What is recorded here

Castlefarm may have swallowed Ballinamona Beg Castle whole. The Down Survey placed the small castle south-east of the church, not west as later writers claimed. Houses, roads and forgotten lives may have paved over its stones, leaving only the name to mark where the wall once stood.

Westropp (1906-7, 184-5) incorrectly identified the castle (LI032-095001-) standing to the W of Ballinamona Church (LI032-095002-) as Ballinamona Beg Castle (LI032-166----). The 1654-7 Down Survey parish map shows Ballinamona More Castle stood in the area to the W of the church while Ballinamona Beg Castle stood to the SSE in the present townland of Castlefarm. The precise location of Ballinamona Beg Castle has not been identified but Castlefarm may have been built on or close to the site of this castle. Westropp (1906-7, 184) recorded the following details about Ballynamona Beg Castle; ''Vill de Mora (C.S.P.L). 1583 Two C.[astle]s in Ballynemonybeg J. Browne (Des. R., 67b; Peyton, 12b; Inq. Exch., 11), 1607 N. Haward held it (Pat. R.), in 1637, F. Fitton of Anny (Inq. Chan., 191), and in 1655, Morris Baggott (C.S., xxxi., p. 24).'. Tower House like castle depicted on the 1654-7 Down Survey map of Ballynamona parish map (NLI, MS 718). See attached Down Survey map showing the castle of Ballynamona Beg. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 26 February 2020

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