Ballyseedy

• References:
  • BALLYSEEDY, BALLYCARTY and ELMGROVE in [Houses of Kerry].

  • Russell Mc Morran
    • "Ballyseedy Wood", Kerry Magazine no.3, 1991, p.21-23. Reprinted in "History of Ballymacelligott and Its People", published by "Ballymacelligott Active Retirement Association" pp.141-143.
    • "Red Rose for Ballyseedy Wood", Kerry's Eye, Tralee, 15th Feb 1996.

Locations - Overview

1. Ballyseedy Wood is SE of Tralee, just S off the main Tralee-Killarney road (the N21 / N22), on the small River Lee.
   There is a side turning off this main road at the E end of the wood, which I shall call the E side road.
   On this E side road is the 19th cent. Protestant Ballyseedy church, the old ruined Ballyseedy church, and the entrance to New Ballyseedy.

2. Ballyseedy townland, Ballyseedy par, Co.Kerry, is the area W of the E side road. It covers from the W end of the wood to the E end of the wood (at the E side road). Historically it was centred at the W end of the wood, where Old Ballyseedy was.
   New Ballyseedy is at the E end of Ballyseedy townland.
   Ballyseedy Bridge over the river is at the E end of Ballyseedy townland, just off the main road on the E side road.

3. Ballycarty townland, Ballyseedy par, Co.Kerry, is the area E of the E side road.
   Ballycarty Bridge over the river (or Ballycarty Cross) is on the main road, on the N side of Ballycarty (i.e. further E away from Tralee than Ballyseedy Bridge).

Locations - The houses

1. Old Ballyseedy, W end of Ballyseedy townland, Ballyseedy par
   1. The old Ballyseedy Castle (built perhaps 15th cent, now a ruin).
      This is at the W end of the wood, on S bank of River Lee.

   2. The second Ballyseedy Castle (built c.1627, now a ruin).
      This is at the W end of the wood, on S bank of River Lee, right beside the old Ballyseedy Castle.
      These ruins are known locally as "Puck's House" and the natural spring at that place (which was probably the reason for choosing that location) is known as "Puck's Well".

   
   

2. New Ballyseedy, E end of Ballyseedy townland, Ballyseedy par
   1. The new Ballyseedy House, formerly called Elm Grove (or Elmgrove) (built 1721, rebuilt 1760s, exists).
      This is at the E end of the wood, S of River Lee.
      [Houses of Kerry] considered Elmgrove as a separate building to Ballyseedy, but it seems clear that it was on the same site as new Ballyseedy House. See discussion.

   
   

3. Ballycarty (or sometimes Ballycarthy), Ballycarty townland, Ballyseedy par
   1. The old Ballycarty Castle (built perhaps 15th cent, now a ruin).
      This is in NE corner of Ballycarty townland, on S bank of River Lee, near Ballycarty Bridge, near the gate lodge, NE of the later Ballycarty House.
      [Houses of Kerry] is wrong to say this is same site as Ballycarty House (though it is in the grounds).

   2. The new Ballycarty House (built in 1765-70 period, now a ruin).
      This is at E end of Ballycarty townland, SW of the old Ballycarty Castle.

1778 map

Old Ballyseedy

New Ballyseedy

New Ballyseedy (the S end)

New Ballyseedy (the N wing)

New Ballyseedy (interior)

Ballycarty

• GENUKI - Ireland
  • Ballyseedy

• The Ballyseedy massacre, 1923
  • During the Civil War, Ballyseedy crossroads was the scene of a massacre of Republican prisoners by Free State troops in Mar 1923. There is now a huge monument to this on the main road (just NE of Ballyseedy House).
  • There is also a small monument just outside the Ballyseedy House gates to a Republican who died earlier in the Civil War, Sept 1922.

• Ballyseedy Wood
  • There was a controversy around 1997 over road-building plans through part of the wood, which is a last remnant of Co.Kerry's original forest cover. A "Ballyseedy Woods Action Group" was set up to defend the old woods, and eventually the plans were changed.
  • Ballyseedy Wood is now owned by Kerry County Council and is open to the public for recreation.

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