Site of Ballyneety Castle — Ballyneety North

Ballyneety Castle also known as Whitestown Castle stood on top of natural rock outcrop, annotated 'Sarsfield's Rock' on Cassini ed. OSi 6-inch map. Castle site described in 1826 as 'a short distance are to be seen the ruins of Ballyneety castle on a little hill where Sarsfield, Lord Lucan, blew up the cannon destined for the siege of Limerick by King William III' (Fitzgerald 1826, 281). Ballyneety Castle was described in 1840 as follows; 'On the north side of the summit of Ballyneety Rock (or Hill) in the Townland of Ballyneety North, are a few of the foundation stones of an old castle' (OSL Temprebredon Parish; O'Flanagan 1929). Surveyed by the ASI in 2007 and described as no surface remains visible of castle site. Currently the top of the rock has metal railings at NW, NE & SE and is a viewing point with a flagpole in the centre. The top is accessed via stone steps built into W-side of the rock outcrop. There are two plaques inserted into rock face at W-side: one to the memory of Very Rev. P.J. Lee; the other a brief history in Gaelic and English describing what happened here in 1690, with the following text: 'Patrick Sarsfield was a cavalry commander in the Irish army of James II in the war in Ireland against William of Orange. After defeat at the Battle of the Boyne July 1 1690, the Irish army regrouped at Athlone and Limerick. William attacked Limerick in August, but needed heavier siege guns, then on their way from Dublin. Sarsfield and 600 of his cavalry undertook the task of intercepting and destroying these guns. This they did on the night of August 11/12 1690 in the field under this rock. As a result the Irish army held Limerick for another year and an honourable treaty was signed in 1691. Sarsfield was killed in action with the Irish brigade at Landon, 1693.' There is a small podium at base of the Rock with a map showing the route Sarsfield took through the area. There is another plaque here: 'Sarsfield's ride: from the top of this rock, here in Ballyneety, one can look down on the site of the English camp where Patrick Sarsfield and his troopers destroyed the Williamite siege train on the night of August 11/12 1690. The route taken by Sarsfield and his cavalry from Limerick to Ballyneety is shown on the accompanying map.' There are a number of cut stones on display at base of Rock on W-side. Westropp (1906-7, 106-7) recorded the following details about Ballyneety Castle; 'It is stated in the pedigree in Ulster's Ofiice, that the Whites came to Ballyneety from England, and built the C[astle]. there in 1418. This may be mythical, as the family name occurs from before 1200 in the city, and soon afterwards in various parts of the county. 1578 One C[astle]. at Whytstown in Coonagh, held by Tirrelagh O'Brien (Inq. Exch., 7, 10). 1583 Kynedy mac Bryan of Ballinitye and Conoghor macBryan of Cwpnaghe held C[astle]. of Ballanity in Templebredon (Des. R., 74). 1586 Kuonogher macBryan Ogononaght owned Ballynity, in Grean Ogonacht (Peyton, 247). 1587 The C[astle]. of Balleneightie, otherwise Whytes Town, late of Kennnedie mac Brien, granted to Edward Fytton (Carew, p. 447). 1621 Moriert mac Brian held Whitestown C.[astle] at his death (Inq. Chan., 25b). 1655 Ballin Itie and Cloghniean, held by Mort. Mac Brien and Meiler MacGrath (C.S., xxiii., pp. 11, 13, and petty, 67). 1690 Sarsfield surprised and blew up the artillery of William III., when on its way to the siege of Limerick. The C[astle]. was then a ruin. 1703 Edw. Cosgrave, of Dublin, bought Ballyneety, the estate of Ed. Rice. Fabric - There are only slight traces of the foundations on the north side of the rock which, since 1840, has been named Sarsfield's Rock'. See attached Google Earth orthoimages Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 4 March 2021