Bishopscourt, Straffan, Co Kildare

Mark Bence-Jones. 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. 42. “(Ponsonby, sub Bessborough, E/PB; Ponsoby, V/DEP; Scott, Clonmell, E/PB1935; Kennedy, Bt/PB1970, McGillycuddy of the Reeks/IFR) A large Classical house built ca 1780-90 for Rt. Hon, John Ponsonby, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, in the manner of James Gandon and most probably an early work by Richard Morrison; completed by Speaker Ponsonby’s son, 1^st Lord Ponsonby of Imokilly. Four bay entrance front with pedimented portico of four giant Ionic columns; the outer bays have pedimented ground floor windos and circular plaques instead of windows in the upper storey. Roof parapet on dentil cornice. Side elevation with recessed centre and three bay projection at either side, joined by veranda of slender columns with ironwork balcony. Curved bow on other side of house. Imperial staircase. Sold 1838 to 3^rd Earl of Clonmell. Re-sold in the present century to E.R. Kennedy, who bred the famous racehorse The Tetrarch. Inherited by Mr Kennedy’s daughter Mrs Dermot McGillycuddy.” 

Not in national inventory