Shanballymore (Irish: An Seanbhaile Mór, meaning 'big old town',[2] colloquially Shanbla) is a small village in County Cork, Ireland.

[1] Shanballymore, also historically referred to as Templeruan – Sonnachgowan (old town), is situated on the North bank of the Awbeg River – Spenser's 'Mulla Fair' – astride the road from Mallow to Mitchelstown.

[citation needed] Of the variant names of Shanballymore, the earliest, Sonnach Gobunn, appears in the Críchad an Chaoilli (c. 1100) and the Papal Taxation of Pope Nicholas of 1291.

[citation needed] Within the area are four tower houses or castles, including at Ballinamona, Sonnach (or Shannagh), Castleruan and Dannanstown, and three churches, Kilelly, kilclagmusey & Templeroan.

The Crichad portion of the text provides a description of Irish land holding c. 1100, the limits of the estates and the major families of the area.

[citation needed] The parish was valued in the papal taxation of Pope Nicholas in 1291 at 5 marks (2 old pounds 13 shillings and 4 pence) and taxed at a tithe or tenth.

"Shanballymore" was also the name of the winner of the Irish Derby Stakes in 1911, but the horse had no connection to the village in County Cork, as it refers to a townland of Donohill, Tipperary.

[citation needed] One part of the Nagle Castle, no longer to be seen, is a Sheela na gig which was found built into the wall and later destroyed.

Legend has it that Garret Nagle of Ballinamona was in London for the coronation of King George IV, when his workmen found the carving in the castle.