Historic town

The National Monuments Service's description

Ballintober was granted to Richard de Burgh as a manor and a town was probably established after 1235, but it was burnt by Ruarai Mac Cathal O Conchobair in 1315 and by 1333 it was described as waste and the castle ruinous. From this time the castle became a centre of the O'Conor Don, and a settlement continued in its vicinity. Ballintober was burned in 1434, 1487, and 1489, and the town was hardly extant in the 16th century. In 1617 Sir Hugh O'Conor was granted the town and castle, when a weekly market and annual fair began to be held, and the census of 1659 returns a population of 59 (Pender 1939). (Bradley and Dunne 1988a, 21-3)

Situated on a S-facing slope overlooking a NW-SE stream, the town was probably defended by earthworks (RO027-048009-), although their course cannot be indicated. The town was located between the castle (RO027-048002-) and the site of the church (RO027-048005-), while the cross-base (RO027-048004-) may have indicated the location where the fairs (RO027-048003-) were held. The remains consist of the castle, and the site of the church (RO027-048005-) with St Bridget's Well (RO027-048006-) nearby, but the base of a cross between them is no longer extant. (Claffey, 1974-5)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 24 August 2010

References

Pender, S. (ed.) 1939 A census of Ireland, c. 1659. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.

Bradley, J. and Dunne, N. 1988a Urban archaeological survey - county Roscommon. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

Claffey, J.A. 1974-5 Ballintober Castle, Co. Roscommon. Part 2. Journal of the Old Athlone Society 1 (4), 218-22.

Knox, H.T. 1903 Occupation of Connaught by the Anglo-Normans after A.D. 1237. Part III. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 33, 58-74.