Ballynahinch

44 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Ballynahinch, from 2 m² to 2,124,583 m² (212.46 ha, 525 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 20 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Download the townland: DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings; GeoJSON or KML.

No zone of a development plan covers Ballynahinch in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply to each application.

Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.

• 11 Jun 2026N/a

  for the construction of a 275sqm single storey extension to the existing administration office built in 2018 to accommodate additional staff offices, staff canteen and in house laundry which is to be relocated from the main house courtyard. Remodelling of the existing car park to provide 35 spaces and the construction of a single storey 24sqm ESB substation. Including all associated site works including boundary treatments, landscaping, infrastructure and drainage necessary to facilitate the development. The administration office is within the curtilage of Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, Recess, Connemara, Co. Galway. H91 F4A7. A Protected Structure. A Natura Impact Statement has been prepared

  Permission · Galway County Council, 2660950

• 11 Jun 2026N/a

  for the demolition of the existing two storey 633sqm staff accommodation block built in the 1990’s to the west of the main house and the construction of a two storey with dormer roof 1020sqm 10 bedroom guest wing with stores under. Creation of new link into the existing guest corridor at -1 level and the recently permitted 4 bedroom extension of the River wing (GCC ref 25/61323) including formation of dormer windows. Single storey 12sqm extension to existing staircase at level -2 to the rear of the Luxury Wing to provide new secondary entrance to the bedroom wings. Relocation of the existing vehicular access road to the west of the new bedroom wing and modifications to the existing car parking (12 spaces) and general landscaping. Extension of existing dining room to the East by 122sqm at level +0 and 90sqm at level -1 to create wine cellar, private dining room & Wc’s. Relocation of staff offices and canteen from level -1 courtyard to administration building (subject of separate application) to form Guest amenity lounges and wc’s accessed via the glazed lean too to the perimeter of the courtyard. Demolition of the existing 25sqm male & accessible wc built in 2015 at level +0 and extension of the existing Ranji room to the west (courtyard) by 125sqm at level +0 to form new guest lounge, male, female & accessible wc’s. Extension of existing preparation kitchen and staff amenity space by 90sqm at level -1 (courtyard). Relocation of the existing hotel laundry to administration building (subject of separate application). Including all associated site works including boundary treatments, landscaping, infrastructure and drainage necessary to facilitate the development. A Protected Structure. A Natura Impact Statement has been prepared

  Permission · Galway County Council, 2660956

• 10 Jun 2026N/a

  for the upgrade of the existing waste water treatment plant (WWTP) to facilitate the planned hotel and expansion works. The proposed development includes the decommissioning of existing waste water treatment plant and pumping station, construction of new waste water treatment plant and pumping station and associated civil works west of the existing administration office including extension of existing percolation area and all associated site development works. The works are within the curtilage of Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, Recess, Connemara, Co. Galway. H91 F4A7 a Protected Structure. A Natura Impact Statement has been prepared

  Permission · Galway County Council, 2660933

• 13 Feb 2026Conditional

  for the re-instatement of a simple gabled stone roof, glazed steel screens within existing openings and insertion of a viewing gallery to the late Medieval Tower House. Recorded Monument (GA036-001001), Recorded Monument (GA036-001002). The subject site is located within the designed landscape of Protected structure Ballynahinch Castle Hotel (RPS: 620). A Natura Impact Statement has been prepared with the application

  Permission · Galway County Council, 2660226

• 15 Sept 2025Conditional

  for the construction of an additional floor over the existing 1990’s River Wing to accommodate 4 bedroom suites with private terraces over looking the river and dormer windows within a mansard roof to the courtyard. Access will be formed via an opening through to the guest corridor constructed in 2017

  Permission · Galway County Council, 2561323

• 26 Nov 2024Conditional

  for the construction of a single storey extension located to the rear (south) of the hotel to accommodate an accessible wc and 2 guest wc’s. Ballynahinch Castle Hotel is a Protected structure.

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 2461603

• 10 May 2023Conditional

  for the construction of a 170 kW photovoltaic ground mounted solar array consisting of 432 Q-Cell 400 watt panels mounted on lightweight galvanised frames on lands north of the existing staff office. The works include the erection of a timber post and rail fence and a 140 meter long underground trench to connect the solar array to the existing above ground plant room. The works are within the curtilage of Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, a Protected Structure

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 23186

• 18 Nov 2019Conditional

  at Ballynahinch Castle Tower House, Recorded Monuments GA036-00101 - Tower House located on GA036-00102 - Crannog in Ballynahinch Townland. The development will consist of the re-instatement of a natural slate pitched roof, glazed screens to external openings on internal face and stone floor to the single storey 19th Century Lodge under scholarly restoration and the insertion of a zinc flat roof and stone floor within the late Medieval Tower House by retaining the original ruined character using a policy of minimum intervention. A Natura Impact Statement has been prepared with the application. Gross floor space of work to be retained: 75 sqm

  Permission · Galway County Council, 191788

• 20 May 2019Conditional

  for works that have been carried out under the approval of and supervision by the National Monuments Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on Recorded Monuments GA036-00101- Tower House located on GA036-00102- Crannog. The works include the stabilisation and preservation of the structures including removal of vegetation. Some of these works are the subject of Enforcement notice EN15/054. An Appropriate Assessment Screening Report (AASR) has been prepared and accompanies this application

  Retention · Galway County Council, 19764

• 22 Aug 2018Conditional

  consisting of the demolition of the existing two storey 633sqm staff accommodation block built in the 1990's to the west of the main house and the construction of a two storey with dormer roof 1020sqm 10 bedroom guest wing with stores under. Creation of new link into the existing guest corridor at -1 level. Single storey 12sqm extension to existing staircase to the rear of the Luxury Wing to provide new secondary access to the bedroom wings. Relocation of the existing vehicular access road to the west of the new bedroom wing and modifications to the existing car parking (12 spaces) and general landscaping. Ballynahinch Castle Hotel is a Protected structure. A Natura Impact statement has been prepared. Gross floor area proposed 1032m2, demolition 633m2.

  Permission · Galway County Council, 181185

• 8 Aug 2018N/a

  for the re-instatement of a natural slate pitched roof, glazed screens to external openings on internal face and stone floor to the single storey19th Century Lodge under scholarly restoration and the insertion of a zinc flat roof and stone floor within the late Medieval Tower House by retaining the original ruined character using a policy of minimum intervention. A Natura Impact Statement has been prepared with the application. Gross floor space of work to be retained 75 sqm. (Recorded Mounuments GA036-00101-Tower House located on GA036-00102 - Crannog in Ballynahinch townland)

  Permission · Galway County Council, 181122

• 20 Feb 2018Conditional

  for a 25 sqm. single storey extension of the Morning Room to the north east of the hotel, which will extend the c.1990 portion of the hotel, adjacent to the original house (c. 1810), with direct access from both, to provide an additional seating area to the existing Morning Room; new parquet timber floor to the existing Morning Room; construction of an additional 24 sqm. external raised terrace to the east of the hotel. Ballynahinch Castle Hotel is a Protected Structure. Gross floor space of proposed works 25 sqm.

  Permission, 1 home · Galway County Council, 18189

• 15 Dec 2017Unconditional

  for three houses for use as individual self catering units for tourism related accommodation associated with Ballynahinch Castle Hotel and Estate, access road, wastewater treatment system with all associated works and ancillary services. The proposed development is located within the attendant grounds of a protected structure. (gross floor space 666sqm). Previous Planning Reference No. 13/17.

  Extension of duration · Galway County Council, 171804

• 7 Dec 2017N/a

  consisting of a 25sqm, single storey extension of the Morning Room to the north east of the hotel, which will extend the c. 1990 portion of the hotel, adjacent to the original house, (c.1810), with direct access from both, to provide an additional seating area to the existing Morning Room; new parquet timber floor to the existing Morning Room; construction of an additional 24sqm external raised terrace to the east of the hotel. A Natura Impact Statement has been prepared. Ballynahinch Castle Hotel is a protected structure. Gross floor space of proposed works 25sqm. Gross floor space of work to be retained 5743sqm.

  Permission · Galway County Council, 171749

• 6 Nov 2017Conditional

  for the construction of a 67sqm single storey (3.9m high) traditional glasshouse in the north west corner of the walled garden. The development is in the curtilage of Ballynahinch Castle Hotel - a Protected structure. Gross floor space of proposed works 67sqm.

  Permission · Galway County Council, 171589

• 7 Sept 2017N/a

  for development at Ballynahinch Castle Tower House, Recorded Monuments GA036-00101-Tower house located on GA036-00102-Crannog. The development will consist of the re-instatement of a natural slate pitched roof, glazed screens to external openings on internal face and stone floor to the single storey 19th Century Lodge under scholarly restoration and the insertion a floor at first floor level and zinc flat roof within the late medieval Tower House by retaining the original ruined character using a policy of minimum intervention. Gross floor space of proposed works 21sqm, Gross floor space of work to be retained 75sqm.

  Permission · Galway County Council, 171329

• 5 Jul 2017Conditional

  for the removal of existing agricultural shed and construction of 130sqm single storey office for hotel administration, provision of 38 nr. car parking spaces and associated drainage. The development is in the curtilage of Ballynahinch Castle Hotel - a protected structure. Gross floor area proposed 130m2, demolition 213m2

  Permission · Galway County Council, 17997

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

• Special Area of Conservation: Connemara Bog Complex SAC 002034
• Special Protection Area: Connemara Bog Complex SPA 004181
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Connemara Bog Complex 002034
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: The Twelve Bens/Garraun Complex 002031

Recorded monuments

• GA036-001001 Castle - tower house
  Description

  On an island in Ballynahinch Lake, reputedly the site of an earlier habitation (GA036-001002-). In existence in 1574 when it was in the possession of 'Donell Ecowga' O'Flaherty (Nolan 1901, 116), and reputedly built by him with stones from Toombeola Abbey (GA050-026001-). It consists of a small, rectangular four-storey tower (L 9.1m, Wth 6.5-7m). The interior was extensively altered in the 18th C when a two-storey extension containing kilns was added on W side. The original entrance is in E wall with spiral stairs in SE corner. There is an intramural latrine passage in S wall of 1st floor. The 2nd floor has been extensively remodelled. The W wall rises vertically to a gable but no traces of garret or parapets survives. (O'Flanagan 1927a, Vol. 3, 138; Hardiman 1846, 105, 106, 400-1) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. I - West Galway'. Compiled by Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). Date of upload: 05 August 2010

• GA036-001002 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  In W part of Ballynahinch Lake. The OS Letters record that Castle Island, now occupied by Ballynahinch Castle (GA036-001001-), 'is said to be partly artificial' (O'Flanagan 1927a, Vol. 3, 138). What survives today is a subcircular island (D c. 30m), the perimeter of which is defined by a large number of boulders; possibly the remains of the enclosing wall of an island cashel. (Hardiman 1846, 106; Kinahan 1872, 12) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. I - West Galway'. Compiled by Paul Gosling (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). Date of upload: 05 August 2010

• GA036-002 Country house
  Description

  The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To access available information for research purposes please make an appointment in advance with the Archive Unit (open Fridays 10.00 am – 5.00 pm), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO or email NMarchive@housing.gov.ie.

• GA036-003 Standing stone
  Description

  The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To access available information for research purposes please make an appointment in advance with the Archive Unit (open Fridays 10.00 am – 5.00 pm), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO or email NMarchive@housing.gov.ie.

• GA036-004 Barracks
  Description

  The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) is in the process of providing information on all monuments on The Historic Environment Viewer (HEV). Currently the information for this record has not been uploaded. To access available information for research purposes please make an appointment in advance with the Archive Unit (open Fridays 10.00 am – 5.00 pm), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO or email NMarchive@housing.gov.ie.

Architectural heritage

• Ballynahinch Castle, farmyard complex, 1810–1815 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached quadrangular former stable block, possibly former barracks, dated 1813. East-west blocks now used for domestic accommodation and north-south blocks used as stables, with internal courtyard and having three-stage towers to each corner. Hipped tiled roofs with dormer additions, rendered chimneystacks and hidden rainwater goods. Rendered and pebble-dashed walls to accommodation blocks. Towers are of irregular coursed limestone blockwork with batter to northern and eastern elevations and parts of northern and eastern elevations are pebble-dashed. Dressed limestone string courses between stages of towers, and above ground floor openings and at impost level of first floor of south elevation. Coursed dressed and pecked limestone blocks to ground floor of stables, irregular coursed dressed limestone to first floor below dressed string course above centre of window openings with recent dressed stonework up to parapet with concrete coping. Square and round-headed openings to windows in accommodation blocks, square-headed, and lancet openings to towers with limestone voussoirs and dressed sills. Square-headed window openings to first floor of stables with limestone sills, and camber-headed vehicular openings to ground floor with limestone voussoirs. Replacement uPVC windows and doors throughout. Complex extensively modernised in early 1990s.

• Ballynahinch Castle, bridge, 1750–1800 · Regional interest
  Description

  Single-arch estate bridge, built c.1775, and incorporating stone-walled revetment carrying roadway over Owenmore River. Coursed rubble stonework with projecting dressed limestone piers carrying tooled and rusticated string course above arch. Round arch with tooled and pecked voussoirs with keystone and having gunnelled concrete soffit. Triangular-profile dressed limestone coping to parapets terminating in pyramidal blocks at eastern end, with additional painted dressed and tooled gate piers set into dressed limestone block piers. Corbels carry parapet to western revetment with pedestrian accessway under roadway, comprising roughly coursed and dressed limestone with camber arch having voussiors. Passageway flanked by curved buttresses to south elevation and single buttress to north, with single-leaf wrought-iron gate at centre of passage.

• Ballynahinch Castle, gate lodge, 1860–1880 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached two-bay two-storey gate lodge, built c.1870, having return to west, projecting square-plan two-stage tower to south-west corner, and box-bay windows to main elevations. Pitched slate roofs with crenellated pediments over first floor windows having roundel device, and crenellations to tower. Rendered walls having moulded string courses to main elevations and to lower stage of tower, and cross motif to upper faces of tower. Chamfered surrounds to all openings. Square-headed openings to box-bay windows and triangular-headed elsewhere to building, double-light to box-bays and to first floor, with label-mouldings. Trio of lights to lower stage of tower having continuous stepped string course. Shouldered doorway to south elevation. Entrance gateway to south-west comprising linear and curved walls with piers, gates and railings. Rock-faced dressed stone piers with cement coping and dressed margins. Camber-arch false lights to lateral piers, some blind, with carved stepped copings. Replacement wrought-iron railings and double and single-leaf gates.

• Ballynahinch Castle, country house, 1750–1900 · National interest
  Description

  Detached three-storey country house, built 1754, now in use as hotel and fishing resort. Front, north, elevation is five bays with shallow entrance breakfront, south elevation has seven-bay top floor and eight-bay lower floors, east has four-bay top floor and three-bay lower floors and west elevation is multiple bay. Single-storey addition to east end of south and south end of east elevations and top storey of building all added c.1890. Addition and store rooms in adjoining courtyard to west also built c.1890. Recent single-storey additions to ground floor elevations to east and south and accommodation block to western end of courtyard. Pitched slate roofs, rendered and pebble-dashed chimneystacks with moulded rendered coping to central and western stacks and cast-iron rainwater goods. Gables to east and south elevations and to breakfront. Dormer windows to north and south elevations with curvilinear pediments, and breakfront and north end of east elevation having crowstepped gables, all with ball finials. Pebble-dashed walls with rendered plinth, carved stone string course between upper floors and to parapet level of walls except for gables, with ball finials, carved stone copings. Crenellated parapets to western end of north and south elevations and centre of eastern elevation. Square-headed window openings having carved limestone label-mouldings and replacement timber windows, with tooled limestone sills. Some wooden window shutters remain in lower storeys. Elliptical-headed opening to recessed main entrance with roll moulding, tooled inner limestone surround and plinth with brass door bell, and timber panelled door with flanking fluted timber pilasters, timber panelled stall risers, sidelights and tripartite overlight. Original side entrance to west elevation visible due to label-moulding in wall and entrance now hidden by recent flat-roofed addition. Store-houses to courtyard have pitched artificial slate roofs with corrugated lean-to awnings, random coursed rubble stonework, originally rendered, square-headed openings window and door openings with brick block and start surrounds and rubbed brick arches and two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows with tooled limestone sills and timber battened doors. Staff accommodation block to western end of courtyard renovated or rebuilt in last 25 years. House set in extensive grounds of former demesne that include lakes, river and substantial deciduous woodland with access to castle via one of two entrances with gate lodges. Terraced gardens below southern elevation.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

Radon

About 1 in 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

Susceptibility high, moderately high, moderately low, low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map; parts are water.

Terrain model

No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Ballynahinch.

Flooding

The flood maps of the Office of Public Works: floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency; Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland; both CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

No address of the register names Ballynahinch with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Galway.

Name

Ballynahinch · Baile na hInse

Area

3,197,497 m² (319.75 ha, 790.12 acres)

Civil parish

Moyrus, and its townlands

Barony

Ballynahinch

Electoral division

Bencorr, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Bencorr electoral division: 219 people in 55 households; 72% of households own their home; 22% of homes were built since 2001; 14% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 39% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Cloonbeg, Derryadd West, Derryvickrune, Emlaghdauroe, Emlaghmore, Killeen, Lettershea, Lettery

Gaeltacht

In an Irish-speaking area

Placenames

Ballynahinch on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, CC BY 4.0. A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address; old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.