Martello Towers

The French attempted to land troops in Ireland during the Napoleonic Wars, one in Bantry Bay in 1796 and another one in Killala, County May in 1798.  This real threat from the French led to coast fortifications being built in Dublin, the Shannon Estuary, Bere Island and other locations.

Lieutenant-Colonel William Twiss reported on the proposed Defence of Ireland in 1803.  A copy of this research is held by The National Archives, reference WO30/73, dated 1803.  He recommendations included the building of four Martello Towers on Bere Island.

The Four Martello Towers constructed on Bere Island were all similar with two floors, and a single gun being mounted on the roof  (see image of a plan from Historic Environment Scotland). The garrison was twenty six soldiers, including one N.C.O.  allocated to each tower.  Construction started in about 1804 and the work appears to have been completed the following year.

These four Martello Towers were located at:

Tower No. 1

Destroyed and built over by Lonehort Battery

Tower No. 2

Destroyed and built over by Rerrin town

Tower No. 3

Cloonaghline Martello which survives

Tower No. 4

Ardagh Martello which survives

It is reported that the construction was mainly carried out by Cornish stonemasons assisted by local labour.  The total cost of building the four towers was in excess of £45,000.  This was roughly seven times over the initial budget, largely because of the cost of importing all the stone and building the required access roads.