Ballinafad Castle

Castle View, Ireland

Ballinafad Castle is an Elizabethan blockhouse built during the Nine Years' War by Captain John St. Barbe on land granted to him by King James VI and I. The castle was garrisoned by ten men and commanded by John St. Barbe. It was partially destroyed by Red Hugh O’Donnel in 1595. The castle was again sacked in 1642 and fell out of use by 1680.

Today it is in ruins and is accessible year round. There are no tours, guides, or fees. Visitors can park in a small carpark at the foot of the hill where they will find an interpretive sign. Visitors cannot enter the castle, but the interior is visible through breaches in the walls that are closed off by iron fences.

References:

Wikipedia

Castles and fortifications in Ireland

Address

Castle View 7, Castle View, Ireland

See all sites in Castle View

Details

Founded: 16th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Ireland

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetery (4,3 km)
Ballindoon Priory (6,4 km)

Sligo Abbey (28,6 km)
St Columba's Church (34,9 km)
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery (27,8 km)
Parke's Castle (26,5 km)
Creevykeel Court Tomb (46,3 km)
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (28,7 km)
Queen Maeve's Cairn (30,2 km)
Creevelea Abbey (22,9 km)
Ballymote Castle (13,8 km)

User Reviews

Michael Fergus (12 months ago)
Great stop on the side of the road.

Michelle OShea (14 months ago)
Nice spot, shame you can't enter

Roger Bellingham (2 years ago)
Unfortunately, the castle was closed for repairs so it could only be seen from the outside. The castle has a very interesting history, details of which are displayed on a notice board. It is worth a visit if you are in the village but not worth making a special journey.

mark chambers (2 years ago)
Past this castle many times and was glad to final stop and check it out. My youngest boy has always been obsessed with castle and he loved it. Literally just a 10min stop or like us you could have a picnic in the grass

Amber Mckay (2 years ago)
It is a nice castle but still being renovated and beware of roaming sheep. And lack of access for now

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright caminanteK

Historic Site of the week

Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.