What is recorded here

Ballynagall Castle vanished before human memory, leaving only a boundary hint near Brockagh and a warning that Richard Tirrell lost it during the wars. Later Reynell owners may have renamed the same stones or built beside them, while James Gibbons reused castle fabric in an 1808 house. The ground keeps both possibilities alive: a military stronghold, a gentleman’s seat, or a house made from the bones of one.

The precise location of Ballynagall Castle has not been identified. The castle is depicted on the 1655-9 Down Survey map of Portnashangan parish (NLI, MS 723-4) where it is shown standing close to the townland boundary with Brackcastle now Brockagh. The terrier of this parish map recorded that 'There are Scituate in it the Castles of Loughanstowne (WM012-117001-), Ballenegall'. The terrier of this parish map recorded that in 1641 Ballynagall Castle stood on the lands belonging to 'Richard Tirrell' who is listed as an 'Irish papist'. The castle is not depicted on any edition of the OS 6-inch maps. There is no evidence to suggest that the ruins of Ballynagall House were built on the site of the medieval castle. Ballynagall House was built in 1808 for James Gibbons and according to local tradition it was built on the site of an 18th century house Castle Reynell and reused fabric from this castle in the construction of the 19th century house. In 1720 Arthur Reynell High Sheriff of Co. Westmeath purchased this estate from which the house received its name (Burke 1847, 1112). It is not clear if Castle Reynell was a new house built on the site of the medieval castle of Ballynagall or whether it was the medieval castle that was renamed Castle Reynell. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 4 October 2016.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.