Ballyloo Castle, Ballyloo, Co. Carlow

Ballyloo Castle, Ballyloo, Co. Carlow

Ballyloo Castle stands as a compact yet formidable medieval fortress in County Carlow, its rectangular form measuring approximately 5 by 9 metres internally.

Ballyloo Castle, Ballyloo, Co. Carlow

This sturdy tower house rises two storeys high with an additional loft space tucked beneath its vaulted ceiling. The castle’s builders didn’t skimp on materials; they constructed the walls from massive granite boulders, roughly coursed together to create an impressively thick defensive barrier that has weathered the centuries remarkably well.

The ground floor entrance, positioned in the western wall near the southwest corner, opens into the main chamber, which features a barrel vault running north to south. This principal room is illuminated and defended by narrow loops and embrasures piercing the eastern, northern, and southern walls; classic defensive features that allowed defenders to monitor approaches whilst remaining protected. A clever bit of medieval engineering can be found in the thickness of the western wall itself, where builders incorporated a small vaulted chamber, likely used for storage or as a guard post.

Access to the upper floor is achieved via mural stairs built into the wall immediately inside the entrance, a space-saving design typical of Irish tower houses. The castle’s builders even thought of creature comforts, or at least basic sanitation, installing a garderobe chute at the northeast angle. This feature, essentially a medieval toilet that discharged waste outside the castle walls, was a mark of sophistication for its time and speaks to the castle’s role as both a defensive structure and a residence for local nobility.

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Ballyloo, Co. Carlow
52.77457631, -6.89932467
52.77457631,-6.89932467
Ballyloo 
Tower Houses 

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