Family tree - Blennerhassett - Ballyseedy - Old Ballyseedy

 
Blennerhassett Contents


Old Ballyseedy

The shapes in the centre here are the ruins of Old Ballyseedy.
See wider map.
The old Ballyseedy Castle (see location)
was an old Geraldine (Desmond branch) fortress, perhaps 15th cent,
confiscated after the Desmond rebellion 1583,
acquired c.1620 (post-1619) by Robert Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty,
Blennerhassett's lease of c.1620 refers to "Ballyshiddy Castle, town, and lands".
Blennerhassett built a new Ballyseedy Castle c.1627, beside the old castle.
The old castle survives as a ruin.


The second Ballyseedy Castle (see location)
was built c.1627 by Robert Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty.
Blennerhassett abandoned their earlier seat of Ballycarty Castle in 1600s,
lived at Ballyseedy Castle.
[Mc Morran, 1991] refers to old Ballyseedy (in the W end of the wood) as "Ballyseedy House".

Col. John Blennerhassett was possibly the last to live at old Ballyseedy Castle. He was living there as at 1756.
Soon after his death in 1775 (or maybe even before) it was abandoned and fell into ruin.
1778 map shows old Ballyseedy still as seat of Blennerhassett.
Soon after, it was abandoned and fell into ruins.
The name "Ballyseedy" was adopted c.1821 by the new Ballyseedy House (formerly Elm Grove) a mile to the E.
Old Ballyseedy Castle still exists as a ruin.
 

Coat of arms with the date "1627".
In the wainscot or wooden panelling around the walls (NOT on the mantelpiece or fireplace), near the door of the library of the new (18th cent) building at Ballyseedy. This is now the bar of the hotel.
I had thought this looked like a newer carving, but am now inclined to agree with Bill Jehan that it is an old carving, from the old building at Ballyseedy, moved to the new building.
Photo 2000.



Close-up of above.
The Blennerhassett arms are combined with another family's arms.
Bill Jehan suggests these might be the arms of Blennerhassett and Lynne and 1627 could be the date of their marriage.
Otherwise 1627 must be the date when the old building at Ballyseedy was built.
Light adjusted. See full size and original.
Photo apparently 2006. From Bill Jehan.



The fireplace in the same room as above. Ballyseedy.
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Photo 2007. From here. See terms of use.

Ruins of Ballyseedy Castle

Photos 2004 by Bill Jehan.

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