My ancestors - Blennerhassett - Contents

Ballycarty

Or Ballycarthy.

The old ruin at Ballycarty (red cross) on 1829 to 1842 map.

Ballycarty is just E of Ballyseedy.

The old Ballycarty Castle was a Geraldine (Desmond branch) fortress, perhaps 15th century.
It was confiscated after the Desmond rebellion 1583.
It was granted to Thomas Blennerhassett of Flimby, Cumberland in 1590.
His son Robert Blennerhassett came to Ireland, lived at Ballycarty Castle.
Robert acquired Ballyseedy c.1620 (post-1619) and built a new house there c.1627.

In the 1641 Rebellion, John Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty surrendered Ballycarty Castle to the rebels in Nov 1641.
After this, Ballyseedy became the main seat of the 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 1765-70.
However, the old Ballycarty Castle may be the ruin that survives to the NE of Ballycarty House.

The new Ballycarty House was built in 1765-70 period 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.
See Ballycarty House in Landed Estates project.

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.

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 near the river at Ballycarty

This is the ruin near the river at Ballycarty, NE of Ballycarty House.
Bill Jehan says this is Ballycarty Watermill, an old watermill for the Blennerhassett estate, on the S bank of the River Lee at Ballycarty.
However it may be this is Ballycarty Castle.
It is an odd building, with very thick walls (defensive) but lots of windows (not defensive).
Bill Jehan says: "The precise location of old Ballycarty Castle is uncertain. It may have been incorporated into the later Ballycarty House, but the parts of Ballycarty watermill, whose ruins survive close by on the bank of the River Lee, appear strong enough to have been defensive - if so perhaps the old castle was adapted to become the mill."
Photos 2004 by Bill Jehan.

The mill at Ballycarty.
See larger and original.
See other shot.

The mill at Ballycarty.
See larger and original.

Interior. The mill at Ballycarty.
See larger and original.

Ballycarty House

Ballycarty House.
From Bill Jehan. Photo from Antonia Johnson.

Ballycarty House.
See larger and original.
See other shot and other shot.
Photos 2004 by Bill Jehan.

Return to Ballyseedy.