Kilcullen Diary: Talk on Castlemartin fascinates audience

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Talk on Castlemartin fascinates audience

A talk on the evolution of the Castlemartin estate held an audience rapt last evening in Kilcullen Town Hall, writes Brian Byrne. Part of a Heritage Week presentation by Dr Michael O'Connell on a number of local big houses, a further talk on Thursday evening will discuss New Abbey.

A set of models made by retired GP Michael, on display in Kilcullen Heritage Centre during afternoons this week, includes Castlemartin, Jigginstown, Harristown, New Abbey, Old Kilcullen and Ballyshannon Castle.

Introducing himself as a 'Johnny come lately' to local history, Michael said he was no expert in the field, but that he was curious. "It's like being an amateur detective," he said. "There's nothing I like more than going through old documents, looking to find as many 'dots' as I can and then trying to join them in a fashion that displays a plausible picture of what I'm trying to describe." He began constructing models because they made it easier to explain his theories and discoveries.

On Castlemartin he brought his audience back to the late 12th century when the first castle was constructed on the site, subsequent owners being generations of the FitzEustace Le Poer Norman families until the late 17th century when the estate lands were forfeited. He posited the evolution of the original tower house with a manor house extension, based on tiny sketches in old maps, inhabited until it was burned by Parliamentary forces in the mid-1600s.

Moving to the current house, he detailed its construction by Thomas Harrison MP who bought the lands in 1720, adding some discussion on where an older road to Kinneagh may have gone through the estate. The estate was later bought in 1730 by Thomas Carter.

Michael used detail in old paintings of the house to show architectural changes made subsequently, with the estate going into the ownership of the Blacker family in the mid-19th century, and subsequently purchased by the late Dr Tony O'Reilly in 1972. During his refurbishment and extension of the house, it was noted that a section of the original tower house remained under the hallway, a matter confirmed last evening by Jim Kelly, estate manager for Dr O'Reilly for more than four decades, who was in the audience. He also confirmed the existence of the Harrison road, elements of which are still visible. The estate was purchased by John Malone in 2015.

Details about Castlemartin's long history as revealed during Michael's talk were previously unknown to many in the audience, some of whom expressed their thanks at the end for an 'excellent presentation'.

The models in the Heritage Centre attracted fascinated attention before the talk, with the Castlemartin ones proving to be even more interesting afterwards.

Michael will be on hand in the Heritage Centre from 2pm-4pm today, tomorrow and Friday to guide visitors through the model displays. On Thursday night 22 August, he will talk about New Abbey, New Thoughts, beginning at 8pm.