Ballyloughan Castle

Ballyloughan Castle is a ruined Norman fortress near Bagenalstown, County Carlow, constructed around 1300 and designated as a National Monument. The castle features a distinctive twin-towered gatehouse, considered one of Ireland's finest examples of its type, along with remnants of the hall and corner tower foundations. Originally square in form with walls reaching 15 metres high and 5 feet thick, the castle was occupied by the Kavanagh family before passing to the Bagenals. Though situated off the beaten track down a side road, its substantial ruins remain visible and offer insight into 13th-century Anglo-Norman architecture.