Castle - tower house

The National Monuments Service's description

Castle described in 1840 by Curry (OSL Crecora Parish, 389) as following; ‘It is placed on high ground and is of an oblong form, measuring twenty six and a half feet [8m] by fourteen feet [4.26m] outside. It is four stories high and the walls are fifty feet [15.25m] in height and four feet [1.2m] thick. Joined to this at the west side stood a building, which was commonly called a Court, the quoin stones of which are seen projecting out of the walls of the tower on both sides being the only remnant belonging to it that is now visible’. The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that Barnaby Earl of Thomond was the owner of Ballinveala which included 'a stump of a Castle and a smale Orcharde'(Simington 1938, 377).
Westropp (1906-7, 153-4) recorded the following details about Ballinveala Castle; ‘Brien Duff held Ballymeilly or Ballynveylie C[astle]. (Fi. 4486; and Des. R., 7), which was granted to Edm. Manering, but recovered by Teige O'Brien (Inq. Exch., 25). 1622 Leased by Donat Earl of Thomond to Marg. mac Canna (Inq. Chan., Car. I., No. 62). 1657 Ballinvealla, the stumpe of a C[astle]. and a small orchard, Earl of Thomond (B.D., p. 57; and Act of Sett.). 1669 Confirmed to Arthur Upton (B.D., 57 ; and Act Sett.).
Fabric - The eastern wing of a larger peel tower stands; it is 26 feet by 14 feet, and 51 feet high, with four stories, a perfect spiral stair, porch, and vaulted rooms under a stone roof. Bond stones of the levelled "Court" project from the west wall (O.S.L., 8, p. 289). The wooden floors remained in 1874. It was traditionally an O'Brien C[astle], and evidently of the late fifteenth century’. Castle described by Salter (2004, 62) as following; 'The east end wall contains a spiral stair with a keyhole-shaped NE corner loop and three chambers over the entrance passage, the topmost level being vaulted, and the second level having a SE corner loop. Although the O'Briens seem to have never completed the 8m wide main tower the surviving part remained in use until the late 19th century'. Classified by Donnelly (1999, 37) as a tower house of Type 1A which consisted of castle where the 'ground floor entrance to the building leads to an entrance lobby. To one side of the entrance lobby is a doorway leading to a spiral staircase set in a corner of the building. To the other side is a doorway leading into a small chamber - the subsidiary chamber. The entrance lobby provides a direct route of access through to the main chamber'.

Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 2 November 2020

References

Simington, R.C. (ed.) 1938 The civil survey, AD 1654-1656. Vol. IV: county of Limerick, with a section of Clanmaurice barony Co. Kerry. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.

Salter, M. 2004 The castles of North Munster. Worcestershire. Folly Publications.

Westropp, T.J. 1906-7 The ancient castles of the county of Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 26, 54-264.

OSL - Ordnance Survey Letters. Letters written by members of the Ordnance Survey's 'Topographical Department' (T. O'Conor, A. O'Curry, E. Curry, J. O'Donovan and P. O'Keeffe) sent to headquarters from the field (1834-41). MSS in Royal Irish Academy.