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Ballinafad Castle

Ballinafad Castle, a historic site in Ireland
Ballinafad Castle, a historic site in IrelandDaniel Waters, Co. Sligo, Ireland from Ireland · CC BY 2.0

Ballinafad Castle is a historic site, at a modelled elevation of 62 m. Sliabh an Iarainn stands 585 m to the east-northeast, 15 miles off. The nearest named place is Carricknahorna East, a peak 1.8 miles away. Wild Atlantic Way passes 15 miles off.

The story

Ballinafad Castle, also known as the Castle of the Curlews, is located in the south of County Sligo, Ireland. It is at the village of Ballinafad, on the east side of the N4 road, overlooking Lough Arrow. The castle is in ruins and is accessible year round. There are no tours, guides, or fees. Visitors can park in a small carpark at the foot of the hill where they will find an interpretive sign. To enter the castle grounds, walk up the path and through the small iron gate. The castle is an Elizabethan blockhouse built during the Nine Years' War by Captain John St. Barbe on land granted to him by King James VI and I. The castle was garrisoned by ten men and commanded by John St. Barbe. It was partially destroyed by Red Hugh O’Donnel in 1595. The castle was again sacked in 1642 and fell out of use by 1680. Visitors cannot enter the castle, but the interior is visible through breaches in the walls that are closed off by iron fences.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Wikidata Q17514702, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.

How to reach it

Coordinates54.02600, -8.33573

Overlooks nearby

Named places within 25 miles

Peaks
Springs
Historic sites
  • Castle Baldwin: 3.8 mi
  • Brothers Sculpture: 3.9 mi
  • Ballindoon Abbey: 4.0 mi
  • King William Memorial: 4.0 mi
  • St. Kevins Church: 4.0 mi
Parks: 18
  • Lough Key Forest & Activity Park: 5.1 mi
  • Cootehall Riverdise Park: 7.7 mi
  • Riverview park: 7.7 mi
  • Coothall Quays and Picnic Area: 7.7 mi
  • Oakport Green: 7.8 mi
Attractions: 16
Artworks: 15
Cliffs: 6
  • Carrane Hill: 8.5 mi
  • Carrignahasta: 18.7 mi
  • The Playground: 18.8 mi
  • Playgroud: 18.8 mi
  • Carrignahasta: 18.9 mi
Beaches: 6
  • Culleenamore: 19.4 mi
  • Rosses Point Beach: 21.7 mi
  • Rynn Beach: 21.8 mi
  • Dunmoran Strand: 23.0 mi
  • Aughris Beach: 23.8 mi
Gardens: 3
  • Walled Garden: 6.8 mi
  • Community garden: 7.7 mi
  • Bush Hotel Garden: 11.3 mi
Waterfalls: 3
Nature reserves: 3
  • Wildlife Area: 15.2 mi
  • Moneen Boleybrack Mountain Special Area of Conservation: 18.8 mi
  • Moneensauran Cuilcagh Anierin Uplands Special Area of Conservation: 20.4 mi
Picnic sites: 3
  • Hazelwood: 16.4 mi
  • Kilglas: 19.5 mi
  • Templeboy Picnic Area: 24.6 mi

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 20.2 miles of Ballinafad Castle. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Sliabh an IarainnENE 73°585 m15.4 mi
KnockacullionENE 69°562 m16.5 mi
The PlaybankNE 55°542 m19.0 mi
BencroyENE 68°518 m17.7 mi
Benbrack W TopENE 64°463 m19.6 mi
CrockaunsN 356°463 m20.2 mi
Carrane HillNNE 28°458 m8.5 mi
Lackagh MountainNNE 32°449 m17.3 mi

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox06:3718:0018:46
June solstice05:0121:1122:10
September equinox07:1918:4819:35
December solstice08:5115:0316:13

Local time (Europe/Dublin).

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidata

OpenStreetMap element way/180783500

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