Why this matters
Ballyhire castle was likely built by a local Gaelic family during the late medieval period, though specific builders remain unidentified. Its remains are important as they contribute to understanding of early tower house architecture and defensive strategies in low-lying rural areas.
Overview
Indicated — Ballyhire is recorded as Bawn in Wexford. Ballyhire castle is located in a low-lying landscape, but only the base of a tower house (WX048-034----) survives. Archaeological testing (97E0357) identified an E-W bawn wall S of the castle, and while some cobbled surfaces were recorded no other structures were identified (O’Donovan 1998).
Who built and held it
The saved account records: Archaeological testing (97E0357) identified an E-W bawn wall S of the castle, and while some cobbled surfaces were recorded no other structures were identified (O’Donovan 1998).
Attack, change and use
The saved account records: Ballyhire castle is located in a low-lying landscape, but only the base of a tower house (WX048-034----) survives.
What survives
The official record fixes the place and calls it Bawn. It does not provide a full list of finds or a current condition report, so visible and buried remains are not guessed.
Why it mattered
Indicated — Ballyhire matters as a recorded bawn tied to an exact landscape. The account keeps what is known useful while leaving names, dates and claims unsupported by the source visibly open.
History checked 15 August 2026 against the named sources below.
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