Ballon. County Carlow

A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland,
by Samuel Lewis. 1837

BALLON, a parish, in the barony of FORTH, county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 3 1/2 miles (S. E.) from Tullow; containing 1439 inhabitants, of which number, 161 are in the village. This parish is situated on the road from Newtown-Barry to Carlow, and comprises 3520 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act: it is principally grazing land; the state of agriculture is much improved; and in Ballon hill is a quarry of fine granite. The gentlemen's seats are Larogh, the residence of J. O'Brien, Esq.; and Altamount, of Nelson St. George, Esq. Fairs are held here on March 28th, and Aug. 12th. It is a vicarage, in the diocese of Leighlin, and is part of the union of Aghade: the rectory is impropriate in Lord Cloncurry. The tithes amount to £220 of which £140 is payable to the impropriator, and £80 to the incumbent. In the R. C. divisions, this parish forms part of the union or district of Gilbertstown, called also Ballon and Ratoe: the chapel, situated in the village of Ballon, is in good repair.

In the village is also a school for boys and girls, for which the school-bouse was built by R. Marshall, Esq.; and there is another at Conaberry. These schools afford instruction to about 160 boys and 160 girls; and there are two hedge schools, in which are about 190 boys and 130 girls.

Images of Ballon

Ballon showing the Bull-tree c.1950's

Ballon RIC Garda Station built c.1830

Church of SS. Peter and Paul, Ballon c.1950's

Mahers Ballon c1950's

Ballon image c.1860 Carloviana 1995

Hunt in Ballon. c1950's

Curtsey of Michael Kealy

Patrick. Morris of Ballon c.1928

The Bull tree
The Bull tree
Source: http://www.ballonvillage.com/site/Bull%20tree.htm

Ballon is situated at the main cross in the village and run by Mick & Attracta (R.I.P.) Kavanagh. Mick's father Tom married May Morris whose family originally owned the premises. The building was erected c.1850.

At that time it was the small corner shop trading as a pub, drapery and small groceries. In c.1985 the stores and bottling room were demolished and the new lounge area was added.

The photograph (courtesy of the Chronicle) was taken about 1928 when it was owned by the P. Morris family.

In the photograph, left to right, are Pat Morris, Garda Michael Lynch and his son John Lynch.

John sent the photograph and now lives in Wexford.

From notes by Nancy Abbey, of Ballon Hill, there was a soup kitchen set up in the yard of the pub during the war.

Source: http://www.ballonvillage.com/site/Kavanagh's.htm

Paper found in Ballon R.C. Register.

Jacob Nowlan of Ravidon in the Parish of Wells, Barny of Idrone West, Carlow states that a servant maid named Margaret Haw lived in his house and in his employment in the Year 1840 as he believes between August and Christmas in said year. She served in his employment for about three months. during the said period a servant man named Hugh Neill, now present, also lived in his house, during that period no other servant man or labouring man lived in his house.

Hugh Neill aforesaid is from the neighbourhood of Ballon in this county. He has since that time heard that the said Margaret Haw was delivered of a child and that he heard it was rumoured that Hugh Neill, now present, was the father of said child.

Sworn before Hugh Faulkner at Ravindon,
24th November, 1841.
(signed) Jacob Nowlan. Hugh Faulkner.

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'They First Arose'

Nationalist, September, 1967.

Ballon writer launches new book.

In the quite village of Ballon, local publican Mr William Nolan last Thursday marked the launching of his novel "They First Arose", ---a two year labour of love --with a pleasant function in his home.

A historical novel, centred around Ballon as it was in the latter part of the 18th century, has as its hero, a local man, Ned Hickey, who was involved in the "98 Rebellion.

Mr Nolan (49) a Carlow County Councillor for twelve years, is married with two children.

Deeply interested in local history and tradition since boyhood days, he started the book as a hobby.

Mr Nolan maintains that we have failed completely in presenting history in an attractive form.

He says: we must present our past in its true light to our young people and we must explain the motivation which eventually led to our independence, but we must do it attractively.

Ballon Ex-R.I.C. Barracks, County Carlow

Survey Plan Scale 8ft to 1 inch. Number 1928.

Source: National Archives - OPW/5HC/4/56 BALLON ex-R.I.C. Barracks County Carlow 1928

Click on image to enlarge

Footnote:

We are very grateful to the writers who endeavored to record events of past times so that they could be recorded permanently for future generations of historians and researchers, but as with all folklore, some facts and events mentioned above may have been embellished by the author to promote or discredit certain groups at the time.

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