Baile an Mhóta

Ballymote (Baile an Mhóta, meaning town of the motte) derives its name from the distinctive Norman fortress constructed around 1300 by Richard Óg de Burgh, the 2nd Earl of Ulster. This imposing castle, featuring symmetrical design with towers at all corners, became the last great Norman fortress in Connacht and gave the settlement its name. The area shows evidence of habitation dating back 100...