galway families<\/i>, (1984), reprint, Galway Civic Trust, 2013<\/span><\/p>\n

Prunty, Jacinta; Walsh, Paul, Galway- Irish Historic Town Atlas No 28<\/i>, Royal Irish Academy, 2016<\/span><\/p>\n

Walsh, Paul, Renaissance Galway- Delineating the Seventeenth Century City<\/i>, Royal Irish Academy, 2019<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h1>\n

Internet<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n

Welcome to County Galway Guide, \u2018\u2019Tribes of Galway\u201d, (2007), https:\/\/www.galway-ireland.ie\/galway-tribes.htm<\/a><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.houseofnames.com\/<\/a><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Motto: Virtus sola Nobilitat. (Virtue is the only nobility) Of British origin, the Blake family was among the most influential of Galway\u2019s Tribes. 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