Ballyloughan Castle

Ballyloughan Castle is situated near Muinebeag (aka Bagenalstown), County Carlow, Ireland. It now comprises a twin-towered gatehouse and the hall and foundations of one of the corner towers of a large castle dating from approximately 1300. It was occupied in late medieval times by the Kavanaghs. [cite web | title=Ballyloughan Castle | work=Carlow Tourism - Castles | url=http://www.carlowtourism.com/castles.html | accessdate=2007-12-09]

History

The castle was probably built in the 13th century and originally consisted of a large open courtyard fortified by a high curtain wall with a moat outside it. Only a small square tower at one corner survives, as well as the entrance gate, flanked by two large rounded towers. The tower in the north-eastern corner was abandoned in the 14th century, and the whole castle may even have been abandoned at this time. The castle formerly belonged to the Kavanaghs, and was occupied by Donogh Kavanagh at the end of the 16th century. After the Restoration it came into the possession of the Bagenal family, but was bought by the Bruens in the early 19th century. [cite web | title=Ballyloughan Castle | work=An Approach to An Architectural Archive of Some Irish Country Houses | url=http://members.fortunecity.com/chtii/irish/pcastle.htm | accessdate=2007-12-09] [cite web | title=Ballyloughan Castle | work=Go Ireland.com | url=http://carlow.goireland.com/scripts/low/xq/asp/areaid.169/areatype.C/cat.9/SubjectID.77/PremisesID.11654/qx/premises.htm | accessdate=2007-12-09]

References