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Ballyheigue Castle today

Ireland · Partial ruin

Ballyheigue Castle

Ballyheigue Castle is a Tudor‑Gothic‑revival mansion in Ballyheigue, County Kerry, built on an 18th-century house and remodelled by Richard Morrison in 1809. The principal south elevation is a two-storey six-bay front flanked by three-storey circular corner turrets and a crenellated parapet. The building was later burned and is now largely a partial ruin within a golf course setting.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1809

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1809

What Ballyheigue Castle looked like in its prime.

A long two-storey south-facing stone elevation of six bays, flanked at each end by three-storey single-bay circular corner turrets rising above the roofline; a continuous crenellated parapet crowns the frontage. Window openings are regularly spaced in two rows; the main entrance sits within the central bays and opens onto an enclosed courtyard. Roofs were thatched behind the parapet in the house's prime, and low service/outbuildings lay to one side with a grass forecourt leading up to the entrance.

Its story

The story of Ballyheigue Castle.

Ballyheigue Castle in County Kerry is a ruined Tudor-Gothic-revival mansion, created in 1809 when Richard Morrison remodelled an eighteenth-century house. The principal south elevation runs two storeys and six bays between three-storey circular corner turrets, beneath a crenellated parapet.

It was a residence of the Crosbie family, who counted a Bishop of Ardfert and Aghadoe, High Sheriffs of Kerry and members of the UK Parliament among their number. The Crosbies were historically associated with the bishopric of Ardfert from the time of the Right Reverend John Crosbie, formerly Seán Mac an Chrosáin, before then, the Mac an Chrosáin were a bardic family of Leinster.

Between 1916 and 1920 Crosbie auctioned the demesne lands of the estate to local people and sold the castle itself to Jeremiah Leen, ending the family's connexion with Ballyheigue; an auction of the buildings' contents followed on 25 May 1921. Burned twice and at one period used as a jail, the building now stands as a partial ruin within a golf course.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1809.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Ballyheigue Castle, including 1 interior: main entrance threshold. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

South approach and forecourtMain entrance thresholdEnclosed courtyardEast circular corner turret (exterior)West circular corner turret (exterior)Crenellated parapet and wallwalkService outbuildings and yard

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Whose castle

Clans who held Ballyheigue Castle.

The families that held Ballyheigue Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Crosbie

    Residence of the Crosbie family, bishops, High Sheriffs of Kerry and MPs, until sold in 1920.

Questions about Ballyheigue Castle

What is the history of Ballyheigue Castle?

Ballyheigue Castle is a nineteenth-century Tudor-Gothic-revival mansion created as a residence by remodelling an eighteenth-century house. Richard Morrison enlarged it in 1809, incorporating part of the earlier building. It was associated with the Crosbie family, later used as a jail, and burned twice; it is now a partial ruin within a golf course.

Why was Ballyheigue Castle built, and what was it used for?

Ballyheigue Castle was built as a family residence, and its later uses included a jail and a Royal Irish Constabulary station. The property was associated with the Crosbie family, while its outbuildings were used to detain hundreds of men in 1921. It is currently part of a golf course.

Where is Ballyheigue Castle?

Ballyheigue Castle is in Ballyheigue, County Kerry. The settlement is also given as Ballyheige in its administrative location data. It stands within a golf course setting, and the golf course officially opened in 1998.

When was Ballyheigue Castle built?

Ballyheigue Castle was built in phases, with an earlier house dating to 1758 and enlargement in 1809. The later work remodelled the eighteenth-century house rather than creating the building entirely anew. The first date it was raised is not recorded.

Was Ballyheigue Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Ballyheigue Castle was attacked and burned on 27 May 1921 by local Irish Volunteers. The attack followed the building's occupation by elements of the Royal Irish Constabulary and the detention of hundreds of men in its outbuildings. It did not hold: the building was burned, and it had already been burned once before.

Which family or clan held Ballyheigue Castle?

Ballyheigue Castle was held by the Crosbie family until the castle was sold to Jeremiah Leen in 1920. The family included bishops, High Sheriffs of Kerry and members of the UK Parliament. Their connexion with Ballyheigue ended with the sale.

What did Ballyheigue Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Ballyheigue Castle had a long two-storey, six-bay stone south elevation flanked by three-storey circular corner turrets. A continuous crenellated parapet crowned the frontage, with regularly spaced windows in two rows and a central entrance opening onto an enclosed courtyard. The roofs were thatched behind the parapet.

Is Ballyheigue Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Ballyheigue Castle is now a partial ruin. The building was burned twice, although a low part on the left of the front elevation was reconstructed and remodelled as apartments in 1975. It remains within a golf course setting.

Who built Ballyheigue Castle?

Richard Morrison designed the 1809 enlargement of Ballyheigue Castle. The work remodelled an earlier house built in 1758 and incorporated part of its fabric. No commissioner is identified in the supplied material.

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