Andrew's Blog: February 2010

We had a very relaxing weekend at Ballynahinch castle in Connemara at the end of the Big Freeze. Luckliy we didn't have far to drive from Galway. Ballynahinch Castle is located between Recess and Roundstone in Connemara.

Ballynahinch Castle has a long history. It was originally the home of the O'Flaherty clan, whose lands stretched to within 15 miles of Galway City on the east and into County Mayo to the north-west. The Martin family took over the estate in the mid-1600’s and they built the present castle in the early 1700's as an inn. A famous resident was 'Humanity Dick' Martin, founder of The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). He was also quite well known during his life as a duelist. Prince Ranjitsinhji, Maharajah of Nawanager and famous Indian cricketer, purchased the estate in 1924 and developed much of the landscaping as well as the fishing piers and huts.

The grounds are beautiful, with the river and lakes set against the backdrop of the 12 Bens mountain range. There was also a cosy library with open fire, perfect for relaxing after dinner.

Ballynahinch Castle (our room is on the top floor, right-most window facing the river)