Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Castle - tower house
Ballykealy, County Laois, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Ballykealy
- County
- Laois
- Country
- Ireland
- Latest-edition OS map
- Castle (in Ruins)
- Coordinates
- 52.80807, -7.43173
- SMR number
- LA035-045001-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
References date from 1653, when it was fortified by John McKeallagh Fitzpatrick (Carrigan 1905 vol. 2, 228). The S and W angles of a rubble built tower house (dims. 9.35m NW-SE, c. 7m NE-SW; wall T 1.25m), at least two storeys high, with a possible entrance at SE survive. Featureless. A piece of masonry 15m out from S angle may represent the remains of a bawn wall (LA035-045003-).
Described by Carrigan as 'A considerable fragment of Ballykealy castle is still standing. The castle and townland of Ballykealy were forfeited by John mcKeallagh Fitzpatrick, in 1653' (Carrigan 1905 vol. 2, 228).
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload: 17 December 2007
References
Carrigan, Rev. W. 1905 (Reprint 1981) The history and antiquities of the diocese of Ossory, 4 vols. Kilkenny. Roberts Books and Wellbrook Press.
Nearby in the register
- Bawnunder 1 mi
- Wellunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Castle - unclassifiedunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.