Clan Rising
Strancally Castle today

Ireland · Still standing

Strancally Castle

Strancally Castle is a 19th-century country house on the River Blackwater in County Waterford, Ireland, built c.1830 by James and George Richard Pain for John Keily. The Victorian house stands immediately in front of the ruined remains of an earlier Desmond castle. The estate was historically large and the house remained a landed residence into the 19th century.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1830

Today

Still standing

As it stood in 1830

What Strancally Castle looked like in its prime.

A complete early-19th-century country house (built c.1830) sited directly beside the River Blackwater, occupying the foreground of a riverside estate. The house stands immediately before the low, weathered stone ruins of the medieval Desmond castle; the ruined masonry forms a backdrop. The setting includes lawns and park trees sloping to the riverbank. At its prime the 1830 house is intact and occupied, with the medieval ruin visible directly behind it.

Its story

The story of Strancally Castle.

The original Strancally castle on the River Blackwater was built by Raymond le Gros, and its ruined remains, an old Desmond castle, still stand immediately behind the present house. The 19th-century Strancally Castle was built around 1830 by James and George Richard Pain for John Keily, close to the town of Youghal in County Waterford.

In 1856 the castle and its estate of 5,000 acres were bought by the 24-year-old George Whitelocke Lloyd, of a wealthy Anglo-Irish manufacturing family. The estate eventually came into the possession of the Irish Land Commission, which sold off the land piecemeal before selling the house with a remaining 160 acres.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1830.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Strancally Castle, including the full exterior approach. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Riverside approachFront drive and lawnHouse forecourt elevationDesmond castle ruins (exterior)Riverside bank viewParkland overlook

Build Your Own Castle

Recreate Strancally Castle with AI to explore it.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1830, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

Recreate this castle →Defend this castle →

Whose castle

Clans who held Strancally Castle.

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

  • Keily

    The present house was built c.1830 for John Keily; sold with its estate in 1856.

  • Lloyd

    Bought with 5,000 acres by George Whitelocke Lloyd in 1856.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Strancally Castle.

Questions about Strancally Castle

What is the history of Strancally Castle?

Strancally Castle has a medieval origin and a 19th-century rebuilding. The original castle was built by Raymond le Gros and later destroyed after Spaniards were routed. The present country house was built around 1830 for John Keily, then bought with its 5,000-acre estate by George Whitelocke Lloyd in 1856. The Irish Land Commission later sold the land piecemeal and the house with 160 acres.

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

Strancally Castle was built around 1830 as a country house for John Keily. It served as a landed residence, with the house standing in front of the ruined remains of the earlier Desmond castle. The estate was later sold in stages, while the house remained with a reduced holding of 160 acres.

When was Strancally Castle built?

Strancally Castle was built around 1830, placing the present house in the 19th century. It stands immediately before the ruined remains of an earlier Desmond castle, whose original construction is attributed to Raymond le Gros. The first-raised year of the original castle is not recorded.

Where is Strancally Castle?

Strancally Castle is on the River Blackwater in County Waterford, close to the town of Youghal. It is located in Strancally Demesne. The house stands beside the river, with lawns and park trees sloping towards the riverbank.

Which family or clan held Strancally Castle?

The Keily family held Strancally Castle when the present house was built around 1830 for John Keily, and the estate was sold in 1856. George Whitelocke Lloyd then bought the castle with its 5,000-acre estate. The estate later came into the possession of the Irish Land Commission.

What did Strancally Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Strancally Castle was an intact early-19th-century country house beside the River Blackwater. It occupied the foreground of a riverside estate, with lawns and park trees sloping towards the bank. The low, weathered stone ruins of the medieval Desmond castle stood immediately behind it as a backdrop.

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

The present Strancally Castle is intact, while the earlier Desmond castle behind it survives as low, weathered stone ruins. The 19th-century house stands immediately in front of those remains. The ruined masonry is visible from the house and forms part of the riverside setting.

Who built Strancally Castle?

Strancally Castle was designed and built around 1830 by James and George Richard Pain for John Keily. James and George Richard Pain were the builders and designers, while John Keily commissioned the house. It stands in front of the ruin of the original Desmond castle.
All castles of Ireland · Castles of Europe · the best castles in Europe · explore the finished reconstructions.