My ancestors - Blennerhassett - Contents

Churchtown House, Co.Kerry

Churchtown House, Churchtown townland (so called because of Knockane church in the townland).
Near Beaufort, Knockane par, Dunkerron North barony, Co.Kerry.
Half-way between Killorglin and Killarney.

Churchtown House.
Photo 2026. See larger and full size.
See similar shot.

Earlier times

The old name for Churchtown was Fearann na gCat ("Land of the cats").
This was an old McGillycuddy estate.
Contains the ruin of Castle Corr (built c.1450).

Beaufort Parish says it was inherited by Dennis McGillycuddy of the Reeks who married in 1717 to Anne Blennerhassett.
This seems likely, since [Deeds of 1755] link "Farrennagatts" to Cornelius McGillycuddy (would be son of Dennis McGillycuddy and Anne Blennerhassett).

Probably not true is the claim that Sir Rowland Blennerhassett inherited it:

Beaufort Parish thinks the McGillycuddy-Blennerhassett marriage is how Sir Rowland Blennerhassett got it (by inheritance).
This seems false. Anne Blennerhassett is 1st cousin of Sir Rowland's father. Not very close for purposes of inheritance. And also it seems clear from the 1755 deeds that this property went to her McGillycuddy descendants.
More likely Sir Rowland Blennerhassett just bought it. And maybe someone made an assumption about inheritance because there was a McGillycuddy-Blennerhassett marriage.

Blennerhassett

The estate became the seat of Sir Rowland Blennerhassett, 1st Baronet (born 1740 or 1741) where he built a new house, Churchtown House.
Churchtown House and Beaufort Golf Club thought he built Churchtown House in 1740, but that is obviously too early for him. Maybe this is confusion with his date of birth.
[Houses of Kerry] says he built it in late 18th century.

Churchtown House built, probably 1788:
We can it seems date when it was built. From land deeds, Rowland Blennerhassett seems to have moved from Tralee/Blennerville to Killarney/Churchtown in exactly 1788, so that is probably when Churchtown House was built.
He is listed as of Churchtown in various deeds from [Deed, May 1788] to [Deed, May 1798].

In 1798, the 1st Baronet moved back to Blennerville near Tralee.
From late 1798 on, the 1st Baronet is consistently listed as of Blennerville.
The 1st Baronet's son Sir Robert Blennerhassett, 2nd Baronet is listed as of Churchtown in [Deed, May 1798] and consistently thereafter.

The 1st Baronet's nephew Robert Arthur Blennerhassett is listed as of "Churchtown" in 1804.
Later Robert Arthur is listed as of Fortfield.

Churchtown House was seat of Sir Robert Blennerhassett, 2nd Baronet.
2nd Baronet died at Churchtown in 1831.
Inherited by Sir Rowland Blennerhassett, 4th Baronet.
Churchtown accounts book 1862-1864 shows an active and busy farm and estate.
4th Baronet still living Churchtown as at 1867.

Later times

The 4th Baronet sold or long-term rented Churchtown c.1870 to Capt. James McGillycuddy Magill.
Capt. James McGillycuddy Magill then lived there for decades.
Letter of 15 Dec 1892 shows Blennerhassett still had property at Churchtown.
Letter from the future 5th Baronet, probably around 1898-1899, discusses his future plans and whether they could include living in Churchtown. He says: "I have no longer any plans as regards Churchtown, since I have no prospects now of having money in hand. As I have never even seen the place, my interest in it is not increasing."
This suggests Churchtown was still owned by Blennerhassett in the 1890s, and long-term rented out, but not yet sold.
Capt. James McGillycuddy Magill died 1904.

See Churchtown House today. It is now a high-end self-catering house rental. Also here.
The grounds are Beaufort Golf Club.

The first mention of Rowland Blennerhassett (later 1st Baronet) in the Churchtown area.
Letter of 17 Apr 1788 to Rowland Blennerhassett at "Killarney".
This is probably Churchtown. Certainly he is at Churchtown the following month.

The first mention of Blennerhassett at Churchtown.
Rowland Blennerhassett is described as of Churchtown in [Deed, May 1788].

Letter of 19 Feb 1791 to Rowland Blennerhassett at Churchtown, Killarney.

Robert Blennerhassett (later 2nd Baronet) is described as of Churchtown in [Deed, May 1798].

Robert Blennerhassett (later 2nd Baronet) is described as of Churchtown in [Deed, 1807].

"R.A. Blennerhasset" listed at Churchtown in [Leet's Directory, 1814].
This could be Robert Blennerhassett, future 2nd Baronet or (less likely) his 1st cousin Robert Arthur Blennerhassett.

Churchtown House.
From 1829 to 1842 map.
See modern map.
See street view of NE entrance.
See street view of Knockane church to the NW.

Churchtown House, early 20th century.
From a display of Magill photos at Churchtown House.
See larger and full size.

Churchtown House.
Photo before 2014. From Mike Sandes. Formerly here. Used with permission.

Tithe Survey, 1828

Entries for Churchtown in [Tithe Survey, 1828].
From here. Note these transcribed names are very inaccurate and also duplicated.

From here.
Looks like Catherine Croane.

From here.
This is the 2nd Baronet.

From here.
This would be William, son of 2nd Baronet.

Castle Corr

Castle Corr, early 20th century.
From a display of Magill photos at Churchtown House.
See larger and full size.

Castle Corr.
Photo 2026. See larger and full size.
See wider shot showing location on the golf course.

Churchtown House, Co.Kerry - Today

References

CHURCHTOWN in [Houses of Kerry]
Churchtown on logainm.ie
Deed of 9 May 1735. Napper and Mahony and McCarthy. Registered 1737. [LR] 89 222 62936.
- Property at a large number of places in Knockane parish, including "Farnuagatt".
Deeds of 2 and 3 Oct 1755. Maurice Fitzgerald, Knight of Kerry, and many others. Registered 1756. [LR] 181 160 120283.
- Property at a huge number of places, including "Farrennagatts", which it links to Cornelius McGillycuddy.

Churchtown House in Landed Estates project
Histories of Castle Corr and Churchtown at:
The McGillycuddy blacksmiths at Ballydribeen, Killarney, has an anvil which came from the Churchtown House estate. This article says the anvil is from 1800. But this item says it is from 1883, from the Magill estate.