Ballinafad Castle - County Sligo Ireland

Overlooking Lough Arrow in the south of county Sligo, Ballinafad Castle controlled a strategic route on the Red Earl's Road through the Curlew Mountains between south Connaught into north Connaught and west Ulster. Also known as the "Castle of the Curlews," the castle is an Elizabethan fortified blockhouse, built during the Nine Years War (1592-1601) by King James I. The castle was three storeys high and all the towers contained square rooms except for the north tower which had a circular wooden staircase that rose to the full height of the tower. The entrance doorway on the first floor in the northwest wall is almost entirely rebuilt but a drawbar socket survives. The castle was garrisoned by ten men and commanded by Captain John St. Barbe. Red Hugh O'Donnell partially destroyed it in 1595. Captain St. Barbe returned and stayed there until his death in 1628. He was then interned in a tomb in Aughanagh Graveyard. Henry Fletcher succeeded Captain St. Barbe as commander. Ballinafad Castle resisted assaults by the Burkes and other local Irish forces during the 1641 rebellion but was once again sacked by 1642. Following the surrender of the Irish in 1652 it came under the control of William Taafe and was garrisoned by English forces to protect land settlements following the restoration of Charles II. However it fell out of use by 1680. The castle is currently under the stewardship of the Irish Office of Public Works. Location: https://goo.gl/maps/YxfEcLnCwQBHZC9f6 Video By: Atomic Kinship & Mc2 Photography    / atomickinship      / @mcsquaredphotography   Website: https://mc2photography.ie/ Music: "Gander in the Pratie Hole, Morrison's Jig, Drowsy Maggie" by Sláinte