List of country houses in County Carlow

This is a list of the historic "Big Houses" (Irish: teach mór) of County Carlow, Ireland. The term is a direct translation from Irish and refers to the country houses, mansions or estate houses of the historical landed class in Ireland.[1]

Location of County Carlow

This page lists 87 of the most prominent historic big houses in Carlow, which have adequate records associated with them. While many of these houses are currently in private ownership, they are still afforded varying degrees of protection by the Irish government based on whether their architecture or history is considered nationally, regionally or locally important.[2]

At the height of the estates period in the 1800s, Carlow had a greater number of country houses and demesnes per hectare than any other rural county in Ireland. These "big houses" and their occupants dominated the economic and political landscape until the turn of the 20th century.[3] Historian Jimmy O'Toole likens the prevalence of estates within the county to Gloucestershire, England, stating that Carlow was "the most gentrified county in Ireland".[4]

The majority of these houses are listed within the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) and most of the remainder are registered as historic buildings by Carlow County Council.[5] A small number of these houses are not currently listed on any register. This is usually due to significant alteration or demolition prior to the foundation of the NIAH in 1990.

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Big Houses of County Carlow

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Color key Designation
NIAH-listed, Nationally Important Building
NIAH-listed, Regionally Important Building
Protected by Carlow County Council
Not currently on any local or national register
Register No. Big House Historic Family Barony Date Built Status
CW169
Aghade Lodge Roche Rathvilly
52°45′36″N 6°43′48″W / 52.760003°N 6.730035°W / 52.760003; -6.730035 (Aghade Lodge)
c. 1850
Extended 1875
Privately owned
10301326
Altamont House St. George Rathvilly
52°44′09″N 6°43′15″W / 52.735742°N 6.720918°W / 52.735742; -6.720918 (Altamont House)
1780
Publicly owned
Reverted to State ownership in 1999.
CW96
Ardristan House Unknown Rathvilly
52°46′57″N 6°45′01″W / 52.782557°N 6.750210°W / 52.782557; -6.750210 (Ardristan House)
c. 1800
Privately owned
10400614
Bagenalstown House Bagenal Idrone East
52°42′18″N 6°57′18″W / 52.704955°N 6.954884°W / 52.704955; -6.954884 (Bagenalstown House)
c. 1785
Privately owned
10301201
Ballinabrannagh House Hughes Idrone West
52°47′18″N 6°58′53″W / 52.788378°N 6.981310°W / 52.788378; -6.981310 (Ballinabrannagh House)
c. 1850
Remodelled 1910
Privately owned
CW107
Ballintemple House Butler Forth
52°44′01″N 6°59′37″W / 52.733734°N 6.993550°W / 52.733734; -6.993550 (Ballintemple House)
early 1700s
Remodelled 1825
Burnt in 1917, demolished in 1975
Greek-style granite portico still stands
10301704
Ballinvalley House Kealy Forth
52°43′52″N 6°46′56″W / 52.731023°N 6.782150°W / 52.731023; -6.782150 (Ballinvalley House)
c. 1800
Abandoned, ruin
Ballybar House Butler Carlow
52°47′02″N 6°54′49″W / 52.783812°N 6.913737°W / 52.783812; -6.913737 (Ballybar House)
c. 1850
Privately owned
CW118
Ballycormick House Rothwell Forth
52°40′22″N 6°56′01″W / 52.672795°N 6.933480°W / 52.672795; -6.933480 (Ballycormick House)
c. 1830
Privately owned
10301702
Ballydarton House Watson Idrone East
52°42′46″N 6°50′24″W / 52.712719°N 6.839967°W / 52.712719; -6.839967 (Ballydarton House)
c. 1830
Privately owned
Ballyellin House Blackney Idrone East
52°37′36″N 6°58′27″W / 52.626615°N 6.974270°W / 52.626615; -6.974270 (Ballyellin House)
c. 1782
Privately owned
10301306
Ballykealy House Lecky Forth
52°44′50″N 6°46′49″W / 52.747117°N 6.780271°W / 52.747117; -6.780271 (Ballykealey House)
c. 1830
In use as a hotel
10301323
Ballynoe House Ricky Forth
52°45′17″N 6°43′23″W / 52.754622°N 6.723004°W / 52.754622; -6.723004 (Ballynoe House)
c. 1775
extended 1825
Privately owned
CW454
Beauchampville House Beauchamp Idrone East
52°43′20″N 6°56′30″W / 52.722272°N 6.941574°W / 52.722272; -6.941574 (Beauchampville House)
c. 1820
Privately owned
10300309
Beechy Park D'Israeli Rathvilly
52°53′20″N 6°43′42″W / 52.889020°N 6.728213°W / 52.889020; -6.728213 (Beechy Park)
c. 1780
Privately owned
10300202
Bella Vista Unknown Carlow
52°52′15″N 6°55′58″W / 52.87076045°N 6.93284956°W / 52.87076045; -6.93284956 (Bella Vista)
c. 1750
Extended 1790
Privately owned
10300729
Bennekerry House Newton Carlow
52°49′06″N 6°52′43″W / 52.81832005°N 6.87854695°W / 52.81832005; -6.87854695 (Bennekerry House)
c. 1700
Privately owned
10400802
Borris House MacMurrough-Kavanagh Idrone East
52°35′54″N 6°55′35″W / 52.598397°N 6.926456°W / 52.598397; -6.926456 (Borris House)
pre-1700
Extended 1731
Privately owned
10301403
Broomville House Butler Forth
52°45′00″N 6°41′15″W / 52.75006778°N 6.68752165°W / 52.75006778; -6.68752165 (Broomville House)
c. 1815
Privately owned
10300724
Browne's Hill House Browne Carlow
52°49′53″N 6°52′59″W / 52.83147351°N 6.88305996°W / 52.83147351; -6.88305996 (Browne's Hill House)
1763
Extended 1842
Privately owned
10301602
Burgage House Vigors Idrone West
52°43′28″N 6°52′01″W / 52.72442758°N 6.86699044°W / 52.72442758; -6.86699044 (Burgage House)
c. 1765
Privately owned
10300301
Burton Hall House Burton Carlow
52°51′37″N 6°50′43″W / 52.86037142°N 6.84531861°W / 52.86037142; -6.84531861 (Burton Hall)
c. 1730
Privately owned
Existing house is the west wing of the original house, which fell into decay and was demolished around 1900.
10300721
Busherstown House Unknown Carlow
52°49′30″N 6°51′04″W / 52.82495957°N 6.85116832°W / 52.82495957; -6.85116832 (Busherstown House)
c. 1725
Extended 1830
Privately owned
10300843
Castlemore House Eustace Rathvilly
52°48′01″N 6°46′15″W / 52.80028617°N 6.7707606°W / 52.80028617; -6.7707606 (Castlemore House)
c. 1675
Remodelled c. 1874
Abandoned, ruin
Destroyed by fire in 1975
10300742
Castletown House Kavanagh Carlow
52°47′30″N 6°52′49″W / 52.79164745°N 6.88030048°W / 52.79164745; -6.88030048 (Castletown Castle)
c. 1750
Remodelled c. 1835
Privately owned
10300705
Clogrennan House Rochford Idrone West
52°48′29″N 6°58′21″W / 52.80818421°N 6.97248079°W / 52.80818421; -6.97248079 (Clogrennan House)
c. 1815
Ruin
Abandoned in 1923
10301913
Corries House Rudkin Idrone East
52°39′29″N 6°53′51″W / 52.65814492°N 6.89742997°W / 52.65814492; -6.89742997 (Corries House)
c. 1730
Extended c. 1835
Privately owned
10300305
Duckett's Grove Duckett Carlow
52°51′27″N 6°48′50″W / 52.85745466°N 6.81380317°W / 52.85745466; -6.81380317 (Duckett's Grove)
c. 1745
Extended c. 1845
Publicly owned, ruin
Destroyed by fire in 1933
10301632
Dunleckney Manor Bagenal Idrone East
52°42′49″N 6°56′20″W / 52.71355524°N 6.93879728°W / 52.71355524; -6.93879728 (Dunleckney Manor)
1700s
Remodelled c. 1850
Privately owned
10400601
Eastwood House Henley Idrone East
52°42′04″N 6°58′23″W / 52.701176°N 6.972937°W / 52.701176; -6.972937 (Eastwood House)
1755
Extended c. 1840
Privately owned
CW97
Ellen Grove House Unknown Rathvilly
52°47′23″N 6°44′54″W / 52.789853°N 6.748307°W / 52.789853; -6.748307 (Ellen Grove House)
Early 1700s
Remodelled c. 1830
Privately owned
10300702
Erindale Wellington Carlow
52°49′07″N 6°56′47″W / 52.818584°N 6.946488°W / 52.818584; -6.946488 (Erindale)
c. 1800
Privately owned
10300203
Evington House Deane-Tanner Carlow
52°52′06″N 6°55′35″W / 52.868303°N 6.926523°W / 52.868303; -6.926523 (Evington House)
c. 1835
Privately owned
10301648
Fennagh House Pack-Beresford Idrone East
52°41′54″N 6°51′25″W / 52.698222°N 6.857050°W / 52.698222; -6.857050 (Fennagh House)
c. 1840
Privately owned
10400509
Garrison House Tyndall Idrone East
52°44′09″N 6°58′38″W / 52.735882°N 6.977312°W / 52.735882; -6.977312 (Garrison House)
c. 1760
Restored in 1999
Privately owned
10301231
Garryhundon House Butler Carlow
52°45′57″N 6°55′14″W / 52.765820°N 6.920563°W / 52.765820; -6.920563 (Garryhundon House)
c. 1880
Privately owned
Greenbank House Haughton Carlow
52°50′28″N 6°55′45″W / 52.841089°N 6.929031°W / 52.841089; -6.929031 (Greenbank House)
c. 1820
Remodelled 1950
In use as a hotel (Seven Oaks Hotel)
10300842
Hardymount House Eustace Rathvilly
52°47′58″N 6°45′45″W / 52.799452°N 6.762522°W / 52.799452; -6.762522 (Hardymount House)
c. 1820
Privately owned
10301620
Holloden House Vigors Idrone West
52°42′12″N 6°58′43″W / 52.703217°N 6.978733°W / 52.703217; -6.978733 (Holloden House)
c. 1755
Owned by the Royal Oak Distillery
10302001
Hollybrook House Feltus-Burke Forth
52°40′19″N 6°47′33″W / 52.671966°N 6.792423°W / 52.671966; -6.792423 (Hollybrook House)
c. 1765
Privately owned
10400710
Huntington Castle Esmonde St. Mullin's Upper
52°41′26″N 6°38′56″W / 52.690444°N 6.648942°W / 52.690444; -6.648942 (Huntington Castle)
c. 1625
Extended c. 1725 & 1880
Privately owned
10301237
Janeville House Garrett Idrone East
52°44′03″N 6°51′47″W / 52.734298°N 6.862969°W / 52.734298; -6.862969 (Janeville House)
c. 1750
Privately owned
10300718
Johnstown House Bunbury Carlow
52°50′06″N 6°51′02″W / 52.834891°N 6.850684°W / 52.834891; -6.850684 (Johnstown House)
c. 1725
Renovated c. 1840
Privately owned
Kilbride House K'Eogh Forth
52°43′28″N 6°43′07″W / 52.724387°N 6.718662°W / 52.724387; -6.718662 (Kilbride House)
mid-1800s
Ruin
Destroyed by fire in 1927
10302236
Kilcoltrim House Bruen Idrone East
52°35′49″N 6°54′13″W / 52.596964°N 6.903482°W / 52.596964; -6.903482 (Kilcoltrim House)
c. 1750
Abandoned, ruin
10301701
Kilconner House Watson Idrone East
52°43′26″N 6°50′20″W / 52.723904°N 6.838763°W / 52.723904; -6.838763 (Kilconner House)
c. 1650
Remodelled c. 1870 & 1985
Privately owned
CW330
Kilcumney House Murphy Idrone East
52°38′09″N 6°56′24″W / 52.635704°N 6.939933°W / 52.635704; -6.939933 (Kilcumney House)
c. 1840
Privately owned
Kilknock House Lecky Forth
52°45′17″N 6°49′03″W / 52.754766°N 6.817430°W / 52.754766; -6.817430 (Kilknock House)
c. 1840
Demolished in 1940,
Gatehouse remains
CW359
Killedmond Kavanagh Idrone East
52°36′47″N 6°51′19″W / 52.613139°N 6.855158°W / 52.613139; -6.855158 (Killedmond)
c. 1850
Owned by Blackstairs Eco-Trails
Kilgraney House Unknown Idrone East
52°39′13″N 6°57′28″W / 52.653744°N 6.957905°W / 52.653744; -6.957905 (Kilgraney House)
c. 1820
In use as a hotel
10301604
Killinane House Mercer Idrone West
52°43′02″N 6°58′56″W / 52.717109°N 6.982103°W / 52.717109; -6.982103 (Killinane House)
c. 1765
Privately owned
10300736
Kilmeany House Loftus-Townshend Carlow
52°48′43″N 6°53′16″W / 52.811858°N 6.887756°W / 52.811858; -6.887756 (Kilmeany House)
c. 1825
Privately owned
10302410
Knockduff House King St. Mullin's Lower
52°31′12″N 6°54′04″W / 52.520097°N 6.901091°W / 52.520097; -6.901091 (Knockduff House)
c. 1750
Privately owned
10301234
Kyleballyhue House Whelan Carlow
52°46′52″N 6°51′59″W / 52.781058°N 6.866482°W / 52.781058; -6.866482 (Kyleballyhue House)
c. 1808
Privately owned
CW246
Lenham Lodge Butler Carlow
52°46′49″N 6°57′34″W / 52.780180°N 6.959515°W / 52.780180; -6.959515 (Lenham Lodge)
c. 1815
Extended 1840
Privately owned
10300410
Lisnavagh House McClintock-Bunbury Rathvilly
52°51′30″N 6°40′54″W / 52.858390°N 6.681639°W / 52.858390; -6.681639 (Lisnavagh House)
c. 1847
Privately owned
10300801
Littlemoyle House Bunbury Carlow
52°48′22″N 6°50′42″W / 52.806030°N 6.845136°W / 52.806030; -6.845136 (Littlemoyle House)
c. 1865
Privately owned
10301640
Lumcloone House Watson Idrone East
52°43′23″N 6°51′09″W / 52.723142°N 6.852420°W / 52.723142; -6.852420 (Lumcloone House)
c. 1830
Privately owned
10400405
Milford House Alexander Idrone West
52°46′47″N 6°58′02″W / 52.779655°N 6.967148°W / 52.779655; -6.967148 (Milford House)
c. 1820
Privately owned
CW142
Mill House Lambert St. Mullin's Lower
52°33′43″N 6°54′40″W / 52.561943°N 6.910987°W / 52.561943; -6.910987 (Mill House)
c. 1870
In use as a restaurant
10301317
Millpark House Echlin Forth
52°45′20″N 6°43′52″W / 52.755473°N 6.731095°W / 52.755473; -6.731095 (Millpark House)
c. 1710
Privately owned
10300904
Minvaud House Unknown Rathvilly
52°50′10″N 6°33′43″W / 52.836150°N 6.561975°W / 52.836150; -6.561975 (Minvaud House)
c. 1860
Privately owned
10302005
Mount Leinster Lodge Kavanagh Idrone East
52°37′31″N 6°49′11″W / 52.625320°N 6.819713°W / 52.625320; -6.819713 (Mount Leinster Lodge)
c. 1840
Privately owned
10301650
Mount Pleasant House Harvey Idrone East
52°42′08″N 6°51′02″W / 52.702104°N 6.850673°W / 52.702104; -6.850673 (Mount Pleasant House)
c. 1740
Derelict
10301313
Mount Wolseley House Wolseley Rathvilly
52°47′31″N 6°43′18″W / 52.791974°N 6.721541°W / 52.791974; -6.721541 (Mount Wolseley House)
c. 1890
In use as a golf clubhouse
Myshall Lodge Cornwall-Brady Forth
52°41′01″N 6°46′58″W / 52.683681°N 6.782650°W / 52.683681; -6.782650 (Myshall Lodge)
c. 1870
Demolished
Abandoned 1915, burnt down 1922
10301402
Newstown House Cobden Forth
52°45′59″N 6°41′01″W / 52.766383°N 6.683702°W / 52.766383; -6.683702 (Newstown House)
c. 1824
Privately owned
10300206
Oak Park House Bruen Carlow
52°51′56″N 6°54′47″W / 52.865642°N 6.913066°W / 52.865642; -6.913066 (Oak Park House)
c. 1760
Publicly owned
Headquarters of Teagasc
Paulville House Paul Rathvilly
52°50′08″N 6°41′55″W / 52.83556°N 6.69861°W / 52.83556; -6.69861 (Paulville House)
c. 1870
Demolished
10300308
Philipstown Manor Duckett Rathvilly
52°52′54″N 6°44′58″W / 52.881650°N 6.749333°W / 52.881650; -6.749333 (Philipstown Manor)
c. 1745
Privately owned
10300715
Pollerton House Burton Carlow
52°50′46″N 6°53′27″W / 52.846233°N 6.890798°W / 52.846233; -6.890798 (Pollerton House)
c. 1750
Demolished 1970
Gatehouse, historic fencing remains
10300738
Rathcrogue House Unknown Carlow
52°48′15″N 6°52′41″W / 52.804261°N 6.877957°W / 52.804261; -6.877957 (Rathcrogue House)
c. 1780
Remodelled c. 1840
Privately owned
CW453
Rathduff House Bergin Idrone East
52°43′17″N 6°56′31″W / 52.721293°N 6.941919°W / 52.721293; -6.941919 (Rathduff House)
c. 1830
Privately owned
10300311
Rathmore House Paul-Bunbury Rathvilly
52°51′18″N 6°43′42″W / 52.855091°N 6.728435°W / 52.855091; -6.728435 (Rathmore House)
c. 1785
Privately owned
10400502
Rathvinden House McClintock Idrone West
52°44′26″N 6°58′44″W / 52.740635°N 6.978858°W / 52.740635; -6.978858 (Rathvinden House)
c. 1810
Extended c. 1840
In use as a hotel
10301227
Rathwade Lodge Beauchamp-Bartholomew Idrone East
52°44′36″N 6°55′52″W / 52.743435°N 6.931142°W / 52.743435; -6.931142 (Rathwade Lodge)
c. 1835
Privately owned
CW291
Ravenswood House Unknown Forth
52°40′00″N 6°41′11″W / 52.666634°N 6.686426°W / 52.666634; -6.686426 (Ravenswood House)
c. 1825
Privately owned
Russelltown Park House Unknown Carlow
52°51′17″N 6°49′57″W / 52.854739°N 6.832472°W / 52.854739; -6.832472 (Russelltown Park House)
1824
Demolished in 1950
Gatehouse remains
10301310
Sandbrook House Echlin Forth
52°45′31″N 6°45′38″W / 52.758517°N 6.760473°W / 52.758517; -6.760473 (Sandbrook House)
c. 1750
Privately owned
10301707
Sherwood Park Baillie Forth
52°43′38″N 6°43′20″W / 52.727328°N 6.722131°W / 52.727328; -6.722131 (Sherwood Park)
c. 1750
Privately owned
10300746
Springfield House Unknown Carlow
52°49′31″N 6°52′33″W / 52.825363°N 6.875786°W / 52.825363; -6.875786 (Springfield House)
c. 1815
Privately owned
10400328
St. Austin's Abbey Doyne Rathvilly
52°47′57″N 6°44′21″W / 52.799237°N 6.739136°W / 52.799237; -6.739136 (St. Austin's Abbey)
1856
Ruin
Burnt in 1921
10300733
Staplestown House Fishbourne Carlow
52°49′03″N 6°53′02″W / 52.817490°N 6.883925°W / 52.817490; -6.883925 (Staplestown House)
c. 1800
Privately owned
CW78
Straw Hall House Heron Carlow
52°50′53″N 6°55′29″W / 52.848043°N 6.924696°W / 52.848043; -6.924696 (Straw Hall House)
c. 1810
In use as an office
CW357
Thornville House Fennell Carlow
52°51′43″N 6°51′54″W / 52.861992°N 6.865005°W / 52.861992; -6.865005 (Thornville House)
c. 1840
Privately owned
10301647
Upton House LaTouche Idrone East
52°42′18″N 6°51′44″W / 52.705010°N 6.862336°W / 52.705010; -6.862336 (Upton House)
c. 1840
Privately owned
10301631
Wykenham House Bayliss Idrone East
52°42′51″N 6°57′23″W / 52.714220°N 6.956321°W / 52.714220; -6.956321 (Wykenham House)
c. 1840
Privately owned

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Elizabeth Bowen, 'The Big House' in Hermione Lee (Ed.), The Mulberry Tree (1986), p. 26.
  2. ^ "National Inventory of Architectural Heritage". www.buildingsofireland.ie. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  3. ^ McCormack, W.J (1989), "Essay", Eighteenth Century Ireland, 4
  4. ^ O'Toole, pp. 1–3
  5. ^ "Record of Protected Structures" (PDF). Carlow County Council.

Bibliography

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  • O'Toole, Jimmy: The landed gentry in decline – A County Carlow perspective.