This 13th-century stronghold, built by the Anglo-Norman de Burgo family, tells a tale of medieval power struggles and architectural ingenuity. The castle has worn many names throughout its long history; it appears as ‘Ballecastle’ in a 1574 survey when it belonged to the Mac Remon family, whilst locals once knew it as Ballinamantaine Castle, a name that survives in the neighbouring townland.

The castle’s almost square tower house measures roughly 11.5 metres on each side and originally rose three storeys high, though centuries of weather and neglect have taken their toll. Built from randomly coursed limestone blocks bound with heavy mortar, its walls feature a distinctive base batter for added strength, with extra reinforcement at the vulnerable southeast corner where an unusual projecting angle adds both defensive capability and architectural interest. The ground floor entrance, now robbed of its original stonework, opens onto a narrow lobby that leads to the main chamber; a space dramatically altered in the late medieval period when builders installed a wickerwork-centred vault supported by four stone pillars, a modification that speaks to the castle’s continued importance long after its initial construction.

Two separate intramural staircases once provided access to the upper floors, one ascending from the southwest corner and another from the northwest, just inside the main entrance. Though the upper levels have largely succumbed to time, traces of windows and a second-floor stairwell hint at what were once well-appointed living quarters. The castle formed the southeast corner of a substantial rectangular bawn, or fortified enclosure, that would have protected livestock and provided an outer line of defence. Since 1930, this evocative ruin has been protected as National Monument 259, ensuring that future generations can explore this tangible link to Ireland’s complex medieval past.