Ballyrane Castle (in ruins)

Located on a slight rise in a low-lying landscape. The castle of Ballyrane is depicted as a tower on the Down Survey map of Forth barony, and 64 acres at Ballyrane together with 53 acres at Ballydonskar (Ballydusker?) were owned by John Synnott in 1641 according to the Books of Survey and Distribution (Simington 1953, 303). For the Down Survey map see this webpage accessed on 11 Sep. 2013. http://downsurvey.tcd.ie/down-survey-maps.php#bm=Forth&c=Wexford Lewis (1837, vol. 2, 149) says that the castle was situated ‘a quarter of a mile (c. 400m)’ S of the parish church of Killinick (WX047-005001-) and was then owned by the Lett family. John O'Donovan writing c. 1840 describes the castle as a tower in excellent preservation and ‘about 60 feet (c. 18m) high’ (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 282). It is described as Ballyrane Castle in ruins on gothic lettering on the 1839 ed. of the OS 6-inch map, but there are no other descriptions of it. There are no visible remains of a structure at ground level in a farmyard. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 14 October, 2013

Ballyrane Castle was likely built during the 17th century by an Anglo-Irish landholding family in the Forth barony area. It is remembered for its depiction on the Down Survey map, which provides insight into early land ownership patterns in the region.