Fortification

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.
From 1641-45 Ballingarry was besieged on several occasions; a truce negotiated in 1644 broke down. On 15 February 1645 Crosbie was betrayed by a Sergeant James Kelly, who lowered the drawbridge (KE008-006003-) for the Irish to enter. Crosbie, though very ill, was taken to Ballybeggan Castle near Tralee, where he was to be executed. However, with the help of his niece Katherine MacGillicuddy and nephews Colonels MacElligott and MacGillicuddy, he was rescued. He was restored to his estates in 1651, and when he died seven years later he was buried at Ardfert.
On the landward side of the Ballingarry site we find Crosbie's turret (KE008-006007-), now in ruins and measuring 1.8m x 1.2m high. Radiating out from this turret are two long trenches which form a V-shape. According to Smith (1756), these were subterranean passages (KE008-006004- and KE008-006005-) which afforded protection to Crosbie and his followers.
The NW trench runs for c 120m and on average measures 10m in overall width. It consists of two mounds with an internal fosse measuring c 3m in width. This trench runs for c 85m before cutting the earlier semi-circular trench; it then runs for a further 20m. This section of the trench descends into a deep hollow. The NE trench runs for c 175m and has an overall measurement of c 8m in width. It consists of a mound c 5m in width with an internal fosse c 2m in width. Originally this trench ran to a watchtower at the edge of the cliff. No visible trace of this structure survives. Also, from the NE corner of this trench, another trench extended in a W direction (Westropp, 1909), but with the modern fieldbanks this trench cannot be discerned. A smaller trench measuring 70m in length and c 10m in overall width runs from the drawbridge and cuts the N headland on the landward side. This small trench consists of two mounds with an internal fosse, and it runs across the top of the earlier semicircular trench. It has an overall measurement of 10m wide, with a slight internal fosse

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: 20 August 2013