Castle in Currahchase North

Rectangular-shaped tower house depicted on OS 25-inch map where it is shown standing 30m WNW of Hollypark House in the townland of Currahchase North (Baile Uí Gheileacháin). Westropp (1906-7, 157-8) recorded the following details about Ballygleaghan (Baile Uí Gheileacháin) Castle; 'Hollypark, in Curragh Chase north. Marked. Identified by the mearings given in the Civil Survey. 1569 The C[astle]. of Pelleglohane surrendered to the English (C.S.P.I.). In that year Edm. f. David of Balligillighan was pardoned, and his fine remitted for good service under Sir Humphrey Gilbart (Fi. 1463, see Inq. Exch., 11). 1580 After the fall of Carrigfoile C[astle], the followers of Desmond fell back before Pelham, burning Askeaton C[astle]. and Baile Ui Geileachain [Castle]. It was burned in April (A.F.M., Carew, ii., pp. 240-243). Carew calls it Ballogellohan C[astle]. ; it was held by Ger. mac Thomas and Edm. mac David (Fi. 3767 ; Inq. Exch., 11). 1583 Ed. mac David mac Ruddery held, under the Knight of Glin, the C[astle]. and vill of Ballygollyghan, Ballygleaghan, or Ballygyllyghan, in Kyllkurnan in Kenry (Des. R., 35b). Edward's son Thomas succeeded him in 1588 (Inq. Exch., 21, 25). 1591 Grant to Beston and Bostock as part of Seignorie of Castletown (Fi. 5444). 1604 Tho. f. John Geraldine (Knight) of Glin held Bally Ilighane (Inq. Exch., 8). 1655 Gen. FitzGerald held Ballygleaghane (D.S.B., 17 ; C.S., xxvi., p. 20). 1668 Granted to Duke of York, 1703, sold to W. Taylor, of Burton and Ballinort, who settled it on his younger son Richard, of Ballygleaghan or Hollypark. Fabric - The Down Survey and Trustee Map (17) show it as a strong peel tower in a square court, with turrets at each corner. The 1703 Estate Book of Jas. II, p. 91, describes it as Ballyglahan, a very strong castle in good repair with a bawn of lime and stone about it, near 30 feet [10m] high, with four strong turrets, an orchard and a garden'. According to Spellisy (1989, 243) 'Parts of it still survive. A turret and large flanker can be seen alongside Hollypark House, which was built on the same site'. This country house was described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) as a, 'Detached five-bay two-storey Georgian Gothic style country house, built c. 1770, with three-bay single-storey wings to each side. Gothic glazed pointed arched window openings. Battlemented turret to front of one wing. Hipped roof to main house. Hipped roof to single-storey wings. Arched entrance to gravelled courtyard with stables. Site incorporates parts of a medieval castle' (www.buildingsofireland.ie; NIAH Reg. No. 21901126). Tower house type castle depicted standing beside a single storey house with chimneystack rising above roofline on the 1657 Down Survey map of Kenry Barony (Hib. Reg.) Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 16 June 2020