Castle Conway facts for kids

Castle Conway is an old castle and grand house in Killorglin, a town in County Kerry, Ireland. Today, only the ruins of one wall are left.

The castle was first called Killorglin Castle. It was built as a strong defense next to the River Laune by Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly. After a big conflict called the Desmond Rebellions, the castle was taken by the King or Queen of England (known as The Crown). It was then given to Captain Jenkin Conway in 1587. This was part of a plan called the Munster Plantation, where new settlers came to Ireland. The Conway family came from Wales. Captain Jenkin Conway's wife, Mary Herbert, was even related to King Henry I of England! This gift of the castle was officially confirmed in 1592.

The castle was in bad shape, so Captain Jenkin Conway's son, also named Jenkin, rebuilt it in 1613. He then named it Castle Conway. Later, the castle was passed on through marriage to Robert Blennerhassett. He was an officer in the New Model Army during the Irish Confederate Wars. These wars caused a lot of damage, and by 1682, the castle was in ruins.

A New Grand Home

Between 1700 and 1710, the Blennerhassett family built a new, grand house on the same spot where the ruined castle stood. They even used some parts of the old medieval castle in their new building. By this time, the family owned about 7,000 acres of land around the castle. This allowed them to build a very large house. Records show it had tall chimneys, a big library, and beautiful terraced gardens that went down to the River Laune. The old chapel was also fixed up and became part of the new house.

In 1792, Harman Blennerhassett inherited Castle Conway. But he sold it just three years later, in 1795, to his relative, Thomas Mullins, 1st Baron Ventry. By 1842, most of the castle had been pulled down. Much of its stone was used to build other buildings in Killorglin. Today, only the stone ruins of one of the original medieval walls remain of Castle Conway.