Ballymote Castle Travel Guide

Ballymote Castle, situated on the outskirts of the town of Ballymote in southern County Sligo, is a striking example of Anglo-Norman architecture. Constructed around 1300 by Richard Óg de Burgh, the Red Earl of Ulster, it was intended to protect his newly acquired lands in the region. Known historically as Átha Cliath an Chorainn, meaning 'The Ford of the Hurdles of Corann,' the castle is the last of the Norman castles in Connacht.The castle's design is reminiscent of Beaumaris Castle in Wales, featuring a large rectangular enclosure with a double-towered gate on the north wall. The structure is almost square, with three-quarter round towers at each corner and D-shaped towers in the middle of the east and west walls. The walls are approximately 3 meters (10 feet) thick, and a postern gate planned for the south wall was never completed.Throughout its history, Ballymote Castle changed hands numerous times between Irish clans and English forces. It was captured by the O'Connors of Sligo in 1317 and later taken by the Mac Diarmada in 1347. By 1381, it was in the possession of the McDonaghs. In 1588, the O'Connors, O'Hartes, and O'Dowds sacked the castle. Red Hugh O'Donnell purchased it in 1598 for £400 and 300 cows, and it was from here that he marched to the Battle of Kinsale in 1601.In 1690, after the Williamite wars, the castle's fortifications were dismantled, the moat was filled, and the structure fell into ruin. Today, the Office of Public Works maintains the castle grounds, which are open to the public free of charge. Visitors can explore the ruins, imagine its former grandeur, and learn about its pivotal role in Irish history. The castle is also linked to the Book of Ballymote, a significant 14th-century manuscript containing key texts of Irish literature.