Ballycar Castle facts for kids
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Ballycar Castle was an old castle located in Newmarket-on-Fergus, a parish in County Clare, Ireland. It stood close to the main road connecting the cities of Limerick and Galway. The castle was about 3 kilometres (2 miles) from Sixmilebridge, 14 kilometres (9 miles) from Limerick, and 11 kilometres (7 miles) from Ennis.
People believe Ballycar Castle was built before the year 1570. By 1681, it was already a ruin, meaning it was falling apart. An artist named Thomas Dineley drew a picture of it in 1680, showing what it looked like when it was still standing but damaged.
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History of Ballycar Castle
Ballycar Castle has a long history, changing hands between different important families over the centuries. Learning about its owners helps us understand who was powerful in the area a long time ago.
Who Built Ballycar Castle?
It is believed that a person named Connor McHugh-McLoghlin-McNamara built Ballycar Castle. However, the castle does not appear on a list of castles from 1570. This might mean it was built just before or around that time, but wasn't officially recorded yet.
Early Owners and Changes
By 1580, the castle belonged to Donogh O’Brien. Later, in 1620, the castle and its surrounding lands were officially granted to the Earl of Thomond. This was done through a special document called a "patent," which was like a formal agreement from the king or queen.
In 1655, the Earl of Thomond leased Ballycar Castle to John Colpoys. A lease is like renting, but for a very long time. This lease had a special condition: John Colpoys had to provide an armed horseman for one month. This agreement was later changed in 1714 to a "fee farm," which meant the Colpoys family could own the land permanently, as long as they paid a small yearly rent. By the 1890s, the ownership had passed down through the female heirs of the family.
The Castle Becomes a Ruin
As mentioned, Ballycar Castle was already a ruin when Thomas Dineley sketched it in 1680. Over time, it continued to decay. By the 1890s, the castle had completely disappeared. A house had been built on the same spot, but even that house was a roofless ruin by then. Today, there are no visible remains of Ballycar Castle.
