Ballinlough Castle

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{{see also|Nugent baronets|O'Reilly baronets of Ballinlough (1795)}}

While a castle was reputedly built on the site in 1614, according to the date on the O'Reilly coat of arms over the front door,{{Cite web|url = http://www.ballinloughcastle.ie/ourhistory.html|title = Ballinlogh Castle| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20210412063928/https://www.ballinloughcastle.ie/ourhistory.html | archivedate = 12 April 2021 }} some sources question this date.{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/15400906/ballinlough-castle-ballinlough-co-westmeath | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title = Ballinlough Castle, Ballinlough, Westmeath | accessdate = 6 November 2024 | quote = extant 1777 [..] "Improved", c.1790, producing present composition [..] carrying the O'Reilly coat of arms and an inscription ("1614") whose legitimacy has been disputed as 'no castle is depicted on the Down Survey maps [1655]' }} Dating from at least the 1770s, the building was extended {{circa|1790}}, when a new wing was added by Sir Hugh O'Reilly, probably attributable to the amateur Thomas Wogan Browne, who was also responsible for Malahide Castle, the home of Sir Hugh O'Reilly's sister Margaret.

In 1812, the family changed their name from O'Reilly to Nugent. Hugh O'Reilly, who had been made a Baronet, assumed by royal licence the surname of Nugent under the terms of a legacy from his maternal uncle John Nugent. Since then several generations of Baronet Nugents have occupied the house. They are one of the few Irish Catholic families from the seventeenth century who still live in their original family home. The present{{when?|date=November 2024}} owner is the 8th Baronet.

The grounds of the castle have hosted several music concerts. Artists who have performed there since 2006 include Kenny Rogers, Van Morrison, Pet Shop Boys, Tiesto, Alexandra Burke and Dwight Yoakam. The fourth annual Life Festival was also held in the grounds in May 2009. In 2010 the castle hosted Ireland's first gay music festival, MILK.{{fact|date=November 2024}}

The Nugent family leased the lands of Ballinlough Castle to the music festival Body & Soul every year since 2010.{{cite web |title=What's it like letting people run a massive festival in your back garden? |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/ballinlough-castle-body-and-soul-2157927-Jun2015/ |website=Journal.ie | date = June 2015 }}

The ground floor comprises a large drawing room and dining room with four first-floor bedrooms approached by a vaulted corridor above. The rooms have what may be the tallest windows in a private house of this period, overlooking the woods and lake.{{fact|date=November 2024}} The chimneypiece in the drawing room is identical to a Wyatt chimneypiece at Curraghmore, County Waterford.{{fact|date=November 2024}}

The gardens, together with the lakeside and woodland walks, are no longer open to the public. It was also the former venue for the Body & Soul music festival.

• Clonyn Castle aka Delvin Castle
• Killua Castle
• Knockdrin Castle
• Tullynally Castle
• Tyrrellspass Castle

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• [http://www.ballinloughcastle.ie/ Official website]

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{{Historic Irish houses}}

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Category:Buildings and structures in County Westmeath

Category:Castles in County Westmeath

Category:Houses completed in 1614

Category:1614 establishments in Ireland