Castle louvre and ClareGalway castle.
For many years Harold Leasks’ Irish Castles was the definitive work on this topic. In his discussion of internal features (Chapter 10, page93) he states – using Burnchurch and Clara Castles as examples – “The large room at the top of the building must have been warmed originally by a central fire or brazier resting on the stone floor near its centre; the smoke from it could only find its way out through an opening or louvre in the roof.
There is historical reference to support this. In his ‘Discourse on Ireland’ c 1620, Luke Gernon gives a lively account of hospitality in Irish Castles. He says: “…. We are come to the castle already. The castles are built very strong, and with narrow stayres, for security. The hall is the uppermost room, lett us go up, you shall not come downe agayne till tomorrow….The lady of the house meets you wth. her trayne…. Salutations paste, you shall be presented wth. all the drinkes in the house, first the ordinary ale, then sacke, then olde-ale, the lady tastes it , you must not refuse it. The fire is preparede in the middle of the hall, where you may solace yor.selfe til supper time, you shall not want tobacco….”
The Upper Hall at Claregalway Castle is one the largest (31 X 24 feet) and most elaborate Baronial Chambers in the west of Ireland. It is an early castle and despite its grand Gothic design has no Fireplace anywhere on this floor. This implies the presence of a central hearth and the necessity for a roof opening for smoke egress.  The 2 most likely structures to deal with this would be central Louvre (Fumeral) or side vent if there was a Hipped roof or gambrel structure. There are many illustrations of Claregalway castle with both high gables intact up mid 19th Century – thus eliminating gambrel roof alternative.
No original Louvre exists in Irelands inventory of more than 3,500 Tower House castles for the simple reason no Roof apart from that of Dunsoghly Castle, Co. Dublin has survived. HOWEVER, absence of evidence does not equate with evidence for absence! At least one detailed engraving exists from late 18th Century of Augher Castle, Co Tyrone with intact Fumeral.
The Irish Castle may be a distinct entity within an European context but incorporates many refinements that had genesis outside our country. Contemporary castles and houses in Britain and throughout Europe that have survived to present times confirm the ubiquitous nature of Louvres. It would be absurd to suggest that this simple refinement – which profoundly impacted the comfort and health of castles inhabitants- was rejected in Ireland by a social grouping who had regular interaction with life in Britain and the continent. Did the smoke somehow percolate out through a leaky roof as I have heard suggested? If true, what happened on freezing, windless Winter nights?
 The Louvre at Claregalway Castle is academically correct. It closely follows precedents set in Percy Le Clercs’ roof restoration on Bunratty Castle,Co Clare in addition to Drimnagh, Co. Dublin both of which sport Louvres approved by the Office of Public Works. It is almost identical to the Louvre illustrated in recent highly commended and widely sold Dept of Environment, Heritage and Local Government Poster entitled ‘The Irish Tower House, circa 1500’ (figs 1 and 3). It is similar in design to Louvre illustrated in An Duchas Archaeologist, Kevin O’Briens’ fine reconstruction of the Great Hall at Trim Castle ( see fig 33b, page 47 in David Sweetmans’ The Medieval Castles of Ireland 1999 –fig 2).
The Claregalway Louvre is Environmentally Friendly as even when oak louvre is in position it will allow considerable natural illumination of what would otherwise be a rather dark place and eliminate the need for electric installation. The roof constructed by the Master Woodwright Paul Price has been commended by many experts as possibly the finest ever attempted in Ireland.The Castle has been open to the public for past 3 years (since August 2003) and it is intended to develop a Museum in an otherwise private home; one of the key features is the roof which is an essay in the sculptural aspects of medieval design and is constructed completely without nails or any modern metal reinforcement. Most such roofs cannot be fully visualised but the subtle internal illumination from the Louvre will facilitate enjoyment of the complete structure.
An additional and important function – employed to this day in some Mill Buildings – is maintainance of a dry environment for a large stone building through adaequate ventilation.
Externally,  the Louvre at centre of roof will be largely obscured by the proposed crenellations. In its present temporary form the Louvre gives an exaggerated and misleading appearance and bears little resemblance to its final proposed form, which will be considerably slimmer and more organic.
At present the fumeral has a temporary perspex and timber external panelling over the underlying vertical up rights. When a more appropriate Louvre is in place temporary external structure will be removed giving an elevation that is almost 20% less in width and with the current open bay covered in by oak Louvre. This will leave it much more closely resembling that in place at Bunratty Castle Co. Clare , Drimnagh Castle Co. Dublin(see figure 4) , Augher Castle Co. Tyrone etc. and will be almost identical to the current Department of Environment Castle Poster(see figure 1 and 3)  which is based on Clara Castle in Co. Kilkenny.
This latter Louvre design is the same as that at Claregalway in that the vertical posts of the fumeral extend up from the chief trusses. We favour this design because of its simplicity and also because it confers much greater structural integrity and in its current form it can resist wind gusts in excess of 140mph.
I wish to appeal to all in the Planning Office to support the presence of a Louvre at Claregalway Castle in the interest of accurate treatment of an important Heritage site and at least that any final decision regarding fumeral/Louvre might be deferred until the crenellations are built in order to allow accurate and fair appraisal of the complete  upperworks of castle.
Yours faithfully
Eamonn P O’Donoghue
1, The Crescent
Galway City
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