Ballintober is a tiny village that exists mainly because of its castle. Ballintober Castle, built in the early 1300s by the Anglo-Norman Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster, was taken over by the O'Conor kings of Connacht before the century was out—a pattern repeated across the Irish landscape.
From 1381 onwards it was the caput, the principal seat, of the O'Conor Don line. The O'Conors held it continuously until the 1700s, when they moved to the more comfortable Clonalis House nearby. The castle was massive for its time—242 feet by 264 feet, with four corner towers and extra towers flanking the eastern entrance.
Today it lies as ruins, parts still standing to 13 feet high. It is not a postcard ruin; it is a serious one. Walk up to it and you understand why a family might choose to rule from this spot, and why they might later have decided to leave.
The reason to come back. The things every local will eventually tell you about, usually after the second pint.
From Roscommon town, head east towards Athlone. The castle is signposted. About 30 km from Roscommon.
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