Ballymoe (Béal Átha Mogh) is a small, rural village nestling on the Galway-Roscommon Border, beside the River Suck. To the north of Ballymoe lies the town of Castlerea, to the south east lies Roscommon town, and to the south west lies Tuam and Galway city. The name of Ballymoe is derived from a fort, which was erected by Queen Maeve of Connaught on the river Suck, under the command of Mogh. Later the fort and village became known as Átha Mogh Mór and later Béal Átha Mogh.

The area around Ballymoe displays many examples of natural history such as raised bogs, forts and a mass rock from penal times. Despite the small size of Ballymoe it has nevertheless produced many notable individuals down through the years, and has a long and varied history. It also has a multitude of various sporting achievements to boast of and local organisations which respond to the needs of the locality.

Kilcroan cemetery also hosts other important aspects of history such as the magnificent vault, in which repose the remains of the Most Rev. Dr. Burke as well as the remnants of the old forts and the mass rocks from penal times.

Clan Name

Ballymoe is part of the ancestral home of the Burkes and forms a stage of the Beara-Breifne Greenway which is based on the historic march of O'Sullivan Beara in 1603.

Greenways Festival 2003

Ballymoe is talking part in the Greenways Festival in summer 2003 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the legendary 1603 march of O’Sullivan Beara from the Beara Peninsula to the Breifne area. Click here for info on the events