Ballymacmoy, Killavullen, Co Cork – coach house airbnb
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. 24. “[Hennessy/IFR] A two storey late-Georgian house on a rock overhanging the River Blackwater. Entrance front of three bays and curved bow; Wyatt windows, subsequently reglazed with central mullions; fanlighted doorway now obscured by plain porch. Simple battlemented arch at opposite end of house. Hall with elaborate early to mid-C19 plasterwork; reeded cornice with rosettes, central oval of acanthus. Partly curving stair with slender wooden balusters at inner end of hall beyond arch with rope ornament. Fine doorcases with Doric entablatures and rope ornament on architraves. Cornices of oakleaves in drawing room and ante room. Bow-ended ballroom with higher ceiling than the other principal rooms and simpler and presumably earlier C19 plasterwork; oval moulding in centre of ceiling, with flat pan pendentives at corners. Fluted pilasters on walls. Oak chimneypiece in the “Arts and Crafts” style, with overmantel incorporating needlework panel, carved in 1905 by Harriette, widow of J.W. Hennessy. There is a similar oak fireplace in the dining-room, which has been entirely done over in Edwardian Tudor; with a beamed ceiling, timber-studded walls and painted coat-of-arms. Sold 1932 by Mr. C.J. Hennessy to his kinsman, the late Monsieur J.R. Hennessy, of La Billarderie, Cognac. Recently tenanted by Mr. Ian Sherriff, who ran it as a guest house.”
Detached five-bay two-storey house, built 1818, southern two-bay bow-fronted part being later addition, and having full-height single-bay return to rear, and flat-roof porch. Hipped slate roof having rendered chimneystacks, clay chimneypots and cast-iron rainwater goods. Painted roughcast rendered walls. Square-headed openings having two-over-two mainly double timber sliding sash windows, being single to front of bow, with limestone sills. Square-headed door openings to ground floor of bow, having double-leaf glazed timber doors with divided overlights, south side door also having sidelights. Porch has square-headed window openings with tripartite multiple-pane and six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows, with limestone sills, and having double-leaf timber panelled door. Segmental archway to yard at rear, with crenellated parapet and double-leaf wrought-iron gates. Outbuilding to south side of yard with pitched slate roof, painted random rubble limestone walls, wrought-iron fire escape and square-headed openings having timber casement windows and timber doors.
This country house was built in 1810 by James Hennessy, of the Cognac-producing family, as a present to his wife, Eliza Burke. The bow makes an interesting addition to this late Georgian house, as it was added later to cater for a ballroom. The house retains many original internal and external features, such as the slate roof, chimney pots, windows, timber floors and doors. It is further enhanced by its setting, atop a cliff overlooking the River Blackwater, and enjoys commanding views over the surrounding countryside.
http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie/LandedEstates/jsp/property-list.jsp?letter=B
The Hennessys were settled at Ballymacmoy from the mid 18th century. In 1786 Wilson refers to “Ballymacboy” as the seat of Mr. Hennessy. A new house was built circa 1820s. By the time of Griffith’s Valuation the Hennessy home was valued at £13.5 shillings and was held in fee by James Hennessy. He also owned a flour mill valued at £70 which he leased to Henry B. Foote. This house was still a Hennessy home in the 20th century and the house is still extant.
https://theirishaesthete.com/2015/11/21/7591/
The generous proportions of the front door in the entrance hall at Ballymacmoy, County Cork. Since the early 18th century the house has been home to successive generations of Hennessys, one of whom Richard emigrated to France where he became an officer in the famous Dillon’s Regiment before settling in the Cognac region and founding the eponymous family firm. The present building dates from the second decade of the 19th century, replacing an older property when its excessively heavy slates caused the roof to collapse, killing a pig and a goose, and injuring a beggar who unfortunately happened just then to call to the door.
https://thecoachhouseatballymacmoy.weebly.com/ballymacmoy-house.html
Ballymacmoy is the estate of origin of the wild geese family, the Hennessy’s of Cognac and is still owned and inhabited by their descendants. 40 kilometres from Cork International Airport, Ballymacmoy is a 23 acre estate located at the edge of the little village of Killavullen (200 inhabitants). It is made up of grasslands and wooded areas with 3.5 miles of exclusive fishing rights along the Blackwater river, it includes a 1 acre walled garden and a unique prehistoric private cave reserved for guests.
Built on a rocky promontory over the river Blackwater, this listed Regency house has been fully refurbished in 2008/2009 and has recovered its past character in full modern comfort with a combination of new and family furniture. Three double bedrooms and two twin bedrooms, all ensuite, on the first floor overlook the river, the mountains, the village or the estate. On the ground floor a library leads to a large living room opening on to the river. Also on the ground floor, the bar leads to a large dining room. The kitchen is very central and is fully equipped with new and modern kitchenware and electric appliances .
The house is offered on a self catering basis for one week periods or 2/3 days all year long. Guests can use the recently refurbished kitchen for lunch and dinner or may on request receive catered lunches and dinners.
Irish Historic Houses 