What is recorded here

Ballindarra was an O’Carroll tower house on the eastern bank of the Little Brosna, guarding the ford and the approach into Ely O’Carroll. When its walls collapsed in 1848, the stone likely left the ruin to build nearby homes, erasing the castle from the ground while carrying its strength into ordinary walls. A modern bungalow now stands within the old bawn, perhaps room for chamber, kitchen, guard room or hall, though no mark remains to tell which.

Today a modern bungalow stands inside the area of the bawn (OF035-021----) of the levelled O’Carroll castle, which stood on the eastern bank of the Little Brosna River, controlling the fording point and access into Ely O’Carroll (Éile). There are no surface remains visible of this castle. The walls of the castle collapsed in 1848 and the stone was probably taken away as building material for the houses of the surrounding region (Cooke 1875, 269-72). A short section of the upstanding wall, running parallel to the eastern bank of the river, may belong to the original bawn wall (OF035-021001-). In 1620 the commission for the plantation of King’s County granted Captain Francis Ackland, High Sheriff of the county ‘120a [acres] pasture and 100a bog and wood, in the town and lands of Crinkill, Clonkela [Clonkelly], Kilenfadda [part of Clonkelly/Crinkill], Clondagh and Clonlegagh; the castle and bawn of Ballindarragh cont[ainin]g. 30a [acres], extending from the Brosna river to the lands of Sessarabrack; rent for the pasture land £2 12s 1d. Engl.[ish], and for the bog and wood 4s 2d.- To hold in free and common soccage' (Griffith 1966, 467). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. See attached pdf for detailed description and history of Ballindarra Castle and bawn. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 13 March 2013

The O’Carroll family held Castle Ballindarra during the medieval period, and it was strategically important for controlling access into Ely O Co. Offaly through the fording point of the Little Brosna River.

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