Ballymalis Castle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ballymalis Castle
Native name Irish: Caisleán Bhéal Átha Málais
Type	tower house
Location	Ballymalis, Beaufort, County Kerry, Ireland
Built	early 16th century
Owner	State
National Monument of Ireland
Official name: Ballymalis Castle
Reference no.	364
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Ballymalis Castle is an old tower house and a National Monument located in County Kerry, Ireland. It's a cool historical site that tells a story about the past.

Where is Ballymalis Castle?

Ballymalis Castle is found in County Kerry, Ireland. It sits about 4.3 kilometers (2.7 miles) northwest of a village called Beaufort. The castle is right on the north bank of the River Laune. This river meets another one, the River Gaddagh, nearby. The famous Ring of Kerry scenic road also passes just north of the castle.

The History of Ballymalis Castle

Who Built Ballymalis Castle?

This castle was built a long time ago, in the early 1500s. It was constructed by the Ó Muircheartaigh family, also known as the O'Moriartys. They were an important family in the area back then.

Later Owners of the Castle

After the O'Moriartys, the castle was taken over by another family, the Ó Fearghuis (Ferrises). They made some changes and fixed up the castle in the late 1500s. In 1677, the castle was taken by the Crown (the ruling government at the time). It was then given to a person named Francis Brewster. He later gave it to the Eagar family.

What Does Ballymalis Castle Look Like?

Ballymalis Castle is a type of building called a tower house. It's a tall, rectangular building with four main floors and an attic at the very top. Some parts of it have been fixed up over the years.

Special Features of the Castle

The castle has some interesting features that were common in old defensive buildings:

• Bartizans: These are small, round towers that stick out from the corners of the castle. They were used by guards to watch for enemies. You can see them on the southwest and northeast corners.
• Slopstones: These are stone features, sometimes used for drainage.
• Machicolation: This is a cool part of the castle's defenses. It's an opening in the floor of a projecting part of the wall. Defenders could drop stones or other things on attackers below.
• Windows and Fireplaces: The castle also has chimneys, fireplaces, and decorated windows. These windows often have mullions (vertical stone bars) and transoms (horizontal stone bars) that divide them into smaller sections.
• Wall-walk (Alure): Some of the old wall-walk, also called an alure, still exists. This was a path along the top of the castle walls where guards could walk and look out.

Images for kids