Ballyloughan Castle, Co Carlow – ruin
Not in Bence-Jones
http://irishantiquities.bravehost.com/carlow/ballyloughan/ballyloughan.html
Map Reference: S746585 (2746, 1585)
Ballyloughan Castle was probably built in the 13th century. It consisted of a rectangular courtyard, about 46m by 43m, fortified by a high curtain wall with a double-towered gatehouse in the middle of the south wall. All that remains is the gatehouse and rectangular corner towers at NE and SW. The rectangular gatehouse has two circular towers of three storeys flanking an arched entranceway.
There are stairwells within the thickness of the walls and a machicolation at second floor level protects the entrance. The tower at the south west corner has two storeys and mural passages and chambers.
It appears that the castle may have been abandoned in the 14th century. It belonged to the Kavanaghs and was occupied by Donogh Kavanagh at the end of the 16th century. After the Restoration it came into the possession of the Bagenal family and was bought by the Bruens in the early 19th century.
http://www.igp-web.com/Carlow/Ballyloughan_Castle.htm
Ballyloughan Castle, Bagenalstown area
Castle Late thirteenth-century fortress consisting of rectangular court (c. 43m N-S, c. 46m E-W) enclosed by poorly defended curtain walls with double-towered gatehouse at centre of S wall. Low square towers on NE and SW angles and foundations of small square structure inside NW angle. Walls of squared granite blocks, irregularly coursed and enclosed by fosse (uncovered during excavations in 1955 (JRSAl 1962, 7)). Rectangular gatehouse with two circular towers of three storeys flanking arched entranceway. Stairwells in wall thickness and machicolation over entrance to towers at second floor level. Small rectangular tower on NE angle, also excavated by de Paor. Of thirteenth-century date, reconstructed as cottage in eighteenth century. The SW angle tower (int Dims 6m x 5.6m) has two storeys and has intermural passages and chambers. (JRSAI1962, 1-14; Leask 1973,72) 19:18 14-8-1987
The above is an Extract from the Archaeological Inventory of Co Carlow-OPW
The castle, which was probably built in the 13th century, originally consisted of a large open courtyard fortified by a high curtain wall with a moat outside it. Only a small square tower at one corner survives, as well as the entrance gate, flanked by two large rounded towers. The tower in the north-eastern corner was abandoned in the 14th century, and the whole castle may even have been abandoned at this time. Note the variety of fireplaces. The castle formerly belonged to the Kavanaghs, and was occupied by Donogh Kavanagh at the end of the 16th century. After the Restoration it came into the possession of the Bagenal family, but was bought by the Bruens in the early 19th century.
The castle at Ballyloughan was built in the 1‘English Style’ in the 13th c by a Norman lord. However it was occupied for most of its history by members of the Kavanagh clan. 2 In the sixteenth century it was the stronghold of one of their strongest septs the Clan Donough.
Following the defeat of the Confederation forces in 1641 the castle & lands were forfeited to the crown. Posession then passed into the hands of the Beauchamp family who in the 17th c built the large residence still to be seen nearby.
Sketches of the building taken a century later show large gaping holes around window opes indicating that the cut stonework had been removed by then, presumably to build the 17th c residence. Most of the fieldstones in the curtain wall were also removed at that time.
4 This residence was the home of Eleanor Beauchamp who in 1725 became the second wife of Walter Bagenal of Dunleckney and later the mother of Beauchamp Bagenal.
3 Excavations carried out in 1955 found traces of a moat or fosse surrounding the site. Dimensions were 3m wide x 1 m deep. In common with wall heights and thickness this also indicates that defence was not a major consideration of the design.
To west of the complex the land descends into a hollow now full of rushes. This is probably the location of the lake from which the townland gets its name ie Baile an Loch Án. In the earlier years of its existence the castle was surrounded by a moat supplied from this lake, which subsequently dried out.
At the field gate leading in to the site a notice board erected by the OPW gives a brief history and includes a late 18th c sketch by Gross. The sketch shows the castle in ruins. Part of the curtain wall to south east of the Gatehouse still existed at that time. Three chimneys were shown of which only one remains.
The site is currently in the care of the OPW which have conducted repairs to make the building safe to visitors.
Note that the building was originally about 1 m lower than the present ground level. The vaulted ceilings of both towers and main building still exist.
Access between levels is by stairways and corridors within the walls, mainly on the East side. Each stairway/corridor has a lancet opening to provide light. Stairways in common with mediaeval practice elsewhere have an unfavourable runner to riser ratio ie sudden drop at each step, requiring considerable care to negotiate safely.
Separate kitchen not found. Cooking and eating took place in the large room on first floor (as in farmhouses of bygone years). Large open fireplace was originally in left hand corner of this room. In 15th c it was moved to central location in gable wall.
Latrine or garderobe is located in wall space off this room immediately opposite entrance door. Slated roofing of towers and main A-roof.
SW Tower: Ground floor room accessed directly from the courtyard. Pleasant room on 1st floor accessed by stairway in North gable wall; has a fireplace, is well lit by windows with seats. Latrine off this room at NW corner.
NE Tower: Two gables remain alongside a section of the East wall.
The ruins of Ballyloughan Castle, situated in the parish of Dunleckny, and Barony of Idrone East, show it to have been a place of considerable strength and importance. Although at present roofless, the walls are in good preservation. It is of a square form, having two towers in the front; from the outer extremity of one of which to that of the other, being a distance of forty feet. The walls, about five feet thick, are in some places fifty feet high; they are of rude stone work, built of the most permanent manner. Fourteen stone steps conduct to the second floor, which rests on an arch. There are two flights of steps higher up, but they are in a state of dilapidation. An apartment about seven feet in height, with two windows, seems to have been in each of the towers: between the towers was the chief entrance, of arched, cut stone. The appearance of the ground adjacent would indicate that the castle was formerly surrounded by a ditch. At a distance of eighteen yards to the west, stands another ruin, about thirty feet square. It has one stone-cased window, with holes for iron bars. The walls are five feet in thickness, and the structure is about twenty feet in height. Another forty yards from the main building, to the north, is another ruin of small dimensions.’
The Dublin Penny Journal, Vol.III, No.136, February 7th 1835
‘Ballyloughan, an old castle, formerly a place of considerable strength and importance, in the parish of Dunleckny, barony of East Idrone, Co. Carlow, Leinster. Though the roof has disappeared, the walls are in good preservation. The castle is square, and has at the front angles two large round towers. The walls are about 5 feet thick, and in some places 50 feet high; and they consist of rude but stable masonry. The second floor rests on an arch, and is reached by a flight of 14 stone steps. The chief entrance was of arched cut stone, midway between the towers; and an apartment was in each of the towers, 7 feet high with two windows. The edifice seems to have been surrounded by a ditch; and in its immediate vicinity are two small strong ruins, one of them about 30 feet square. Ballyloughan-castle formerly belonged to the Kavanaghs; and, at the end of the 16th century, was occupied by Donagh Kavanagh, second son of Murragh Ballagh, styled king of Leinster. It soon afterwards became property of the Bagenal family, and is now in the possession of Henry Bruen, Esq.’
The Parliamentary Gazeteer of Ireland, 1846 (note how the text freely synopsises that published in the Dublin Penny Journal eleven years earlier).
‘Ballyloughan Castle is the remains of a fine baronial residence, in some respects similar to the Desmond castles in Kilmallock, County Limerick, etc… Ballyloughan has the ruins of an oratory and offices, now detached, and well repays a visit. The writer was so fortunate as to interest the late Colonel Bruen, M.P. some years since in the preservation of it, as it stands on his estate.
From Ierne, Or, Anecdotes and Incidents During a Life Chiefly in Ireland. With Notices of People and Places, By a Retired Civil Enginer, 1861
Irish Historic Houses 