Castle - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

Ballytramon was also known as Farrelstown, and it was held in the later 16th century by a branch of the Synotts of Ballybrennan (WX048-001----) in Forth barony (Hore 1900-11, vol. 5, 401). The Synotts appear to have sold it to Lord Esmonde of Limerick (WX003-024----) in 1626, and his son, Sir Thomas Esmonde, is said to have re-built the castle (Jeffrey 1979, 97 8). According to the Civil Survey (1654-6) Sir Thomas Esmonde owned ‘a faire house’ at Ballytramon together with 800 acres in Ardcavan parish at Ballytramon, Ballywish, Ballymartin, Crosstown, Ardcavan, Great Island (Big Island), Ferrybank and the unknown Rath & knattan (Knottown?) (Simington 1953, 113).
The castle was situated on a local rise in a low-lying landscape on the E side of the inner harbour of Wexford. It is described (Wexford People 14-6-1913) as an oblong with one and possibly two diagonally opposed circular towers. It was occupied into the late 19th century and may have been a fortified house. It collapsed in 1940, and there are no visible remains of a structure at ground level in a farmyard.

See the attached section from the Down Survey (1656-8) parish map (N at left) reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Ireland (Ms 725)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload/revision: 13 December, 2012

References

Jeffrey, W.H. 1979 The castles of County Wexford. Typescript prepared by the Old Wexford Society, Ed. E. Culleton.

Simington, R.C. (ed.) 1953 The Civil survey, AD 1654-1656. Vol. IX: county of Wexford. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.