Ballinafad Castle

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
- 14.6 mi off the Wild Atlantic Way, National
Overlooks nearby
- Yeats Memorial Building · 18 mi
Named places within 25 miles
- Carricknahorna East: 1.8 mi
- Bricklieve Mountains: 2.6 mi
- Curlew Mountains: 3.1 mi
- Barroe North: 4.5 mi
- Kesh Corann: 4.9 mi
- Kingstone Well: 3.8 mi
- Tober Murry: 3.8 mi
- Tober Bride: 3.9 mi
- St. Patrick's Well: 4.0 mi
- Tobermurry: 4.2 mi
- 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
- 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
- King House: 3.9 mi
- Boyle Abbey: 4.0 mi
- Riverstown Folk Park: 7.5 mi
- Arigna Mining Experience: 9.4 mi
- Moon River: 11.4 mi
- Gaelic Chieftain: 2.1 mi
- Street Art Tree: 7.7 mi
- Tonra Memorial: 7.8 mi
- Madonna and Child: 11.2 mi
- Bottle Cap Mosaic: 11.3 mi
- Connaght Rangers: 3.9 mi
- Arigna Mining Experience: 9.4 mi
- Cruachan Aí Heritage Centre: 17.4 mi
- Sligo Abbey: 17.8 mi
- Clonalis House: 18.5 mi
- Carrane Hill: 8.5 mi
- Carrignahasta: 18.7 mi
- The Playground: 18.8 mi
- Playgroud: 18.8 mi
- Carrignahasta: 18.9 mi
- 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
- Walled Garden: 6.8 mi
- Community garden: 7.7 mi
- Bush Hotel Garden: 11.3 mi
- Scardan Waterfall: 11.2 mi
- Glencar Waterfall: 21.8 mi
- The Devil's Chimney: 22.3 mi
- 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
- 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.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sliabh an Iarainn | ENE 73° | 585 m | 15.4 mi |
| Knockacullion | ENE 69° | 562 m | 16.5 mi |
| The Playbank | NE 55° | 542 m | 19.0 mi |
| Bencroy | ENE 68° | 518 m | 17.7 mi |
| Benbrack W Top | ENE 64° | 463 m | 19.6 mi |
| Crockauns | N 356° | 463 m | 20.2 mi |
| Carrane Hill | NNE 28° | 458 m | 8.5 mi |
| Lackagh Mountain | NNE 32° | 449 m | 17.3 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 06:37 | 18:00 | 18:46 |
| June solstice | 05:01 | 21:11 | 22:10 |
| September equinox | 07:19 | 18:48 | 19:35 |
| December solstice | 08:51 | 15:03 | 16:13 |
Local time (Europe/Dublin).
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidataOpenStreetMap element way/180783500
Take the scenic way to Ballinafad Castle.
Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.