The old Ballycarty Castle
was a Geraldine
(Desmond
branch) fortress,
perhaps 15th century.
It was
confiscated after the
Desmond rebellion was defeated in 1583.
It was granted to
Thomas Blennerhassett
of Flimby, Cumberland, in 1590.
Thomas and his son
Robert Blennerhassett
came to Ireland.
Thomas returned to England,
but Robert stayed in Ireland, and lived at Ballycarty Castle.
See the mysterious
1627 arms
now at New Ballyseedy.
The 1641 rebellion
started in Oct 1641.
At this time,
Robert Blennerhassett and his son
John Blennerhassett
were both living at Ballycarty.
They
surrendered Ballycarty Castle to the rebels in Nov 1642.
After the wars of 1641-1653,
Ballyseedy
became the main seat of the Blennerhassett family.
But Blennerhassetts continued to live at
Ballycarty.
Agnes Blennerhassett
was born at Ballycarty in 1740.
[Houses of Kerry]
thought
Ballycarty Castle was at the same site as
Ballycarty House, and replaced by it in 1765-1770.
However, the old Ballycarty Castle
seems to be the ruin that survives today to the NE of Ballycarty House.
The new Ballycarty House
was built in 1765-1770 period some distance SW of the river junction.
It was built
by the Nash family
(not connected to Blennerhassett).
Ballycarty House was burnt by the Republicans in the
Civil War
in January 1923.
It was a ruin for many years.
The ruins were mostly cleared when a
new Ballycarty House was built at the site in 2009,
though it does incorporate
some of the 18th century structure.
A deposition of 1643 about the events of the 1641 rebellion.
This shows both
Robert Blennerhassett and his son
John Blennerhassett living in two different households at Ballycarty Castle.
They were accused of fraternising with the rebels at Ballycarty Castle.
From
pp.122-123
of [Hickson, 1884, vol.2].
Ballyseedy and Ballycarty on
1777 map.
Up is W.
Orange is the old coach road.
Note that the old coach road runs S of the river
between Ballyseedy Bridge and the old bridge at Ballycarty.
[The Post-chaise Companion, 1786, p.186]
lists
"ruins of Ballycarthy castle"
at this location.
The old ruin at
Ballycarty (red cross) on
1829 to 1842 map.
Extract from
p.124
of [Hickson, 1884, vol.2].
Hickson says that "a small square tower" at Ballycarty
would be the old castle.
So it looks like the ruin above.
Ballycarty on
1887 to 1913 map.
The old coach road is visible here running S of the river and across an old bridge.
It was replaced by the new road N of the river and a new bridge
(since replaced by a further bridge).
There is a ruin NE of Ballycarty House.
It is the building just E of the "Lodge",
on bank of River Lee,
near the old bridge over the river.
Bill Jehan
says it is close to
"an ancient and beautiful bridge that once carried the old coach road to Tralee".
See other copy.
Ballycarty on
modern map.
The ruin by the river
is marked "Castle (in ruins)" to the NE of Ballycarty House.
The large building to the NW is the
Earl of Desmond Hotel.
The ruin at Ballycarty.
See larger
and original.
Interior. The ruin at Ballycarty.
See larger
and original.
Oddly, 1627 does not fit well into the family history
and it is unclear what the date refers to.
What can 1627 mean?
Ballycarty House.
See larger
and original.
See other shot
and other shot.
Photos 2004 by
Bill Jehan.
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