Ballykine Castle Travel Guide

Ballykine Castle, also known as Baile Ui Chadhain in Irish, lies hidden within the Clonbur Woodland, near the border of County Mayo and County Galway. This 13th-century ruin, located 1.5km east of Clonbur, was one of five castles built by the O'Kyne (O'Cadain) Clan. The castle's lands were seized in 1571, and it later passed to the Burke family, who then gave it to Scottish mercenaries, the McDonnells, in lieu of payment. Eventually, it became part of the Guinness estate.Ballykine Castle is small, more like a fortified house, measuring only 24 feet by 17 feet. It features a four-story tower and a trabeated doorway, with archeologists estimating the doorway to predate the rest of the structure by 900 years. The castle had two rooms on the ground floor and one large room on the upper floor, accessible via an outside stairway. The interior was destroyed by fire in the late 15th or early 16th century, leaving exposed and cracked stones.Today, Ballykine Castle sits submerged in an eerily quiet atmosphere, enveloped by the surrounding emerald foliage. The area has been reforested, adding to the spooky atmosphere, especially with mist over the nearby Lough Mask. Visitors can explore the castle ruins and the surrounding walking trails, immersing themselves in the natural beauty and tranquility of this historical site.