Ballinacor House and estate today
Ballinacor House, Glenmalure, 2000.
The site of the present house is almost certainly the former seat of the Chiefs
of Gabhail Raghnail (branch of the 0 'Byrne clan) the most famous of whom was Feaghe McHugh O'Byrne. In August 1580 he and his kinsmen defeated and routed one thousand English troops who were commanded by the Lord Deputy, Lord Grey. Edmund Spenser, the poet, was his secretary and regarded as "the most trusted and tried Captain of his Army". The disgrace of this defeat was not forgotten however by the English because it is recorded that Feaghe McHugh, who had retaken possession of his traditional wooden house at Ballinacor, was tracked down by Mountjoy and beheaded at Fananeirin, where the present yard stands, in May 1597.
Ballinacor was then burnt and his son Feilim retreated up the hill and built the stone castle known as Feilim's Castle, the site of which is still visible on the eastern slope of Ballinacor Hill.
The Kemmis (Kemeys/Camoys) family came from Monmouthshire in Wales, some of whom were already settled in Ireland in the 17th century. Thomas Kemmis became Solicitor General to the Crown in 1784 and subsequently became a rich man acquiring further lands, including those at Ballinacor. In 1805 his third son William married and was given the Ballinacor
Estate by his father. It is recorded that William borrowed £21000 and commenced building the present fine Georgian House. 'William's Cottage' as it was then called, was originally a small house known as Drumkit Lodge, which (or part of it) formed the front rooms of his new home. The Kemmis family and their heirs remained in ownership of the estate until 1986. Their Coat of Arms is depicted on the side of the house.
Ballinacor House is beautifully situated, facing south east, with a fine vista from the front down a magnificent green valley
flanked by oak woods and groups of specimen trees. Immediately to the rear of the house is a wooded heathery hill, Caran Top, which in turn is crowned by an arc or horseshoe of much higher hills namely Ballinacor, Croaghanmoira and
Fananeirin. The highest point on the estate is just over 2,400 feet above sea level. Half a mile from the house is a 'Spa Well' which was known for its mineral waters since the beginning of the 18th century. Visitors from Dublin frequented the 'Drumkit waters' for their medicinal properties. Beyond Fananeirin yard is a lovely oak walk which eventually leads to the Finger Stone, a huge rock impossibly balanced on the side of a steep rocky hill. From this vantage point can be viewed in detail much of the Glenmalure valley and from here Feaghe McHugh 0 'Byrne and his successors would keep watch for the
movements of the English militia.The estate was rented for many years by the King of Sweden for its shooting faciliites but when he died the loss of of a substantial income forced the then owner Lord Meath, 'Jack' Brabazon to sell it
in 2000 and go to live in Bray, in Killruddery. It is now owned by the Goff family.
In 1999 I visited Ballinacor with Dr.Conor O'Brien, we were looking for the remains of the castle but it was
out of reach for us that day. However the house and surroundings were stunning and what with the history of Glenmalure it was a memorable day.
>back to Glenmalure > back to Wicklow Placenames > Picture Gallery
of Gabhail Raghnail (branch of the 0 'Byrne clan) the most famous of whom was Feaghe McHugh O'Byrne. In August 1580 he and his kinsmen defeated and routed one thousand English troops who were commanded by the Lord Deputy, Lord Grey. Edmund Spenser, the poet, was his secretary and regarded as "the most trusted and tried Captain of his Army". The disgrace of this defeat was not forgotten however by the English because it is recorded that Feaghe McHugh, who had retaken possession of his traditional wooden house at Ballinacor, was tracked down by Mountjoy and beheaded at Fananeirin, where the present yard stands, in May 1597.
Ballinacor was then burnt and his son Feilim retreated up the hill and built the stone castle known as Feilim's Castle, the site of which is still visible on the eastern slope of Ballinacor Hill.
The Kemmis (Kemeys/Camoys) family came from Monmouthshire in Wales, some of whom were already settled in Ireland in the 17th century. Thomas Kemmis became Solicitor General to the Crown in 1784 and subsequently became a rich man acquiring further lands, including those at Ballinacor. In 1805 his third son William married and was given the Ballinacor
Estate by his father. It is recorded that William borrowed £21000 and commenced building the present fine Georgian House. 'William's Cottage' as it was then called, was originally a small house known as Drumkit Lodge, which (or part of it) formed the front rooms of his new home. The Kemmis family and their heirs remained in ownership of the estate until 1986. Their Coat of Arms is depicted on the side of the house.
Ballinacor House is beautifully situated, facing south east, with a fine vista from the front down a magnificent green valley
flanked by oak woods and groups of specimen trees. Immediately to the rear of the house is a wooded heathery hill, Caran Top, which in turn is crowned by an arc or horseshoe of much higher hills namely Ballinacor, Croaghanmoira and
Fananeirin. The highest point on the estate is just over 2,400 feet above sea level. Half a mile from the house is a 'Spa Well' which was known for its mineral waters since the beginning of the 18th century. Visitors from Dublin frequented the 'Drumkit waters' for their medicinal properties. Beyond Fananeirin yard is a lovely oak walk which eventually leads to the Finger Stone, a huge rock impossibly balanced on the side of a steep rocky hill. From this vantage point can be viewed in detail much of the Glenmalure valley and from here Feaghe McHugh 0 'Byrne and his successors would keep watch for the
movements of the English militia.The estate was rented for many years by the King of Sweden for its shooting faciliites but when he died the loss of of a substantial income forced the then owner Lord Meath, 'Jack' Brabazon to sell it
in 2000 and go to live in Bray, in Killruddery. It is now owned by the Goff family.
In 1999 I visited Ballinacor with Dr.Conor O'Brien, we were looking for the remains of the castle but it was
out of reach for us that day. However the house and surroundings were stunning and what with the history of Glenmalure it was a memorable day.
>back to Glenmalure > back to Wicklow Placenames > Picture Gallery