Hospital in Ballymore

A hospital was located at the E end of Ballymore village (WM024-179----), although the precise location has not been identified. The Urban Survey of Westmeath recorded that 'Story's map of 1693 shows a plain quadrangular building marked 'the hospital', situated on the south-east side of the village (Murtagh 1974-5, Pl. 16). There is no further evidence, documentary or otherwise, for this hospital and no sign of it now survives' (Bradley et. al. 1985, 70; Story 1693, 88). This hospital was located on the S side of the Dublin-Athlone Road close to the cross-roads at the E end of the present village of Ballymore. The precise location of this building has not been identified. The location of this 'Hospital' has been recorded in 2009 as 'The 'hospital' as marked on the contemporary mapping to the east of the village is no longer visible, though its general location can be suggested. Today a row of houses have been built along the road at this point, although it is unclear what damage these may have caused to any underlying archaeology' (Report on the Battlefield of Ballymore Co. Westmeath 2009, 9, 10). See attached sketch plan of Ballymore Town (WM024-179----), showing the round castle (WM024-182----), and a square shaped building annotated as 'The Hospital' c. 1691, taken from Story's An impartial history of the wars of Ireland, with a continuation thereof. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 August 2014