Houses » Ballynahinch Castle & River Fishery
Ballynahinch Castle is a magnificent 4 Star Hotel which enjoys a wonderful setting in Connemara in the beautiful West of Ireland. Fishing on the Ballynahinch Fishery in Connemara extends through Lough Inagh, Lough Derryclare and Lough Ballynahinch as well as over 2 miles of the Ballynahinch River.
Ballynahinch Castle is in a wonderful setting, overlooking the Ballynahinch River. It was once the home of Grace O'Malley, pirate queen of Connaught. In 1546 she married the warlike Donal O'Flaherty of Ballynahinch. The castle has enjoyed many distinguished owners since then, including "Humanity" Dick Martin and the Maharajah Ranjitsinhji - the famous and wealthy cricketer. The castle dates from the 18th century and has been upgraded in recent times to a four star hotel. In its time it has hosted both statesmen and royalty. It is open all year round, except for February and Christmas.
The splendid dining facilities, with fresh home produce and locally caught fish, are complemented by 40 beautiful rooms, all tastefully furnished. The relaxed informality of the bar makes it the perfect place to unwind in the evening. The castle also has 450 acres of wooded grounds and walks and 23,000 acres of prime woodcock shooting.
With casual country elegance, Ballynahinch encompasses 20th Century creature comforts in a setting untouched by time.
The Fishing
The Ballynahinch River is two and a half miles long and drains a huge catchment of several lakes and smaller rivers. All the fish entering this system must first pass through the Ballynahinch Fishery. In addition to the river, the fishery extends up through Loughs Inagh, Derryclare, and Ballynahinch. Access to the river is excellent, as the road runs parallel to it for almost its entire length. Footbridges and stiles add to the ease of access. Casting is facilitated by some 72 casting piers along the river. There are seven salmon and four sea trout beats.
Fly fishing is the method of choice and all tackle, flies and accessories are available for hire through reception or the fishery manager who, together with his ghillies, has an unequalled knowledge of the system and can give tuition.
The beats are fished in strict rotation and catch records are readily available. For the less experienced, fly casting tutorials are conducted in March, May, June and August and details are available from the hotel. A day spent on the Ballynahinch Fishery in the heart of Connemara, ringed by the Twelve Bens mountain range is an experience never forgotten.