My ancestors - Blennerhassett - Contents

Kells House, Co.Kerry

Kells House, Cappamore townland (Kells townland is next door), on Kells Bay, Killinane par, Co.Kerry.
On the northern coastal route of the Iveragh Peninsula, between Cahirciveen and Killorglin.

The house was built by Rowland Blennerhassett (born 1780, died 1854).
[Haugh, 2016] says that he bought the land at Cappamore townland, Kells Bay, in 1819. But no source is given.
The entry for Cappamore in [Tithe Survey, 1828] does not show Blennerhassett.
In 1837, Rowland built a house at Cappamore, originally called "Holly Mount" or "Hollymount Cottage".
Later called "Kells Lodge" or "Kells House". (Though, as noted, Kells townland was actually next door.)
He died Apr 1854.

The house was home of his son Richard Francis Blennerhassett (born 1820, died Feb or Sept 1854).
The house was called "Kells Lodge" at his probate in 1854.
The house was owned by his son Rowland Ponsonby Blennerhassett, MP.
He moved to England. He continued to own Kells, and developed the garden there.
Kells was sold by the Blennerhassett family by 1949.
It is now called "Kells Bay House". It is open to the public.

Hollymount Cottage (later Kells House).
From 1829 to 1842 map.
See modern map.
See street view of entrance and garden.

Kells House.
2014 video from Kells Bay Gardens.

---

References

• KELLS in [Houses of Kerry].

• The History of Kells Bay House and Gardens, Helen M. Haugh, 2016.

---

• Kells House in Landed Estates project
• Kells House by Bill Jehan.

• Kells Bay Gardens (or via here).
  • YouTube channel