This unassuming square building, with its two storeys, four bays and hip roof, appears to be nothing more than an early 19th-century dwelling. Yet according to historical accounts, it sits precisely where a castle once stood; a fortress that played a dramatic role in Ireland’s tumultuous past.

The story dates back to 1600, when English forces found themselves under attack at Ballinaboy. As recorded by Lewis in 1837, these soldiers desperately sought refuge “behind the walls of an old castle” that once occupied this very spot. The castle provided sanctuary during what was likely part of the Nine Years’ War, a period when English control over Ireland hung in the balance. Local tradition maintains that when the castle eventually fell into ruin, Ballinaboy House rose from its remains, quite literally built upon history.

Today, visitors to the area would find it difficult to spot any trace of the medieval fortification that once dominated this woodland terrace. The transformation from military stronghold to Georgian country house has been so complete that, as historian Healy noted in 1988, virtually nothing is known about the original castle beyond these tantalising fragments. The site serves as a reminder of how Ireland’s landscape has been continuously reshaped, with each generation building upon, and sometimes obliterating, the traces of those who came before.