What is recorded here

Ballyvollane Castle stood on the north bank of the Mulkear River in the townland of Rivers, holding an orchard and mill beside a plowland of land. Burke, Arthur and Creagh families passed it through the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, while Mahon mcKeogh still worked its fields when the Civil Survey measured it in 1655. The Down Survey drew its walls above the water, but no marker now shows the exact spot where those rooms rose.

The precise location of Ballyvollane Castle within the townland has not been identified. Castle described by Westropp (1906-7, 85) as following; 'In Mountshannon demesne. 1540 The sliocht Edmond mac William Burke held Béal atha an mhuillin (Rental). 1586 C[astle]. Ballenvollin, by W. Bourke (Des. R. 37); 1623, by T. Arthur (Inq. Chan. 17a), 1627 The daughters of Pierce Creagh held in fee the C[astle]. of Biallaghmvolin (Ib.). 1655 Ballyweylan C[astle], in Stradbally, Orchard, &c, by W. Lord Castleconnell (C.S. xxix. 3) Clehduph or Ballyvillan, Stradbally (D.S.A. 3). Ballywillin Clondenyagh, with C[astle]. (D.S.A. 1)'. The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that Mahon mcKeogh of Cloneclieffe [Cluain Cliabh] held in Cluain Cliabh and Ballyvollane an 'one plowland having on it a castle an orchard, and a Mill seate' (Simington 1938, 462). The 17th century Down Survey barony map of South Liberties (Hib. Reg.) shows the castle standing on the N bank of the Mulkear River which forms the parish boundary with Kilmurry. On this map the castle is shown standing in the present townland of Rivers or Cluain Cliabh. See attached Down Survey map of South Liberties barony showing Ballyvollane Castle Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 14 January 2020

Ballyvollane Castle was held by the descendants of Edmond mac William Burke in 1540. It is remembered as part of the historical landscape associated with the Burke family in the Mountshannon area.

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