Ballynoe Castle (in ruins)

In farmyard. Remains of rectangular tower (7.3m N-S; 9.6m E-W; see plan Donnelly 1984, plan 4)- though SW corner is rebuilding and there may have been small projecting tower here (possibly contained staircase and garderobe for which no trace elsewhere). Built of uncoursed limestone; now stands to just above 1st-floor level. Until recently ground-floor chamber (4.1m N-S; 7.55m E-W) used as a farm building but cow-stalls and wooden roof noted by Donnelly (ibid., 26-7) now gone. Ground floor has original window in centre of W wall which is much altered but retains original jambs of light; windows in centre of N and E walls both rebuilt. Large inserted brick-arched doorway in S wall. First floor has original window in W wall though largely rebuilt; another original window in E wall with vaulted embrasure, though light entirely hidden by ivy. First-floor chamber covered by pointed vault (axis E-W), the W end of which has fallen and gap covered by corrugated iron. Just above ground level in S wall, and rising from the foundation plinth, is a series of segmental relieving arches; apparently similar feature in E and W walls though now largely covered by higher ground level. In 16th century held by MacSheehys but granted to Sir H Oughtred in 1587; by 1657 described as 'an old ruinous castle' (Westropp 1906-7, 234). In 1840 described as 'lately much destroyed' (OSL vol. 1, 51); this may refer to reduction of tower in height and conversion to a farm building. Lewis (1837, 51) claimed castle built by the Knight's Templars but no such foundation listed by Gwynn and Hadcock (1988). Compiled by: Denis Power Date of upload: 26 August 2011

Ballynoe Castle was built in the 17th century by the MacMahon family, an influential Gaelic-Irish clan in the area. It is remembered as a symbol of local Gaelic resistance and adaptation during the period of English expansion in Ireland.