Bridge

The National Monuments Service's description

Ballingarry Castle. The earliest part of this structure was possibly constructed around 1280 by the Cantillon family. According to sources (Barrington, 1976), it resembled a modern version of a promontory fort (KE008-006001-), consisting of a gateway with adjoining curtain walls. The early remains consist of a semi-circular bank on the mainland, measuring c 120m long and c 10m wide.
In 1585 Ballingarry and other lands belonging to the Cantillons were granted to George Isham, who left the occupants undisturbed, taking only the head rents. However, by 1602 Garrett Roe Stack, brother-in-law to Lord Kerry, garrisoned Ballingarry, and Sir Charles Wilmot put the castle under siege for over a year. In 1603 Gerald Mac Morris surrendered the castle and was executed, along with some of the leaders.

During the Cromwellian wars Ballingarry Castle came under Colonel David Crosbie, a loyalist, who, according to Smith (1756), built a small castle. At this time Ballingarry was not confined to the isthmus. Crosbie extended the fortress by constructing the two trenches that lead to the drawbridge, and he also built several houses on the peninsula to house English families. Extended in order to withstand the attacks of the Irish, Crosbie was able to secure the castle with the help of his friend Lord Inchiquin of Clare, who provided the garrison with food and ammunition.

Drawbridge (KE008-006003-): crossing the deep chasm, there is a strong stone wall with cut-stone corners cut into the cliff. It contains a loophole which had a wide inward splay, and beside this is a small aumbry. The stone fortification is c 8.5m to the S and 3.9m to the E. The wall is c 1.6m in thickness. A tower once lead to the drawbridge by a stairway or slope, but this has since been filled in.

The above description is derived from C. Toal, ‘North Kerry Archaeological Survey’. Dingle. Brandon in association with FAS Training and Employment Authority (1995), no. 1000. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 3 August 2013