Ballinalacken Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ballinalacken Castle |
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Baile na leachan
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Ballinalacken Castle in 2006
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| General information | |
| Status | ruin |
| Type | tower house |
| Location | Killilagh parish |
| Country | Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°02′46″N 9°20′14″W / 53.04615°N 9.33725°W |
Ballinalacken Castle is an old tower house located in Killilagh parish, County Clare, Ireland. It's not exactly clear when it was built, but historians believe it was likely constructed in the 15th or early 16th century. Today, it stands as a fascinating ruin.
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What's in a Name?
The name Ballinalacken probably comes from old Irish words. It might mean "town of the flagstones" (Baile na leachan). Another idea is that it means "ford-mouth of the flagstones" (Beal Áth na Leacha).
Where is Ballinalacken Castle?
The castle is found in a special area called the Burren. It sits on a high limestone rock, looking out over the roads. These roads connect towns like Lisdoonvarna, Fanore, and Doolin. You can find it where the R477 and R479 roads meet.
A Look at Ballinalacken Castle's History
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Because of its great location, people probably built forts here long before the current castle. There are no signs of these older forts today. Stories say that Lochlan MacCon O'Connor built a fortress on this spot in the late 1300s.
How the Castle Was Built Over Time
The castle you see today, a tower house, was built in different stages. This is similar to how Leamaneh Castle was constructed. The oldest part is the tall eastern tower, likely built in the 1400s.
In 1564, the O'Connors, who owned the land, lost their territory. By 1584 or 1585, the castle officially went to Sir Turlough O'Brien.
The O'Briens and the Castle
After the Irish Rebellion of 1641, Daniel O'Brien, Turlough's son, asked the English Commission in 1654 to save the castle from being torn down. Either Daniel or his son, Teigue, later added to Ballinalacken Castle. Teigue's son, Donough, even called himself "of Ballyneleackan."
The castle stayed with the Ennistymon O'Briens until the mid-1700s. Then, it passed to another part of the O'Brien family. The O'Briens were one of the most powerful families in Ireland at that time. They built many castles, and Ballinalacken is one of them. In 1837, the castle's owner was planning to fix it up.
The Ballinalacken Castle Hotel
The building known as the Ballinalacken Castle Hotel was built in the 1840s. It was first the home of Lord O'Brien. It was probably built by John O'Brien, who was a Member of Parliament.
This house has some cool features, like a marble fireplace carved from one piece of stone. It also has a round window in the center of the roof. You can still see some original stained-glass windows and a stone crest of the O'Brien family. This grand home became a guest house in 1938.
What Ballinalacken Castle Looks Like
The castle is surrounded by a protective wall called a bawn. You enter through a gate that has special features for defense, like a corbelled and machicolated design.
The tower house itself seems to have been built in two parts that were later joined together. The eastern part is narrower and one story taller. It has the main doorway with a defensive opening above it. Inside, a small room for a guard faces the circular stairs. These stairs lead to three floors of bedrooms, which have small windows for light. From the top floor, you can walk along the castle wall.
The main part of the castle has a beautifully carved chimney from the Tudor period, dated 1641. The defensive openings in this part of the castle also have small holes for muskets, which were old guns.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Ballinalacken para niños
