My ancestors - Blennerhassett - Contents

Blennerville

Annagh par (just SW of Tralee), Co.Kerry

• References:
  • Blennerville: gateway to Tralee's past, Liam Kelly et al., 1989, ISBN 0951362712, [NLI] Ir 94146 k 8, [TCD] PX-55-355
  • A Guide to Blennerville and the Dingle Peninsula, Frank Blennerhassett and Sara Hollwey, Butler Sims Ltd, Dublin, c.1992, ISBN 096049-06-8
  • In the shadow of Sliabh Mish, The Heritage Council, Kingdom Printers, Tralee, 2001

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • Blennerville Windmill visitors guide.
  • IEI leaflet 3063, on Blennerville Windmill.
  • See also IHAI.

Blennerville.
Click to toggle map/satellite view. Click to zoom in/out. Drag to move.
From Google Maps.

Blennerville was originally called Cathair Uí Mhóráin,
settled by Sir Rowland Blennerhassett, 1st Baronet by 1783,
he re-named it "Blennerville" after his family,
Blennerville was the old port for Tralee (before the Tralee Ship Canal built),
in early 19th cent Blennerville was the centre of the Munster grain trade,
fine Georgian houses built on Main St, including Blennerville House and King's House,
Blennerville went into decline in the mid-late 19th cent because of:

1. the silting of the river channel at Blennerville,
2. the opening of the Tralee Ship Canal 1846,
3. the building of Fenit Pier 1880, Fenit, N side of Tralee Bay,

Blennerville Windmill fell into ruins.

The approach to Blennerville from the Tralee side, showing Blennerville Bridge and, in the distance, Blennerville Windmill.
Photo 2003. See full size.

Blennerville at night.
See full size.
Photo 2006 from here. See terms of use.

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Blennerville Bridge

Blennerville Bridge was built 1751 by Col. John Blennerhassett,
think the place was not yet called Blennerville,
the bridge takes most of the traffic to and from the Dingle Peninsula,
it was strengthened and enlarged 1996.

Blennerville Bridge. See full size.
See similar shot.
Photos 2003.

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Blennerville Windmill

Blennerville Windmill was built by the founder of Blennerville Sir Rowland Blennerhassett, 1st Baronet in 1780 or 1800,
Tralee Ship Canal opened 1846,
Blennerville went into decline, the windmill fell into ruins,
it had already fallen into ruins by the time of [Griffiths Valuation, 1853], the ruins then owned by the Chute family,
it was restored later in 19th cent,
Fenit Pier built 1880,
windmill finally closed 1880s, fell into ruins again, in ruins by 1896,
it was purchased 1981 by Tralee Urban District Council, and is now restored as a tourist attraction,
the Blennerhassett genealogy on the wall at the entrance to the cafe is by Frank Blennerhassett, based on Bill Jehan's early work.

Blennerville Windmill. Photo 2003. See full size.

Blennerville Windmill. Visitors' centre on left. Photo 2003. See full size.

Blennerville Windmill, late 1990s, before visitors' centre built.
From Kerry Insight. Used with permission.

Blennerville Windmill, from the far side of the bridge, photo 2005. See re-use licence (also here).
Blennerville Bridge in background on LHS. See full size.

Blennerville Windmill 360 degree panorama.
Click to rotate. From 360cities.net.

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• Blennerville

• GENUKI - Ireland
  • Annagh (Blennerville)

• Irish Emigration Research Project, Blennerville Shipyard (Blennerville Windmill visitor centre).