Ballymote Castle
Encyclopedia
Ballymote Castle is a large rectangular keep
less castle, built around 1300. It is located in the townland of Carrownanty on the outskirts of Ballymote in southern County Sligo, Ireland
. This area was known historically as Átha Cliath an Chorainn, which roughly translates as The Ford of the Hurdles of Corran. It is the last of the Norman
castles in Connacht
. It was probably built in order to protect the newly won possessions of Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster
(also known as the Red Earl), in County Sligo, some distance from an earlier motte
.
, in Anglesey
, Wales
, built by King Edward I of England
. The entrance, with a double towered gate, is in the north wall and had twin D-shaped towers. It has a gatehouse typical of the period, the outer portions of which have almost completely disappeared. The castle, however, remains an impressive structure. The interior measures about 30 square metres. There are three-quarter round towers at all four corners and also in the middle of the east and west walls. A postern
gate, which was planned for the centre of the south wall, was never completed, probably because of the events of 1317, when the castle was lost to the O'Connors. A small square tower had protected this gate. The walls are about ten feet thick and flanked with six noble towers. Passages of about 3 feet wide ran through the centre of the walls all around and the passages were built in such a way that they gave access to the towers, and to the intervening curtain walls
at different heights, thereby meeting the needs of attack or defence.
No traces of the interior domestic buildings survive.
Local folklore suggests that underground passages connected Emlaghfad church with the castle and with the nearby Franciscan
Abbey
, though such stories are common throughout Ireland and are unlikely to be based on fact.
The Red Earl is also credited with building the ancient road from Boyle, County Roscommon
to Collooney
, known as Bóthar an Corran and as the Red Earls Road.
. By 1381
it had passed to the McDonagh
s.
Although owned by Tadhg MacDermot, one of the last of the Kings of Moylurg in 1561, it appears to have passed to the O'Connor Sligo by 1571
, at which time he surrendered the castle and had it regranted to him
by James I of England
. In 1577, the castle fell into English hands for a short period and then more permanently in 1584
, when it was taken by the Governor of Connacht Richard Bingham. A lack of occupation levels implies that the building was virtually abandoned during the above period (from 1317 to 1584).
The O'Connors, O'Hartes and O'Dowd
s sacked the castle in 1588
. The English surrendered it in 1598 to the MacDonaghs who sold it shortly afterwards to Red Hugh O'Donnell
(one source says he bought it for £400 and 300 cows).
It was from here that Red Hugh O'Donnell marched to the disastrous Battle of Kinsale
in 1601
. When the O' Donnells surrendered it to the English in 1602
, it was already in a bad state of repair. In 1633
, the Taaffes
owned it for a short time, but had to surrender it again to the English Parliamentary forces in 1652
. In the Williamite wars
the castle was held by Captain Terence MacDonagh for King James II
, but he had to surrender it to Lord Granard
in the face of an artillery attack in 1690
. Soon afterwards the fortifications were made harmless, the moat
was filled up and the castle fell into ruins.
In more recent years the Office of Public Works
have carried out preservation work on the castle.
, Ballymote to Tubbercurry
road, opposite the Ballymote railway station
, and just past the Catholic church. Contact the Enterprise Centre, Grattan
Street on 071-9183992 to get the key (for a small deposit). The Centre is open from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, and frequently (at restricted times) on weekends in the summer. Access is through the grounds of the Ballymote Community nursing unit.
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
less castle, built around 1300. It is located in the townland of Carrownanty on the outskirts of Ballymote in southern County Sligo, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. This area was known historically as Átha Cliath an Chorainn, which roughly translates as The Ford of the Hurdles of Corran. It is the last of the Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
castles in Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
. It was probably built in order to protect the newly won possessions of Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster
Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster
Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster and 3rd Baron of Connaught , called The Red Earl, was one of the most powerful Irish nobles of the late 13th and early 14th centuries.-Early life:...
(also known as the Red Earl), in County Sligo, some distance from an earlier motte
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
.
Construction and design
Ballymote castle is a large enclosure castle, the most symmetrical of all the Irish "keepless" castles. It has many similarities with Beaumaris CastleBeaumaris Castle
Beaumaris Castle, located in the town of the same name on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales, was built as part of King Edward I's campaign to conquer the north of Wales. It was designed by James of St. George and was begun in 1295, but never completed...
, in Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, built by King Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
. The entrance, with a double towered gate, is in the north wall and had twin D-shaped towers. It has a gatehouse typical of the period, the outer portions of which have almost completely disappeared. The castle, however, remains an impressive structure. The interior measures about 30 square metres. There are three-quarter round towers at all four corners and also in the middle of the east and west walls. A postern
Postern
A postern is a secondary door or gate, particularly in a fortification such as a city wall or castle curtain wall. Posterns were often located in a concealed location, allowing the occupants to come and go inconspicuously. In the event of a siege, a postern could act as a sally port, allowing...
gate, which was planned for the centre of the south wall, was never completed, probably because of the events of 1317, when the castle was lost to the O'Connors. A small square tower had protected this gate. The walls are about ten feet thick and flanked with six noble towers. Passages of about 3 feet wide ran through the centre of the walls all around and the passages were built in such a way that they gave access to the towers, and to the intervening curtain walls
Curtain wall (fortification)
A curtain wall is a defensive wall between two bastions of a castle or fortress.In earlier designs of castle the curtain walls were often built to a considerable height and were fronted by a ditch or moat to make assault difficult....
at different heights, thereby meeting the needs of attack or defence.
No traces of the interior domestic buildings survive.
Local folklore suggests that underground passages connected Emlaghfad church with the castle and with the nearby Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
, though such stories are common throughout Ireland and are unlikely to be based on fact.
The Red Earl is also credited with building the ancient road from Boyle, County Roscommon
Boyle, County Roscommon
Boyle is a town in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located at the foot of the Curlew Mountains near Lough Key in the north of the county. Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetery, the Drumanone Dolmen and the popular fishing lakes of Lough Arrow and Lough Gara are also close by...
to Collooney
Collooney
-Transport:Collooney is located just off the N4 and N17 roads, having been bypassed twice, by the N4 in 1998, and the N17 in 1992, and is the meeting point of both roads. The town was a significant railway centre, with no less than three railway stations...
, known as Bóthar an Corran and as the Red Earls Road.
History of occupation
The castle changed hands many times since construction. It was captured by the O'Connors of Sligo in 1317, but was taken by the Mac Diarmada, during the course of local struggles, in 13471347 in Ireland
-Events:*25 March - Lord Nicholas de Verdun buried at Drogheda "with great splendour and solemn rites and with many in the procession to the convent."...
. By 1381
1381 in Ireland
-Events:*McDonaghs take possession of Ballymote Castle, County Sligo from the Mac Diarmada...
it had passed to the McDonagh
McDonagh
McDonagh or MacDonagh is a surname of Irish origin. They are anglicized forms of the Gaelic name "Mac Donnchadha", which means son of Donnchadh.-People:*Bill McDonagh , is a former professional ice hockey left winger....
s.
Although owned by Tadhg MacDermot, one of the last of the Kings of Moylurg in 1561, it appears to have passed to the O'Connor Sligo by 1571
1571 in Ireland
-Events:*February - John Perrot is made Lord President of Munster.*First printing in the Irish language in Dublin....
, at which time he surrendered the castle and had it regranted to him
Surrender and regrant
During the Tudor conquest of Ireland , "surrender and regrant" was the legal mechanism by which Irish clans were to be converted from a power structure rooted in clan and kin loyalties, to a late-feudal system under the English legal system...
by James I of England
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
. In 1577, the castle fell into English hands for a short period and then more permanently in 1584
1584 in Ireland
-Events:*July - English government commissions a survey of Munster, following the Desmond Rebellions. Sir Valentine Browne, Knight is appointed to the task.*The Spanish Arch is built in Galway.*Perrott subdivides Cavan into seven baronies.-Deaths:...
, when it was taken by the Governor of Connacht Richard Bingham. A lack of occupation levels implies that the building was virtually abandoned during the above period (from 1317 to 1584).
The O'Connors, O'Hartes and O'Dowd
O'Dowd
O'Dowd is an uncommon Irish surname. Many modern variants of the O'Dowd surname exist. The prefix has been widely retained, O'Dowd being more usual than Dowd. Other modern variants are Dawdy, Dowdy, O'Dowda and Dowds, with Doody and Duddy, found around Killarney, where a branch of the Connacht...
s sacked the castle in 1588
1588 in Ireland
-Events:*28 June - Sir Valentine Browne, Knight purchases estates, including the Lakes of Killarney, from the estate of Donald Maccarty, 1st Earl of Clancare.*Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork and father of Robert Boyle arrives in Ireland as an entrepreneur....
. The English surrendered it in 1598 to the MacDonaghs who sold it shortly afterwards to Red Hugh O'Donnell
Hugh Roe O'Donnell
Aodh Rua Ó Dónaill, anglicised as either Hugh Roe O'Donnell or Red Hugh O'Donnell , was An Ó Domhnaill and Rí of Tir Chonaill . He led the Irish forces against the English conquest of Ireland from 1593 and helped to lead the Nine Years' War from 1595 to 1603...
(one source says he bought it for £400 and 300 cows).
It was from here that Red Hugh O'Donnell marched to the disastrous Battle of Kinsale
Siege of Kinsale
The Siege or Battle of Kinsale was the ultimate battle in England's conquest of Gaelic Ireland. It took place during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, at the climax of the Nine Years War - a campaign by Aodh Mór Ó Néill, Aodh Rua Ó Dónaill and other Irish clan leaders against English rule...
in 1601
1601 in Ireland
-Events:*30 November - Prince Hugh Roe O'Donnell, on his way to the Battle of Kinsale, visited and venerated a relic of the True Cross on the Feast of St. Andrew, at Holy Cross Abbey....
. When the O' Donnells surrendered it to the English in 1602
1602 in Ireland
-Events:* 3 January - Nine Years' War: The English defeat Irish rebels and their Spanish allies at the Siege of Kinsale.* 5–18 June - Nine Years' War: The English defeat Irish rebels at the Siege of Dunboy.-Deaths:...
, it was already in a bad state of repair. In 1633
1633 in Ireland
-Births:*William FitzMaurice, 20th Baron Kerry*James Hamilton, 3rd Baron Hamilton of Strabane, peer ....
, the Taaffes
Viscount Taaffe
The title Viscount Taaffe, of Corren, was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1628, together with the subsidiary title Baron Ballymote. From the 18th century onwards, the Viscounts Taaffe also held the title Count Taaffe in the Holy Roman Empire...
owned it for a short time, but had to surrender it again to the English Parliamentary forces in 1652
1652 in Ireland
-Events:* 12 May - Siege of Galway - Thomas Preston, the military governor of Galway, surrenders the city to English Parliamentarians commanded by Charles Coote...
. In the Williamite wars
Williamite war in Ireland
The Williamite War in Ireland—also called the Jacobite War in Ireland, the Williamite-Jacobite War in Ireland and in Irish as Cogadh an Dá Rí —was a conflict between Catholic King James II and Protestant King William of Orange over who would be King of England, Scotland and Ireland...
the castle was held by Captain Terence MacDonagh for King James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
, but he had to surrender it to Lord Granard
Earl of Granard
Earl of Granard is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1684 for Arthur Forbes, 1st Viscount Granard. He was a Lieutenant-General in the army and served as Marshal of the Army in Ireland after The Restoration and was later Lord Justice of Ireland...
in the face of an artillery attack in 1690
1690 in Ireland
-Events:*14 June - William lands at Carrickfergus in Ulster and marches south to take Dublin.*29 June - Williamites reach the Boyne.*12 July - Battle of the Boyne, Jacobite supporters are defeated by William III....
. Soon afterwards the fortifications were made harmless, the moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
was filled up and the castle fell into ruins.
In more recent years the Office of Public Works
Office of Public Works
The Office of Public Works is a State Agency of the Department of Finance in the Republic of Ireland...
have carried out preservation work on the castle.
Access
The castle is on the R296R296 road
The R296 road is a regional road in Ireland that runs from Ballymote to Quarryfield all in County Sligo.-References:* – Department of Transport...
, Ballymote to Tubbercurry
Tubbercurry
Tubbercurry or Tobercurry is a town in County Sligo, Ireland. It lies at the foot of the Ox Mountains, on the N17 national primary road.Tubbercurry has a very active Tidy Towns Project which is setting out to transform the town's visual appearance...
road, opposite the Ballymote railway station
Ballymote railway station
Ballymote railway station serves the town of Ballymote in County Sligo, Ireland.The station opened on 3 December 1862.-References:...
, and just past the Catholic church. Contact the Enterprise Centre, Grattan
Henry Grattan
Henry Grattan was an Irish politician and member of the Irish House of Commons and a campaigner for legislative freedom for the Irish Parliament in the late 18th century. He opposed the Act of Union 1800 that merged the Kingdoms of Ireland and Great Britain.-Early life:Grattan was born at...
Street on 071-9183992 to get the key (for a small deposit). The Centre is open from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, and frequently (at restricted times) on weekends in the summer. Access is through the grounds of the Ballymote Community nursing unit.
See also
- List of castles in Ireland
- Ballymote