The 13th century Ballintubber Castle is the focal point of the village.
This project led directly to the establishing of the ‘Castles in Communities Project, now in its 6th year (2020), an annual summer programme of archaeological and anthropological fieldwork affiliated with Foothill College’s Anthropology Department and ADCO (Archaeological and Commercial Diving Company) based in Ireland. The goal of the project is to investigate the site through fieldwork to provide a better understanding of the castle’s past. The programme results in an influx of college students and staff (75 on average) during the summer months, which has brought new vibrancy to the rural community.
Project details
Initial work included identifying realistic and sustainable options for the community in its efforts to conserve and protect the structure as an accessible tourist attraction. Follow-on support included the preparation of successful grant funding applications for geophysical surveys of the castle site.
