Castle (in ruins) — Ballyhealy Castle

References to the Cheevers of Bailyhealy date from the 13th century. They may have been descended from Sir Harmmond Cheevers of Cheevers Manor, Norfolk, and ultimately from the lordship of Chievres in the Duchy of Lorraine (Jeffrey 1979, 56). William Chevre witnessed William Marshal’s charter to Tintern abbey in 1207-1213 (Hore 1900-11, vol. 2, 23). Nicholas Chever held Ballydufathely by half a knight’s fee from the Bigod estate in 1247, and Patrick Chevre held Balydoftanly by the same fee in 1307 (Brooks 1950, 33-4). In 1314 Nicholas Chevres inherited lands at Balycoloun, which is identified as Cullenstown in Bannow parish, and this is combined with Balyduhaly as possessions of William Chevyr in 1425 (ibid.). Both were owned by Christopher Cheevers at the end of the 16th century (Jeffrey 1979, 56). By the 16th century the Cheevers had established branches in Ballyseskin (WX052-006----) and Killilane (WX042-020001-), the latter probably by marriage. They also managed to establish themselves at Macetown in Co. Meath by 1536 (ibid. 57; D'Alton 1844, 2, 443-4). According to the Civil Survey (1654-8) Arthur Cheevers is displaced from Cullentstown, but owns 460 acres in the neighbouring townlands of Grange, Graigue and Ballymadder in Bannow parish (Simington 1953, 152), while John Cheever of Maystowne (Macetown, Co. Meath) owned 412 acres and the castle at Ballyhealy in Kilturk parish in 1640 (ibid. 130, 163). Arthur with 19 dependents is listed for transplantation in 1653 (Hore 1900-11, vol. 6, 502). The castle and lands at Ballyhealy were subsequently granted to a Col. Bunbury, who reputedly took down two of four towers at the castle, presumably a bawn, and a third tower was removed in the 19th century (Anon. 1863, 319), but there is no evidence of a bawn now. The castle is situated on a level landscape. The rectangular tower (ext. dims 10.35m E-W; 7.85m N-S) survives to the rebuilt battlements with good quoins and a base-batter, although the interior has been remodelled as a modern dwelling, now abandoned. All the dressed stone is Old Red Sandstone. A round-headed doorway (Wth 1.04m; H 1.54m) of undressed stone towards the W end of the S wall gives access through a lobby to the ground floor (int. dims 6.35m E-W; 2.57m N-S) which has six embrasures, two with original double-splayed loops surviving and an antechamber at the NW angle. A large secondary entrance has been inserted towards the N end of the E wall. From the lobby a mural stairs rises in the W wall to a lintelled doorway to the first floor under an E-W vault, with one narrow window that has a chamfered surround in the E wall. The stairs continues in the W wall to the second floor over the vault, which is entered by a lintelled doorway at the S end of the W wall. There is an oubliette or hidden chamber, now completely sealed, in the vault thickness under the landing here (Anon. 1863, 319). The N and E walls each have a two-light, cusped ogee-headed window, but with the central mullions missing, in arched embrasures with seats. E of its window the N wall has a fireplace with the mantel supported on corbels, and a slop-stone in an alcove to its E. There is a remodelled garderobe chamber at the NE angle. The S wall has a secondary window inserted in its most easterly embrasure, its small central embrasure is blocked and at the W end a doorway leads to a stairs that rises from the S end of the W wall. There is a rectangular antechamber between the two stairs in the W wall. A lintelled doorway accesses the third floor from the stairs in the W wall. This floor has an antechamber at the NW angle under the stairs, a single-light, cusped ogee-headed window in an embrasure with seats in the N wall with a fireplace, whose lintels are supported on corbels just to its W. An antechamber at the NW angle was probably a garderobe and the E wall has a double-light, cusped ogee-headed window in an embrasure with seats. The S wall has a blocked embrasure at its E end and a slit window at its E end. The mural stairs continues northwards in the W wall to the fourth floor, which has single lights in arched embrasures on the N, E and S walls. In addition the S wall has two arched embrasures that are blocked. The stairs continues in the W wall and turns onto the N wall where it emerges onto the wall-walk. A concrete roof has been provided and the crenellations are simple modern replacements. Even the wall-walk does not survive, but there are look-outs over each angle accessed by steps projecting from the inner faces of the E and W walls. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 18 February 2014