My ancestors - Blennerhassett - Contents

Old Ballyseedy

Old Ballyseedy is at the W end of the wood at Ballyseedy.
It is on the bank of the small River Lee (to the N).
An old road ran past it west-to-east (to the S).

The house at Old Ballyseedy.
Photo 2013. See larger and full size.

Old castle, perhaps 15th century

The old Ballyseedy Castle was a Geraldine (Desmond branch) fortress, perhaps 15th century.
It was confiscated after the Desmond rebellion 1583.

It was acquired c.1620 (post-1619) by Robert Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty.
Blennerhassett's lease of c.1620 refers to "Ballyshiddy Castle, town, and lands".
Though the 1590 grant of Ballycarty also appears to include Ballyseedy.

The old castle at Ballyseedy appears to be gone.

New castle, around 1627

The second Ballyseedy Castle was built here c.1627 by Robert Blennerhassett, of Ballycarty.
See arms with 1627 date at New Ballyseedy.
After the 1641 Rebellion, Ballyseedy Castle became the main seat of Blennerhassett, replacing their earlier seat of Ballycarty Castle.
(However, Blennerhassetts continued to live at Ballycarty for some time.)

John Blennerhassett (died at an advanced age in 1676) lived at Old Ballyseedy.
It was inherited by his son John Blennerhassett (died 1677).
It was inherited by his son John Blennerhassett (died 1709).
His son Col. John Blennerhassett was possibly the last to live at old Ballyseedy Castle. He was living there as at 1756.
He left Ballyseedy before 1774. In his will 1774 he is described as of Oak Park, "formerly of Ballyseedy".

Falls into ruin, around 1775

Shortly before or soon after the death of Col. John Blennerhassett in 1775, Ballyseedy Castle was abandoned by the family and fell into ruin.
1777 map still lists old Ballyseedy as seat of Blennerhassett.
But [The Post-chaise Companion, 1786, p.186] shows it as abandoned: "Ballyseedy, once the mansion-house of the Blenerhasset family".
Ballyseedy was abandoned and fell into ruins.

The name "Ballyseedy" was adopted c.1821 by the new Ballyseedy House (formerly Elm Grove) a mile to the E.

The ruin of the old Ballyseedy Castle still exists.
These ruins are known locally as "Puck's House" and the natural spring at that place (which was probably the reason for choosing that location) is known as "Puck's Well".

Old Ballyseedy - The house

Old Ballyseedy - The mill

Old Ballyseedy - Outbuilding

Extract from the elegy to John Blennerhassett by the Gaelic poet Aodhagán Ó Rathaille in 1709.
It refers to entertaining at his seat (Old Ballyseedy).
From page 205 of [Dineen and O'Donoghue, 1911].

Ballyseedy on p.163 of [Smith, 1756].
This shows John Blennerhassett at Old Ballyseedy and his younger brother William Blennerhassett at Elmgrove.

Ballyseedy and Elmgrove and Ballycarty on 1777 map.
Up is W.

[The Post-chaise Companion, 1786, p.186] shows William Blennerhassett at Elmgrove to the E.
To the W it shows "Ballyseedy, once the mansion-house of the Blenerhasset family".
Old Ballyseedy is clearly now abandoned.

Old Ballyseedy (red cross) on 1829 to 1842 map.

Old Ballyseedy (red cross) on 1887 to 1913 map.
See other copy.
See modern satellite view.

The 1627 arms

There is a coat of arms with the date "1627" at New Ballyseedy.
It is near the door of the library. This is now the bar of the hotel.
It is in the wainscot or wooden panelling around the walls.

The hotel says this carving is 19th century. Bill Jehan is inclined to that view.
1627 must refer to the date when Old Ballyseedy was believed to be built.

The coat of arms with the date "1627".
Photo 2016. See larger and full size. See other shot.
See other shot. Photo apparently 2006. From Bill Jehan.
See wider shot. Photo 2000.

The Blennerhassett arms (on LHS) seem to be combined with another family's arms. Could 1627 refer to a marriage?
The obvious choice would be the marriage of Blennerhassett and Lynne. However 1627 seems a little late for their marriage. Bill Jehan notes the arms do not match the arms of Lynne. They look simply like the Royal Arms of England.

Close-up of the coat of arms with the date "1627".
Photo 2016. See larger and full size.
See other shot.

The Old Ballyseedy fireplace

There is an old fireplace in the same room as above (the library at New Ballyseedy).
The hotel says the top of the fireplace came from Old Ballyseedy, and the bottom was newer, made to match it.

The old fireplace.
Photo 2016. See larger and full size.
See also 2007 photo. From Flickr. Creative Commons.

The top part of the old fireplace.
Photo 2016. See larger and full size.

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