Bargy Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bargy Castle |
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| Near Tomhaggard, County Wexford in Ireland | |
Bargy Castle
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 Bargy Castle
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| Coordinates | 52°13′21.8″N 6°29′33.0″W / 52.222722°N 6.492500°W |
| Type | Norman fortress |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Chris de Burgh |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Site history | |
| Built | 15th century |
| Built by | Rossiter family |
| In use | 1667-present |
Bargy Castle is an old fortress built by the Normans. It is located near the village of Tomhaggard in County Wexford, Ireland. The castle is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) southwest of Wexford town. Its name, Bargy, comes from Ui Bhairrche, which was the name of a local tribe long ago.
The castle is a strong, square tower. Two extra parts were added to it later, one in the 1400s and another in the 1600s. The main tower is in good condition because it has been fixed up and improved many times over the years.
Contents
Castle History: Who Lived Here?
From the 1400s, the Rossiter family lived in Bargy Castle. They owned it until 1667. At that time, the castle was taken by the government because a Rossiter family member was involved in defending Wexford during a conflict.
New Owners and Rebellions
After being taken, the castle was given to William Ivory, who then sold it to the Harvey family. A famous member of this family was Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey. He was a leader for the Wexford people during the Wexford Rebellion in 1798. After this uprising was stopped, and Harvey was executed, the castle was taken again. It was used as a military barracks until 1808.
The Castle's Return to the Harveys
In 1808, Bargy Castle was given back to James Harvey, who was Beauchamp's brother. However, James lived in London and did not take care of the castle, so it started to fall apart. After he passed away, the castle went to Councillor John Harvey. He worked hard to restore it and make it strong again. John Harvey died in 1880 and is buried in a special tomb right in front of the castle's main door. Later, a Mr. Leared rented the castle and made more improvements, including fixing the roof.
The last members of the Harvey family to own Bargy Castle were James Harvey and his wife, Henrietta. Their daughter, Antoinette Harvey, was born in the castle in 1945.
Modern Times: The de Burgh Family
In 1960, Colonel Charles Davison bought Bargy Castle. He was the father of the famous singer Chris de Burgh. The family moved into the castle on December 1, 1960. Just a few weeks later, on December 18, Chris and his older brother Richard were exploring. They found some old explosives, including sticks of gelignite and gunpowder, hidden in a secret passage inside one of the castle towers! Their father believed the explosives were made in Glasgow around 1880, based on the paper wrapped around them.
In July 1961, Maeve Davison (Chris de Burgh's mother, whose maiden name was de Burgh) received permission for the castle to be used as a hotel. She ran the hotel with her husband and her father, Eric de Burgh.
