House - 17th century

The National Monuments Service's description

A stylised castle is indicated on the Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of ‘The Barony of Crannagh in the County of Kilkenny’ in the 17th-century townland of ‘Dammagh’. It is not indicated on the Down Survey parish map ‘The Parrish of Ballicallan and parte of the Parrish of Tullohan’ which, according to the accompanying terrier, was the property of the Countess of Ormond in 1640 and was unforfeited land, thus the buildings in the townland were not drawn on the parish map or mentioned in the terrier. The location of the castle appears to equate with the modern townland of Damma Upper.
Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 442-3) in a discussion of St Michael’s church or ‘Mickle’s Church’ (KK018-051001-), located c. 1km to the NNW of Damma House, relates that it was built by ‘Mr. William Smyth of Damma, who died in 1655’ was rebuilt by his grandson Mr. Valentine Smyth of Damma, who died in 1700; and was again rebuilt by Mr. Valentine Smyth’s daughter-in-law, Mrs. Jane Smyth, otherwise Read, of Damma, who died in 1747’. The long association of the Smyth’s with Damma suggests that Damma House may date to the 17th century or that if the house was rebuilt it may contain fabric of a 17th-century house or the castle indicated on the Down Survey barony map.

See attached:
KK019-125----_01 extract from Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of ‘The Barony of Crannagh in the County of Kilkenny’ (Hib. Reg., courtesy of Trinity College Dublin)

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 22 October 2020