Ballymoon Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ballymoon Castle |
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Ballymoon Castle
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| Location | 2 miles (3 km) east of Muine Bheag, County Carlow, Ireland |
| Built | c. 1290–1310 |
| Architect | Roger Bigod |
| Reference no. | 486 |
Ballymoon Castle is an old castle in County Carlow, Ireland. It is a special place called a National Monument. You can find it about 2 miles (3 km) east of Muine Bheag (also known as Bagenalstown). Experts believe this castle was built a long time ago, in the 1200s.
Where to Find Ballymoon Castle
Ballymoon Castle is located in a field near the Fennagh road. It's about 2 miles (3 km) east of Bagenalstown. Anyone can visit the castle. To get inside, you cross a small wooden bridge over a ditch. Once you are there, you can walk around the castle walls on the ground level.
What Ballymoon Castle Looks Like
Today, Ballymoon Castle is mostly ruins. It has a square shape, like a big box. Each side of the square is about 80 feet (24 meters) long. The walls are made of strong granite and are about 20 feet (6 meters) high. At the bottom, these walls are very thick, about 8 feet (2.4 meters) wide!
Inside the castle, there is an open courtyard. You can still see the foundations, which show where doors and fireplaces used to be. A very large fireplace on the north side was part of the castle's great hall. There are not many signs of the inside buildings left. However, you can see parts of two-story structures built against the inner walls. This makes some people think the castle was never fully finished.
On the western side, there is an arched gateway. You can see grooves where a heavy gate, called a portcullis, would have slid down. There might have even been a barbican (a fortified gatehouse) in front of it. Look closely at the castle walls, and you will spot cross-shaped openings. These were used for shooting arrows or early guns to defend the castle.
The History of Ballymoon Castle
Ballymoon Castle was likely built between the late 1200s and early 1300s. Much of its early history is a bit of a mystery. Some historians think Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk, built it during a time when there was a lot of unrest. Others believe the Carew family built it. They took over the land after Roger Bigod passed away without children. Later, in the late 1800s, a man named Michael Sheill from Wexford bought the castle. He also started several businesses in the area.
