What is recorded here

Ballygrennan Castle stands as a four-storey limestone edifice overlooking the Shannon, its rear still holding the shadow of an older tower house. Simon Fanning received royal pardon for alienating the castle in 1631, while later owners including the Ormsbys and Christopher Delmege transformed the site into a grand residence. The building now sits empty, its finely carved façades and nineteenth-century battlements waiting for someone to remember the lives that moved through its rooms.

Ballygrennan Castle or Castle Park described by Westropp (1906-7, 81) as following; '1610 David McCanney owned the C[astle]. of Parck (Inq. Chan., Car. I., 29). 1631 Pardon to Simon Fanning for alienation of the C[astle]. of Park in the County of the City (Pat R.). 1655 Ballygrenane C[astle]. (Petty 63)'. Castle depicted as a tower house type structure on the Down Survey map of the North Liberties in Limerick (Hib. Reg.). Castle Park (NIAH Reg. No. 21900502) described in the Ordnance Survey Field Name Books for St. Munchins parish as following; 'The former name of this edifice was Castlepark, and it was built and occupied in 1620 by the O'Brien's of Thomond. In 1782 it became the property of the Ormsbys under the name of Blackland Castle, and lastly, in 1833, it became the property of Christopher Delmege Esq. who improved and rebuilt the greater portion of it. it is a splendid edifice, 4 story high, overlooking the Shannon' (OSNB Parish of St. Munchin, 1542). Castle Park house described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage [NIAH] as following; 'Detached five-bay two-storey country house, built c. 1750, comprising floating pediment to front (south) elevation, full-height canted bay to east elevation having extension adjoining remodelled tower house to east with crenellated curtain wall. Two-bay four-storey extension to rear (north) elevation. Now in disuse. This substantial house, attributed to Francis Bindon, displays characteristic features of his work such as the lunette resting on the Venetian window's keystone. Built in different phases, the house retains its eighteenth-century façade with earlier fabric to the rear elevation. Castle Park is distinguished by its finely carved limestone dressings, which are indicative of the skill of eighteenth-century craftsmen. Battlements were added in the nineteenth century, when the castle style of architecture was in vogue'(www.buildingsofireland.ie). See attached 1657 Down Survey barony map of the North Liberties showing Ballygrennan Castle. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 08 January 2020

Ballygrennan Castle was held by David McCanney in 1610 and later by Simon Fanning, who received a pardon in 1631 for its alienation. The castle is remembered for its documented ownership and legal history during the early 17th century.

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