Ballykealy Country House Fennagh, Co. Carlow

Carlow County - Ireland Genealogical Projects (IGP ^TM)

Ballykealey County House
Fennagh, Co. Carlow

Ballykealey Country House c.1999.

Source: Google images.

Ballykealey House Ballon County Carlow September-October 1911

Photo by J De Lacy

Map of Ballykealey House c.1840.

Source: OSI Maps

Ballykealey House, Co. Carlow.
Source: Ebay seller

Once the seat of the Lecky family for three centuries, the present house was designed by Thomas A Cobden, built in the 1830s as a wedding present. Gothic arches and Tudor chimney stacks add unique character, and the house is set in well-maintained grounds and promising first impressions are well founded.

Mark Bence-Jones described the present house as a somewhat stylized Tudor-Gothic structure build about 1830 for John James Lecky to the design of Thomas A. Cobden. Tradition has it that before John James married Sara Lucia Smith, in July 1825, her father John Smith of Balby in Yorkshire, insisted that plans be prepared for a new home for his only daughter, and that her generous dowry financed the building of the house.

Source: Ballykealy Country House website & Carlow Library

The information contained in these pages is provided solely for the purpose of sharing with others researching their ancestors in Ireland.