Ballynahoogh Castle

In 1487 Aedh Roe O'Donnell demolished the castle of the sons of Rory Mac Dermot (KM 1478-86) at Baile na hUamha (AFM vol. 4, 1153), but it was re-built, perhaps at a different location (see RO010-010001-) in 1492 by the sons of Aedh (KM 1458-65) (AFM vol. 4, 1199). It was plundered by the Earl of Kildare in 1512 and captured and destroyed by O'Donnell again in 1527 (AFM vol. 5, 1317, 1391). In 1562 the Sliocht Eoghan (KM 1533-4), in their struggle for power with their uncle Rory (KM 1549-68), brought gallowglasses into Moylurg and burned Baile na hUamha (ALC vol. 2, 384). By this time the castle and lands were rented by descendents of Dermot Ruadh of Tir Tuathail, and the castle was confirmed to another descendent, Cathal Mac Fergainm, in 1617. By 1635, when the castle is described as 'ruinated', the lands had reverted to Terence Mac Dermot of Carrick of the Rock (RO006-046----) (Simington 1949, 146). (Mullaney, 1986, 75; Mac Dermot 1996, 123-4, 142, 296, 456) Situated on a rise overlooking a stream to the E which links Clogher Lake c. 150m to the N with Cavetown Lough c. 100m to the SW. Only slight traces of the castle were visible when John O'Donovan inspected it in the 1837 (O'Flanagan 1931, vol. 1, 113), and it is depicted as a shell (dims c. 10m N-S; c. 5m E-W) on the 1837 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. It is no longer visible at ground level in a coniferous wood. Moylurg Castle (RO010-010001-) is c. 1km to the NNE. Crannog (RO010-034----) is c. 150m to the SW in Cavetown Lough. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010

Ballynahoogh Castle was rebuilt in 1492, likely by the Mac Dermot family, after being demolished in 1487 by Aedh Roe O'Donnell. It is remembered for its strategic role in the ongoing conflicts between local Gaelic clans in late 15th-century Ireland.