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"The Seat of Arthur Blennerhassett Esq MP, Co.Kerry"
Ballyseedy Castle, Ballyseedy, near Tralee, Co.Kerry.
Detail from a watercolour of c1837-1841, artist unknown.
image: courtesy of The Knight of Glin - from a photograph of the watercolour, in the archives of Glin Castle
Ballyseedy was from 1590 to 1967 the principal seat of the Blennerhassett family in Co.Kerry. The present Ballyseedy Castle is a large country house on the south bank of the River Lee, close to the eastern boundary of Ballyseedy townland where it adjoins Ballycarty. Built in 1721 by "The Great Colonel John" Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy (b.1691 d.1775), the new house was first named "Elm Grove". The house was enlarged c1780 by his youngest brother William Blennerhassett Sr. (b.1705 d.1785), that work completed c1788 by his son William Blennerhassett Jr. (b.c1735 d.1797).
William Jr's son Arthur (b.1779 d.1815) and his wife Dorcas Twiss (b.1775/7 d.1822) commenced the addition of a long north wing, something of a "folly" with the stable yard surrounded by a great wall of false windows, with two carriage entrances and a medieval round tower at the north-west corner. Believed to be the work of architect Sir William Morrison, this remodelling was completed in 1821, exactly 100 years after the house was built, by his son Arthur Blennerhassett (b.1799 d.1843) then 22 years of age. 1821 was also the year of Arthur's marriage to Frances Grady (b.c1800 d.1834). A square tower was also added, on the east front, but I am uncertain if that was during the 1821 or 1880s remodelling.
At about 1821 the name "Elm Grove" was superseded by "Ballyseedy", the traditional name being transferred from their old family home, a mile away at the western end of Ballyseedy townland near what had been the village of Ballyseedy, that house having by then begun to fall into ruin.
The ruins of "old" Ballyseedy may still be seen, a short distance inside the present western edge of Ballyseedy Wood, the wood having been recently cleared of undergrowth and opened to the public as a woodland park. I have not seen the name Elm Grove (or Elmgrove) in any document or newspaper dated later than 1819.
During the 1880s Arthur's grandson, Maj. Arthur Blennerhassett (b.1856 d.1939), commissioned a "mock castle" refacing of the house, as was popular during the mid Victorian period, these changes causing what had previously been the front elevation and main entrance to become the rear of the house. This work, executed by Kerry architect, historian and Blennerhassett descendant James Franklin Fuller, caused the house to lose its Georgian elegance and simplicity but resulted in the impressive building we see today. Following these changes the house was referred to as "Ballyseedy House" or as "Ballyseedy Castle" in more-or-less equal measure.
The drawing shows the house as it appeared between the alterations of 1821 and those of the 1880s. The last of the family to reside at Ballyseedy Castle was Hilda Blennerhassett (b.1884 d.1965). Following her death the house, and what remained of the estate, was sold out of the family in 1967, to become "Ballyseede Castle" Hotel. An auction of house contents, "objets d'art, furniture, antique silver, china, etc", was held at the house in June 1967. The Sale Catalogue includes a number of pieces of Elizabethan and Jacobean oak furniture which will, in all probability, have come from "old" Ballyseedy. Where these are now, I wonder?
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