Ballindooley Castle
Photo: Mike Searle · CC BY-SA 2.0
Castle - tower house

Ballindooley Castle

Tower house in County Galway, Ireland.

  • AccessNot confirmed
  • National MonumentNot recorded
  • DateNot stated
  • FolkloreNone recorded
  • PhotoWikimedia Commons
Ballindooly, Co. Galway53.30842, -9.02830
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Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer

At a glance

  • TypeCastle - tower house
  • Recorded sizeL 10.95m, W 9m

What to look for

  • Wall-walk and parapet
  • Spiral stair
  • Murder hole
  • Vaulted floor
  • Ogee-headed windows
  • Fireplace

Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.

Can you visit?

  • No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
  • Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
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History and description

On E verge of modern road (the older road lay further to W) overlooking Ballindooly Lough to SE. In existence in 1574 when it was in the possession of 'Redmud Reogh' (Nolan 1901, 115). Well-preserved rectangular four-storey tower (L 10.95m, Wth 9m).

Full archaeological record 199 words

On E verge of modern road (the older road lay further to W) overlooking Ballindooly Lough to SE. In existence in 1574 when it was in the possession of 'Redmud Reogh' (Nolan 1901, 115). Well-preserved rectangular four-storey tower (L 10.95m, Wth 9m). A pointed-arch doorway of two orders (now robbed) is centrally placed in SE wall: this opens into a lobby with murder-hole above and spiral stairs in E corner. The ground, 1st and 2nd floors are comprised of a main chamber with a subsidiary one to SE. A stone vault exists between 2nd/3rd floors and there is a fireplace in SW wall on 1st floor. An enclosed latrine gallery runs along SE side of the main chamber between lst/2nd floors. There are also latrines on 1st and 3rd floors off the main chambers. That on 3rd gives access, via a trapdoor, to a concealed chamber below it in the thickness of the arch. Only the base of the parapet survives. Twin-light windows on 3rd floor are set in semicircular embrasures with finely decorated soffits. Apart from the latter, all the windows are single-lights with ogee, circular and flat heads. (Athy 1914, 166-71; O'Flanagan 1927a, Vol. 1, 329, 331)

Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Updated 05 August 2010 · Based on the Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. I - West Galway'. Compiled by Paul Gosling. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.

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      Around Ballindooley Castle

      Other heritage nearby

      Recorded within 5 km

      Walks and trails

      • Moycullen (Maigh Cuilinn) Heritage Trails - Killagoola Loop WalkWalking Trail · 5.2 km · nearest point 9.5 km
      • Lackagh-Knockdoemore Walking TrailWalking Trail · 2.4 km · nearest point 9.9 km
      • Moycullen (Maigh Cuilinn) Heritage Trails - Killarainey Woods WalkWalking Trail · 2.4 km · nearest point 10 km

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