House - 17th century

The National Monuments Service's description

According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 317-9), Ballyconra House, built in the 18th-century by Edmund, Lord Viscount Mountgarret, stands on the site of 'old Ballyconra House'. The lintel over the front doorway has an inscription in incised Roman capitals which is transcribed by Carrigan (ibid.) as, 'THIS FROVNTISPIECE WAS SET VP ATT BALLIEN BY R.L.V. MTGARET, A.D. 1647 & REMOVED HETHER BY HIS GREAT GRANDSON E.L.V. MTGARETT, A.D. 1724'. In keeping with this inscription, the cut limestone door surround of the house, with engaged pilasters on panelled pedestals supporting a cornice, does appear to be 17th rather than 18th-century in style. However, as stated in the inscription, this doorway may have come from Balleen Castle (KK009-037001-) which lies c. 8km to the SW. It is likely that the remains of the earlier 17th-century house are incorporated into or are in close proximity to, the present Ballyconra House. The armorial plaque above the front doorway dates to the 18th century, however, the armorial plaque (KK004-024----) over the rear entrance dates to 1588 and may also have come from Balleen Castle.

See attached photographs:
KK004-024001-_01 Detail of front doorway
KK004-024001-_02 Detail of lintel with inscription
KK004-024001-_03 Detail of 18th-century armorial plaque
KK004-024001-_04 Rear of house

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of revised upload: 5 February 2018

References

Carrigan, Rev. W. 1905 (Reprint 1981) The history and antiquities of the diocese of Ossory, 4 vols. Kilkenny. Roberts Books and Wellbrook Press.