Castle — unclassified in Ballynagall (corkaree By.)

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.