Ballingeary is the Gaeltacht village almost at the western end of Inchigeelagh parish. The surrounding mountains are more apparent here than in Inchigeelagh, this is where the fledgling River Lee is joined by the swift Bunsheelin River and spreads out to form the head of Loch Allua. The name seems to mean Ford at the Mouth (head) of the Gearagh, the waterside oak forest characterised by the profusion of small steams and deep pools. The only remnants of this forest now are some miles further east in an area still known as the Gearagh.

It was on the outskirts of Ballingeary that O'Sullivan Beare halted for his first camp on his long journey to Leitrim in 1602. The spot where he camped was in Eachros townland, near the old Kileen, Teampeallín Eachros. This church was disused even then, the reason for its abandonment being long forgotten. However its shell still remains for all to see. It is surrounded with grave markers for the many unbaptised infants buried there in former times. Another ruined Killeen is situated in Kilmore townland and known locally as Cillín na Gloire, maybe it was the root of the townland name, although it is argued that the root is choill mor, the great wood.

Quite near Teampeallín Eachros is a large standing stone, the second highest in Ireland at over 6 Metres, some years ago it fell and fractured, but has been restored to almost its former glory. Other ancient standing stones, stone rows, wedge tombs and Fulachtai Fhia are quite common in the vicinity of Ballingeary. There are also two 'clapper bridges' across the river here; huge flat stones supported just above water level. The date of their erection is unknown.

Next to the Bunsheelin Bridge in the village, displayed under a traditionally built structure, can be seen the cast-iron 'Famine Pot' from Coolmountain House. This was provided and used by the resident of the property at the time to provide soup for the starving victims of the Potato Famine. It was recently rediscovered being used as a 'hot tub' some 20 miles away and donated by its then user.

Another historical incident, this one much more recent, took place at Béal na Gleanna, The Mouth of the Glens, at the northermost tip of the village. It was here that armed British police were ambushed, disarmed and set to walk back to Macroom in one of the first actions by the rebels in the Irish War of Independance. The republican spirit of County Cork is very strong here, as evidenced by the famous poem Cath Ceim an Fhia, The Battle of Keimaneigh, a Whiteboy action almost a hundred years earlier, written by local poetess Maire 'Buí' O'Leary. The action and her home were at the famous Pass of Keimaneigh, just west of the village.

Ballingeary, although having a very small population, stages a very good St.Patrick's Day Parade every year (March 17th.) which attracts bands even from the USA, it starts at about 11.00 a.m.