Ballinafad Castle (in Ruins) — Ballinafad

In pasture, on a NW-facing slope. The ruin of a four-storey structure consisting of a rectangular block (int.: 6m NE-SW; 4.3m NW-SE) with a circular tower (diam. 4.7m) at each corner (see plan in Waterman 1961, fig. 14.6; photograph Ó Muraíle 2002, 236; photo, plans and drawings Harbison 2002, 98-100 and figs 81-4). It is built of limestone rubble in a lime mortar with a gentle base-batter. The structure was substantially repaired by the OPW c. 1940 when nearly every embrasure was rebuilt to some extent and concrete lintels inserted. The walls of the corner towers stand mostly to full height but the NE and SE walls of the main block are missing and the SW and NW walls are largely rebuilt, especially on the inside. The internal floors were all wooden but none have survived. Also gone is the spiral wooden stairs housed in the W tower. The lowest floor may have been an unlit basement as there is no apparent access door or windows. The only surviving features are three gun loops: one in the main NW wall and one each in the E and S towers facing each other and covering the front face of the main SE wall. The loops are small splayed embrasures with plain rectangular openings in front (H c. 0.15m; Wth c. 0.5m). The entrance doorway on the first floor at the SW end of the NW wall is almost entirely rebuilt but a socket for a drawbar survives. According to Waterman (1961, 271), the door was reinforced by 'a sliding gate working portcullis-wise which could be raised into a recess at second floor level'. This recess (D c. 0.2m) is the exact width of the doorway and directly above it on the inside. However, there is no vertical slot on the side of the doorway to house a sliding gate. The first floor has a large plain fireplace in the centre of the SW wall, and there are window embrasures in each corner tower. In the stairs tower there are three gun loops, two covering the entrance door. According to Waterman (ibid.), 'the towers could at each floor be closed against the main block by a door secured with a draw-bar'; this was judged from the surviving drawbar-sockets as very little of any doorway is left. At second-floor level each tower room has a fireplace, a window ope and numerous gun loops. There are also gun loops in the stairwell and two windows. The third floor has a similar arrangement but with far fewer gun loops. Most of the windows at higher levels have stone seats set into their embrasures. On the outermost face of each tower is a small box machicolation just below the rooftop level. Tall plain chimney stacks survive on top of the E and N towers. Built in 1590 by Sir Richard Bingham to command the 'Red' Earl's Road (SL033-147---) where it goes through the Curlew's pass (O'Dowd 1991, 40), it may be identified with the 'strong new fort in the strait of the Curlews' recorded in his report to the Privy Council in September of that year (CPSI 1588-92, 264). The fort was garrissoned by ten men commanded by Captain John St Barbe. It was partially destroyed by Red Hugh O'Donnell in 1595 and again sacked during the 1641 rebellion. It was again garrisoned by Crown forces in the mid-1650s as part of a system of fortifications protecting the land settlements that followed the restoration of Charles II (O'Dowd 1991, 60, 118, 131, 137). It was out of use by 1680. By 1684 it was described as 'an auncient castle and great fortifications' (Ó Muraíle 2002, 242); recent excavations by M. A. Timoney (1998, 2000b, 2002e) did not find evidence for the fortifications in the field across the stream to the E. A grave-memorial at Aghanagh graveyard (SL040-17102-), which is dated 1659, is dedicated to Winifred Hughes wife of Henry Hughes, governor of Ballinafad Castle (pers. comm. M. B. Timoney); in the same graveyard is the grave of Captain St Barbe. This is a national monument in State care (No. 342). Attached images: SL040-189----_01.JPG viewed from NW SL040-189----_02.JPG viewed from SW SL040-189----_01.JPG interior viewed from SE The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 48/1936).