My ancestors - Blennerhassett - Contents

Churchtown House, near Killarney

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.

References:
- CHURCHTOWN in [Houses of Kerry]

Churchtown House.
From Mike Sandes. Formerly here. Used with permission.

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.
Beaufort Parish thinks this marriage is how Sir Rowland Blennerhassett ultimately got it (by inheritance).
It is hard to see how, though. Anne Blennerhassett is not closely related to Sir Rowland for purposes of inheritance. She is 1st cousin of his father. There are lots of other relations closer to her.
More likely Sir Rowland Blennerhassett just bought it.
And maybe someone just made an assumption about inheritance because there was a McGillycuddy-Blennerhassett marriage.

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 said 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.
It is possible this is a house called Lakeville, near Churchtown, not Churchtown House.
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.
Sir Rowland Blennerhassett, 4th Baronet was living Churchtown as at 1867.
4th Baronet sold Churchtown c.1870 to Capt. James McGillycuddy Magill.
Capt. James McGillycuddy Magill lived there.
He 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 Blennerhassett at Churchtown.
Rowland Blennerhassett (later 1st Baronet) is described as of Churchtown in [Deed, May 1788].

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 it could be 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.

Video of the golf course showing the ruin of Castle Corr.

landedestates.nuigalway.ie
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.