House — 17th century in Ballyroe (crannagh By.)

The Down Survey (1655-6) parish of ‘Freshford and parte of Coolerahin’ depicts, 'a Castle and Cabbins [KK013-096004-]' and accompanying terrier (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin) notes that there is 'at Balliroe=Shortall a Castle [KK013-096001-] & a Church [KK013-096002-] and Cabbin with a Mill [KK013-096003-]', with the proprietor in 1640 listed as Thomas Shortall Irish Papist. The buildings are indicated within a triangular area at the very S point of Ballyroe townland and this corresponds well to the triangular southern tip of the townland that survives to this day. At this location there is a rectangular platform (dims. 25m N-S; 21m E-W; H 1m) with a berm (Wth 7m) along the E and S sides and a waterlogged fosse (Wth 3m; D 0.5m) along the W and N sides, the N fosse being fed by a diverted stream. A road runs N-S immediately E of the enclosure and a stream, indicated as a ford on the 1st (1839) ed. OS 6-inch map where it meets the road, runs E-W along the S side. It is likely that the buildings depicted on the Down Survey map are located in this field, with one at least, possibly the castle or mill, being located on this platform. A lime kiln is depicted on the 1900 revision and 25-inch OS map roughly centrally placed in the field and there is extensive outcrop and small quarry holes in the field which no doubt relate to that. The precise location of the houses is unknown. See attached extract from the Down Survey (1655-6) parish map of 'Freshford and parte of Coolerahin’ (Hib. Reg., courtesy of Trinity College Dublin). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 1 April 2020