Ballintober: Castle Ruins, Churches and Mausoleums

Ballintober focuses on the history of castles and churches through specific buildings and memorial sites. These include Ballintober Castle, a medieval church ruin, Saint Bride's Catholic Church and mausoleums from different centuries. This gives you a choice of different themes: castle architecture, religious building history or historic burial sites.

Ballintober Castle: History and Access

Ballintober Castle was built in the early 14th century and was inhabited until the 17th century. Today it is a ruin and a good example of a castle without a keep. This description refers to its architectural form; its long period of use adds a historical perspective. The castle lies north of the village, with an old graveyard dedicated to Saint Bridget between them.

A 2012 heritage poster published by Roscommon County Council notes that Ballintober Castle is privately owned and may not be entered without the owner's permission. Check locally for permission before visiting.

Churches and Burial Sites

The medieval church ruin at Ballintober lies along the southern boundary of the rectangular Ballintober Old Graveyard. The Owen O’Connor Mausoleum is located within the church ruin; Owen O’Connor and his wife Catherine McDermot built it in 1762. Here, the medieval church ruin and a precisely dated 18th-century mausoleum stand together at one site.

A graveyard in Ballintober contains an O’Conor-Don mausoleum dating from 1634, as well as stone tombs from the 18th and 19th centuries. The holy well of Tober Brida is also near Ballintober. Dating from 1634, the O’Conor-Don Mausoleum is from an earlier period than the Owen O’Connor Mausoleum of 1762.

Saint Bride's Catholic Church in Ballintober was built in 1898 and renovated in 1997. Stained-glass windows and stone detailing accentuate its limestone façade. The contrast between the medieval ruin and Saint Bride's, built in 1898 and renovated in 1997, makes the different periods in the history of the church visible.

Walking Loop and Regional Context

The short Ballintubber Rambling Loop starts and ends at Ballintubber Castle. Check route conditions before your trip, before planning to walk the loop.

County Roscommon as a Regional Context

The wider destination of County Roscommon is home to other distinct cultural attractions. Boyle Abbey is a well-preserved 12th-century Cistercian monastery; its restored gatehouse houses an interpretation centre. In addition to Ballintober's history of castles and churches, County Roscommon therefore also offers an example of Cistercian architecture with an interpretation centre.

Strokestown Park House offers tours of its Palladian mansion. The estate includes walled gardens, ornamental gardens and wilder woodland areas; at the National Famine Museum, exhibitions and interactive displays convey the history of the Great Irish Famine. Check tour times in advance, as they may change.

Discover more destinations: Boyle, Ballaghaderreen, Knockvicar, Roscommon, Tulsk, Ballinlough, Cootehall, Arigna

For the wider travel overview: County Roscommon.