Castle — Knightstreet

Ballingarry Castle described in 1840 as following; 'Ballingarry Castle, the walls of which are in a state of perfect preservation, is situated in the townland of Knight Street, immediately adjoining the Village of Ballingarry. It measures thirty eight feet [11.6m] by twenty six and a half feet [8m] on the outside. On the southeast side there is a window. Some of the glass till remains in it. Towards the east corner of the same side, there is a square port-hole, and over it a small narrow glazed window. On the south west side there is a double pointed window, the frame work of which is of wood; it has a very modern appearance. Above this on each side there are two windows of this form, having still some glass in them. On the north west side near the ground there is a window, and near the top of this side there is a window having ornamental moulding of cut stone. On the north corner there is a square tower, the north west side of which is a continuation of the wall of the castle; this tower is about a hundred feet [30m] in height, and contains several narrow square windows. The entrance is at the north east. On this side there is a window of ornamental cut-stone and two plain square windows having the glass still remaining in them. The walls of this castle are about sixty five feet [20m] high, three feet nine inches [1.14m] in thickness and built of regular-sized stones cemented with lime and sand mortar. The tower contains the stairs leading to the top of the building. The castle consists of three stories the ceiling over the second floor being arched and plastered. On the third floor there is fixed a large old chimney piece brought from Kilmallock by Mr. Gibbons, who at one period fitted up this castle as a dwelling place. On the centre of the upper part of this chimney piece there is a slab having the following letters and figures raised on it; 16 . I.H.S . 38. Towards the edges of the chimney piece on each side of this slab are the letters S. H. on the left, and E. H. on the right. Ballingarry Castle is said traditionally to have been an erection of the Knights Templars, from whom the name of the townland in which it is situated, and a street in the village is called Knight Street' (OSL, 23-4). The castle building was described by Westropp as a 'picturesque tower, but greatly modernised. It was repaired in 1821 for the Rev. T. Gibbings, and was called; Parson's C[astle], 1827, being used as a barrack during the Rockite troubles (Fitzgerald i., 381). According to Molony (1905, 262), 'Ballingarry Castle belonged to the de Lacy family down to the time of the Desmond confiscations. It stood a siege for the Desmond cause in 1569, and was taken by assault, and its garrison of forty men put to the sword. Its owner, John Lacy, was attainted in 1583. It belonged to John Massey in 1641; was a ruin at the end of the seventeenth century, but was restored in 1821 for his residence by the Rev. Thomas Gibbings, while the glebe-house was being built. It then became a soldiers' barrack during the "Colonel Rock " troubles in the district; subsequently was used as an auxiliary hospital, and is now ingloriously ending its days as a cow-house. It consists of an oblong tower 53 feet [16m] in height, bearing a turret which attains a further altitude of 15 feet [5m]. It has stepped battlements, and is of graceful proportions; but its beauty is marred by some cow-stalls having been built against its walls'. Castle described in 2004 as a, 'lofty de Lacy tower measures 11.4m by 8m at the level of the hall on the third storey where a large window embrasure has a piscina on one side and has evidently contained an altar. Other embrasures have seats and two-light windows. A spiral stair in a corner leads down to the entrance and cellar. The stair to the battlements is squinched out over the re-entrant angle between the end wall and a wing containing a latrine and bedchamber' (Salter 2004, 62). Westropp (1906-7, 223) recorded the following details on Ballingarry; ‘Ballingarry C[astle]. is a reputed Templary. The place is called Le Garth in 1291. In 1319 Garthbyboys was held by T. de Lees, and given in charge to W. Hampton (Grossi Fines). It had evidently belonged to the Byboys family. W. Byboys witnesses charters in 1228 (B.B.L., pp. 34, 74). In 1252 H. Byboys witnessed that T. f. Rob had enfeoffed H. Aunsell, and had not been disseised by him (Plea R., m. 4 d). 1289 Rad. Biboys and Ric. del Esse. (See Plea R., 14. m. 2.) 1290 Alice, mother of Robert Byboys, was unjustly disseised of her lands in Cortynath (Ib., 16, m. 24). 1295 Eliz. Byboys is summoned to the King's Bench in a suit of the Abbot of Keynsham; and Tho. Byboys also appears in the suit against Roger de Lees (Justic. R., pp. 27,48). 1336 Dandree, alias Villa Rectoris, held by Bishop de Rupefort (Rental). 1408 The town was walled (Pat. R.). 1411 Tho. Saleys, alias Cristour, held Garthbiboys in Limerick Diocese (Cal. Papal Letters, p. 281). 1569 Capt. J. Warde reported that Lieut. Creeves was wounded before Garrystown C[astle]. The place was then stormed and the garrison of forty men put to the sword (C.S.P.L, xxix., No. 68). 1578 Ger., Earl of Desmond, owned a "platea "called "strat, militis" in Ballingarry, and Lacy held the C[astle]. (Inq. Exch., 10,11, 54). 1586 Shradenruddery, or Knightstreet, granted to Billingsley (Fi. 5171; Carew i., p. 450) Shanaclone C[astle]. at Knightstreet (Peyton, 56, 63). 1612 The manor, C[astle], and town of Garestown granted to W. "Casie" (Lacey) (Pat. R.). 1641 J. Mason held the C[astle], mill [LI029-116----], and fair of Ballingarry. 1653 The Agents of Connolough pay £30 for hay for the garrison of Ballingar (Account R., 8); Ballingarrie or Dadrienarrylane (C.S., 38). 1667 Confirmed to J. Odell (Act Sett.). 1691 Burned by the Irish garrison of Newcastle'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 22 January 2019