there is some slight evidence for viking use of the area, at least as a seasonal camp, as the danes of limerick made a number of devastating raids in the area in the 9th and 10th centuries, and though the annalistic evidence is ambiguous, seem to have made some sort of semi-permanent camp along the river or in lough corrib. be that as it may, the earliest known building was erected there in 1124 at the instigation of high king tairrdelbach mac ruaidri ua conchobair.