Ballindooley

Ballindooley is in the parish of Castlegar County Galway, Ireland.

It is a few square miles in size and extends from Ballinfoyle,  northwards,  to just beyond Curragh Mór bridge and toward Sylaun. This defines the areas of it which lie on the Headford road ( N84 ).

Heading towards Lough Corrib, Ballindooley includes areas such as Kiloughter, Anglingham, and Carrabrown.

Sport.

From the 1950's, it produced some good and tough hurlers. Sometime later the Menlo Emmets were formed and play some Gaelic football.

Fishing.

With access to both the lake and the Clare river (running under the Curragh Mor bridge, fishing and specifically for salmon, played an important role for a number of years.

Local Business.

• Shop
• Panel beating
• Filling station
• Low loader and heavy load transport
• Trucks and D.O.E. tests.
• Antiques
• Fruit and vegetables.
• Florists.

Ballindooley Castle.

Ballindooley has a fiftheenth century castle which was in ruins ( in so far as half of it was missing including a lot of the steps). This never stopped everyone from climbing it though. It is thought that the castle was built by the De Burgo's.

Around 1990, it was sold and  refurbished. The external facade was plastered / rendered. Even before it was done up, it was a fine display of traditional stonework with some good perpendicular lines.

To the south of the castle is a small lake or lough which did contain some fish, but nothing dramatic.

Geology.

Mainly limestone with a lot of it visible as hazel creggs and exposed flags. Man-made mounds of stones can be found, presumably for land clearing puposes.

 A quarry is also operating nearby.

The general region is quite hilly, with great views of Galway city and lough corrib at particularly elevated points. From Anglingham for example.

At lower points and toward Sylaun, a natural bog is still in existence. Many locals still harvest turf from these bogs, as much through tradition as anything else. A small forest was planted in this boggy area also.