Ballymote Castle is an Anglo-Norman castle west of the town of Ballymote, located right next to the railway station. Admission is free. The castle is fully accessible, although there is a grass lawn inside. As conditions on site may change, check them before your visit.
Castle Layout and Literary History
Ballymote Castle has an almost square floor plan, with walls 3 m thick. The entrance is in the centre of the north wall, between two three-storey twin towers. A tower stands at each corner of the curtain wall, and a D-shaped tower is positioned in the middle of each of the east and west walls. The layout thus unfolds in a clear sequence, from the central entrance to the towers along the walls and at the corners.
The castle is also linked to literary history: the Book of Ballymote was partly written at Ballymote Castle around 1391. The texts it contains include Lebor Gabála, Lebor na gCeart, Ogham script, Dinshenchas and The Destruction of Troy. Ballymote Castle is protected under the Irish National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014.
Local History Across the Centuries
Emlaghfad Church is a detached stone Church of Ireland church built in 1818. Ballymote's Art Deco theatre was first built in 1947. Both buildings offer a distinct insight into the town's architectural history.
The ruins of a Franciscan friary, locally known as The Abbey, are located in the park and surrounded by an old cemetery. Another historic remnant is the ruins of the old Corn Mill: they date back to a mill built by Sir Jocelyn Gore Booth in 1795, which served as a centre for grain milling in the 19th century. Near Ballymote Town Park, the Ireland National Memorial commemorates the Fighting 69th and the victims of September 11.
Brewery Experience
“The White Hag Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience” combines a guided tour of the brewery in Ballymote with a guided tasting of three fresh White Hag beers afterwards in the Taproom Barrel House. The purpose-built Barrel House is a social meeting place at the heart of the brewery, serving fresh White Hag beers straight from the brewery. Reservations, availability, opening arrangements and drinks service may change. Check these details with the operator before your trip.
Walking the Ballymote Heritage Trail
The Ballymote Heritage Trail is a circular route linking historic sites in Ballymote. This easy urban walk follows country roads and paths and is not waymarked. The route is 4 km long, includes 10 m of elevation gain and takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. It starts at a roadside car park. As trail conditions and access may change, check them before setting out.
County Sligo in a Wider Context
The wider County Sligo destination offers further cultural and scenic attractions. Carrowmore is Ireland's largest and oldest concentration of Neolithic tombs, with more than 30 surviving monuments nearly 6,000 years old. Sligo Abbey is a Dominican priory with extensive medieval remains of its church, sacristy and chapter house.
Streedagh Beach is a 3 km-long sandy beach linking Streedagh Point with Connor’s Island. Its sand dunes and estuary are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. Surfing, windsurfing and stand-up paddling are possible in the coastal waters; stand-up paddling takes place in the sheltered estuary. Check sea conditions before taking part in water sports.
Discover more destinations: Drumcliff, Aclare, Carney, Ballygawley, Derrybeg, Sligo, Cloonacool, Tobercurry.
For the broader travel overview: County Sligo.
