The Care and Conservation of a Medieval Castle Ruin: Traditional Skills Course

Heritage

Posted 15/08/2022

A Traditional Skills Course at Ballintubber Castle, Co. Roscommon 28-29 July 2022

The course was organised by Christopher Southgate of Southgate and Associates and Anthony Waldron of Ballintubber Heritage Group. It was kindly funded by the Heritage Council under the Community Heritage Grants Scheme

The community of Ballintubber sits in the rural heartlands of County Roscommon, close to the ancient royal site of Rathcroghan, and with their own close associations to the former kings of Connaught, the great O’ Conor dynasty. On the edge of the village lies an ancient monumental castle, built originally by the Norman, Richard de Burgh, but which fell into the hands of the O’ Conor family by 1350. While the castle was used as a residence for hundreds of years, it was also the site of battles, and the Conor family were to lose the ruined bombarded Ballintober Castle circa 1700 at a time of Irish political upheaval and confiscations.

The O’ Conor Don branch of the family moved their home to Clonalis House near Castlerea in 1820, but regained ownership of the ruins of Ballintober Castle in the later 19th century. The ravages of time and ivy, however, have rendered parts of the castle unsafe, and the complex had to be closed off to the public for health and safety reasons... Read more about the project ›

National Heritage week runs from 13 -21st August 2022 

Visit: www.heritageweek.ie