House — 17th century in Ballynamire

Small 17th-century farmhouse which is probably contemporary with the nearby tower house (OF016-018----) to the S. Rectangular building (max. ext. dims. 17.4m E-W by 6.9m N-S, wall T c. 0.7m) two storeys high constructed with uncoursed limestone rubble orientated on an E-W axis. There is a doorway at the centre of the S wall which is directly opposite the central fireplace which divides the ground floor into two rooms and a second doorway later converted into a window at the centre of the N wall. There are three chimneys one on each gable with a fine Jacobean style chimney stack in the centre of the house. This chimney is similar to the chimney stack at Grange castle Co. Kildare. The chimney flue of the E gable protrudes beyond the external face of the gable wall. The E room has 2 windows on the S and N walls at ground floor level. The walls of the W room are poorly preserved. The fireplaces on the gable ends are at first floor level which is carried on timber beams the supports for which can still be seen along the two gable ends. Unfortunately the first floor and roof are now destroyed. It is possible that this house dates to the first half of the 17th-century and may have been built at the same time as the nearby Ballycowan castle (OF016-018----) which was built in 1626 by the Harbert family. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011