Ballea Castle, Cork 

Bence-Jones, Mark. A Guide to Irish Country Houses (originally published as Burke’s Guide to Country Houses volume 1 Ireland by Burke’s Peerage Ltd. 1978); Revised edition 1988 Constable and Company Ltd, London.

p. 16. “[Hodder/IFR; Dorman/IFR] An ‘L’ shaped C17 tower-house with a doorway guarded by an iron yett, given regularly-disposed sach windows in the Georgian period. Large drawing room on first floor. Small courtyard at one side of castle with old chapel, still roofed and intact. A seat of the Hodder family; bought in the present century by R.H. Dorman, sold after his death 1949. Bought late 1950s by Mr. A.F. Clark, now of Ringabella House, who remodelled the interior of the castle, making a new drawing room downstairs. Now the home of Mr. David Jackson.” 

Ballea Castle, Cork  from myhome.ie courtesy Michael Pigott Auctioneer

from myhome.ie

http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie/LandedEstates/jsp/property-list.jsp?letter=B

Francis Hodder held this property in fee at the time of Griffith’s Valuation, when it was valued at £24 10s. Lewis also refers to it as his seat in 1837. Local sources suggest that It was originally built by the McCarthy family and later acquired by the Hodders. In the 1940s the Irish Tourist Association survey refers to it as being occupied by F. Dorman, retired engineer, and that it was the oldest occupied castle in Éire. Though much altered over the years, it is still extant and occupied.   

http://www.britainirelandcastles.com/Ireland/County-Cork/Ballea-Castle.html

Location 

near Ballea Hill, County Cork, Ireland 

Description 

Ballea Castle is situated on a cliff overlooking the Owenboy River in Carrigaline about 8 miles south of Cork City 

from myhome.ie

Ballea Castle is a three storey tower with a more recent two storey wing making an L-plan structure. The building has prominent crenellations, and the large windows show that it is designed as a residence rather than a fortress. There is a large White Horse painted on a cliff face below the castle which can be seen from the Ballea Road. 

Facilities 

The castle is a private residence and is not open to the public. 

History 

The castle was built in the 15th century. It appears to have been renovated and extended into a three storey L-plan fortified house in the 17th century. It was home to the MacCarthy family until the late 17th century. The castle then fell into disrepair until 1750 when restoration work was undertaken by the Hodder family who held it to until the early 1900s. The castle has been modernised in more recent times and is now a private residence. 

from myhome.ie

Legends 

Legend has it that one of the Hodder daughters fell in love with a local farmer’s son. Her father was furious, wanting her to marry a man of his choice. An argument ensued. The daughter’s horse bolted over the edge of the cliff, with both daughter and horse falling to their deaths. The White Horse was painted on the cliff to mark this fateful day. 

from myhome.ie

from myhome.ie

https://www.geni.com/projects/Historic-Buildings-of-County-Cork/29338

Ballea Castle Local sources suggest that It was originally built by the McCarthy family and later acquired by the Hodders. Francis Hodder held this property in fee at the time of Griffith’s Valuation, when it was valued at £24 10s. Lewis also refers to it as his seat in 1837. 

https://www.myhome.ie/residential/brochure/ballea-castle-carrigaline-cork/4321500

on 4/11/2019 

Michael Pigott Auctioneer & Valuer 

Tel: 021 437 3300 

PSRA Licence No. 003540 

Sold for €800,000 on 2020-01-31!! 

Ballea Castle, former home of the McCarthy’s of Blarney and Ballea, dates from the 13th century. It sits on c. 50 acres along the Owenabue River and is the oldest occupied castle in Ireland. In the 20th century the towers were extended to make an L-shaped structure. It is a listed building. Outside, a series of ancient stone outbuildings comprising stables and tack rooms wrap around the courtyard. The beautifully mature walled gardens are magnificently planted and maintained in keeping with this residence. 
 

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As a family home, Ballea Castle has always been maintained. It offers a great opportunity for further restoration and development as a home and/or a commercial venture. 

Rooms 

CASTLE – Family Entrance hall to main castle – 6.16m x 4.92m Arched door with Yett, parquet floor, arched entrance, built in bookcase with underneath storage, open fireplace with marble surround, timber panelling surrounding window, staircase door to underneath wine cellar. 

Breakfast Room – 6.35m x 6.02m Large, very bright room with four picture windows facing south, east & west with magnificent views to gardens, original timber beams, trap door and stone steps to dungeon. WC & Cloak Room – 4.5m x 1.01m WC, whb, centre lights. 

Kitchen – 6.93m x 4.03m Large Inglenook fireplace, stone walls and feature window overlooking the valley & Owenabue River, original timber beam. 

Conservatory – 8.04m x 8.39m High vaulted glazed ceiling, feature window overlooking the valley & Owenabue River. Utility Room – 4.93m x 3.35m Plumbed for washing machine and dryer, wired for recessed lighting, access to rear incorporating boiler room. 

Banqueting Hall – 10.2m x 4.53m Terracotta tile floor, minstrel gallery, with door leading to rooftop, double height beamed ceiling with stone corbels, huge floor to ceiling feature fireplace with spit, two barbeques and log storage underneath, two sets of glazed doors to long room, door leading to kitchen and conservatory. 

Long Room/Formal Sitting Room – 14.41m x 5.05m Solid oak floor, two pairs of double French doors leading to banqueting hall, two ornately carved wood open fireplaces, four pairs of double French doors to garden, wood feature panelling from the Queen’s Old Castle, door leading to Baronial Hall. 

Baronial Hall – 8.15m x 4.06m Tall solid oak double entrance doors with large circular window depicting the white horse of Ballea, marble tile floor, double height ceiling, Liscannor stone staircase with cast iron balustrade leading to gallery with door to rooftop, wooden panelling from Queen’s Old Castle, porthole and arched windows and an arched wooden door to the family chapel. 

Family Chapel – 6.0m x 3.2m Marble tile floor, original vaulted ceiling, two arch windows with heraldic symbol images of the white horse, archway to the vestry. Vestry – 4.89m x 3.65m Marble tile floor, three arch windows, stone wall feature, stairs and door leading to wing. Office – 4.51m x 3.64m Solid wooden floor, two windows, medieval panel designed ceiling. Turretted Rooftop – Rooftop area with steps leading to different levels, stunning countrywide views over manicured gardens and surrounding valley, forest and land. 

FIRST FLOOR – AMBASSADOR SUITE – Lounge – 6.82m x 5.0m Reclaimed mahogany floor, open fireplace with marble surround, two west facing windows overlooking walled gardens. Bedroom – 6.89m x 5.06m Reclaimed mahogany floor, two windows overlooking gardens. En Suite – 3.16m x 1.92m Reclaimed mahogany floor, bath unit, wc, whb, window to rooftop. 

MAIN CASTLE TOWERS – Landing area to three bedrooms and large linen storage press. Master Bedroom – 5.12m x 6.33m Carpet floor, three large floor to ceiling bay windows facing south, east & west with stone surround, terrific views over manicured gardens, valley and countryside, high ceilings, decorative coving. En Suite – 2.88m x 3.82m Fully tiled wall and floor, freestanding bath unit, wc, whb, freestanding circular power shower unit with enclosure, high ceiling, recessed lighting, 7 ft high window. 

Bedroom Two – 6.16m x 3.74m Carpet floor, built in wardrobe, two 7 ft. high windows with timber panel surround, high ceiling with decorative cornicing. En Suite – Fully tiled wall and floor, power shower unit with enclosure, wc, whb. 

Bedroom Three – 5.27m x 3.7m Original pine wooden floor, high ceiling, bay window with stone surround, stone walls throughout, access to Ambassador Suite via stone steps. En Suite – 2.01m x 1.58m Fully tiled wall and floor, wc, whb, power shower unit. 

SECOND FLOOR – Landing area Carpet floor, high ceiling, wall panelling, centre lights, decorative cornicing. 

Bedroom Four – 6.62m x 5.12m Original solid wooden floor, high ceiling with exposed stone walls with large open inglenook fireplace with limestone surround, large bay windows. En Suite – 4.96m x 2.34m Fully tiled floor and wall, bath unit with shower and enclosure, wc, whb, bay window, built in wardrobe. 

Bedroom Five – 4.48m x 4.15m Carpet floor, high ceiling, bay window, built in wardrobe. Walk in Wardrobe – 1.85m x 1.15m Carpet floor, built in shelving. En Suite – 2.88m x 2.49m Carpet floor, power shower unit with chrome enclosure, wc, whb with overhead wall shaver light, large bay window overlooking woodland 

Bedroom Six – 5.47m x 3.66m Carpet floor, high ceiling, bay window overlooking manicured gardens. En Suite – Carpet floor, shower unit, wc, whb. 

THIRD FLOOR – 13.71m x 12.49m Previous staff accommodation currently used as attic storage and games room. Large open L-shaped area, exposed timber rafters with numerous windows allowing natural light. 

FARMHOUSE- THE STABLE MEWS – GROUND FLOOR – Entrance Hall – 5.0m x 2.45m Timber floor, double stained glass entrance doors, door to garden, cast iron spiral staircase with access to mezzanine attic and first floor. Kitchen/Dining – 5.17m x 5.33m Fitted kitchen units, timber floor, door to garden. Bathroom – 2.32m x 1.64m Timber floor, bath unit with overhead electric shower, wc, whb, hot water cylinder. 

FIRST FLOOR – Lounge – 5.04m x 4.77m Carpet floor, raised solid pine floor, large south facing window overlooking manicured walled gardens, two rear windows. Shower Room – 1.96m x 1.48m Vinyl floor, shower unit with tile surround, wc, whb. 

Bedroom One – 3.86m x 3.32m Carpet floor, window overlooking garden. 

Bedroom Two – 3.39m x 2.76m Carpet floor, window overlooking garden. Study – 2.27m x 3.54m Carpet floor, trapped door to attic, 2 windows overlooking stable yard. 

ADJOINING STABLES – Stable One – 5.6m x 2.79m Horse trough, concrete floor, timber cladded ceiling, timber half doors. Stable Two – 5.86m x 2.64m Horse trough, concrete floor, timber cladded ceiling, timber half doors. Stable Three/Four – 5.01m x 4.9m Half stable doors entrance to tack area, two original loose boxes with wooden half doors and railings, two horse troughs, concrete floor, timber cladded ceiling. Stable Five – 3.65m x 3.84m Concrete floor, centre light, timber cladded ceiling, steel half door Tack Room – 3.9m x 1.88m Saddle & rug racking, concrete floor. 

Barn – 12.58m x 5.78m High vaulted ceiling with timber beams, florescent lights, door to rear garden, large hardwood double doors to courtyard, original narrow loop stone windows. Blacksmith’s Sheds and Workshops – 7.4m x 2.54m Stone built outhouses with galvanised roof. Workshop measurements 4.42m x 3.93m 

STAFF ACCOMMODATION/ STAFF WING – This consists of 82.4 sq metres (886 sq ft) and comprises of four bedrooms with shower units and a kitchen area all with double French doors to the courtyard and features marble flooring throughout with the McCarthy Crest. 

THE LODGE – The Lodge has its own central heating system, septic tank and private garden. Entrance Hallway – 4.44m x 1.3m Ceramic tile floor, centre light. Kitchen/Dining – 4.26m x 2.91m Ceramic tile floor, fitted kitchen units, centre light, door to rear garden. Bathroom – 2.11m x 1.69m Tile floor, bath unit with overhead electric shower, wc, whb, PVC panelling, centre light. Living Room – 4.35m x 3.6m Ceramic tile floor, open fireplace with tile surround, tv point, centre light. Bedroom One – 4.79m x 3.03m Ceramic tile floor, centre light. Bedroom Two – 3.42m x 2.7m Ceramic tile/carpet floor, centre light. Bedroom Three – 2.88m x 2.43m Ceramic tile floor, centre light. 

Features 

c. 50 acres of farmland, woodland & walled in gardens Oil Fired Central Heating Outdoor swimming pool 

South facing summerhouse with large patio and barbeque area River frontage with fishing access on banks of the river between both entrances Water garden with terraces, steps and waterfalls leading down to the river Front & Rear entrance driveways Courtyard with five stables, barn and staff accommodation Services Oil Fired Central Heating with a Dual Boiler Private bored well water supply Septic tank on site Mains ESB & telephone 

BER: Exempt 

Directions 

From Cork continue towards Carrigaline via the Shannonpark roundabout. Continue straight through two small roundabouts. Before the village, on the third roundabout, take the third exit (west) at the Carrigaline Court Hotel. Continue on the Ballea Road for approximately 1 mile past the Carrigaline Soccer Club and mini roundabout. Then take your 2nd left over the bridge of the Owenabue River (Road marked L6485) and take the first entrance on your left hand side, indicated by our ‘For Sale’ sign. 

The main family accommodation has 7 en-suite bedrooms, including the Ambassador suite. The ground floor includes 2 large entrance halls, very large sitting room adjacent to the banqueting hall, breakfast room, kitchen, utility and conservatory. The wing consists of staff accommodation including a kitchen, 4 bedrooms & shower rooms. Across the courtyard is a farmhouse, known as ‘The Stable Mews’ with 2 bedrooms, study, lounge, kitchen, 2 bathrooms and a large hallway with spiral staircase. The lodge at the back entrance has 3 bedrooms, kitchen, lounge and bathroom. The stable yard and haggart comprise of a large barn adjoining five stables, tack room, blacksmiths shed, workshop, Dutch barn and numerous ancient stone cottages. This unique Castle is situated in a prime location, just 8km from Cork Airport, 10km from the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven, 20km to Kinsale & 13km south of Cork city centre. NOTE: There was previous planning permission (ref 81/2185) granted for an equestrian centre/recreational facility of 28 individual units (29,550 sq. ft) and a further 21 stables (4,224 sq. ft). Viewing, which is by appointment only, can be arranged by contacting Michael Pigott Auctioneer & Valuer on 021-4373300 or 087-1428900.