- Garryhill House, Bagenalstown. Carlow
Garryhill House was built by the Earl of Bessborough (Viscount
Duncannon) around 1740 on the site of the ancient Garryhill castle,
originally built by Art Og Kavanagh, King of Leinster . During the last
decade of the fourteenth century, Art Oge McMurragh (King of Leinster)
lived at Garryhill. His house would have been built of a wooden
structure "of clay and wattle made", the roof would have been thatched
and surrounded by a kraal-like compound, housing a sizeable community of
friends and followers. In 1394, Richard II lost his patience with Art,
who had been a thorn in the side of the English for years, and decided
to attack. Richard and his great army crossed the Barrow at
Leighlinbridge, Garryhill was captured and went up in flames.
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- Garryhill House and Cross Roads. Co. Carlow
Art and
his wife were caught by surprise but escaped into the woods. In 1394,
Richard II said goodbye to Garryhill to return to England. The first
Earl of Bessborough, Brabazon Ponsonby, was one of Carlow's largest land
owners with property holdings of 10,578 acres (in addition to approx.
24,000 acres in Kilkenny). The ancient wall of the Garden would suggest
a possible bawn. A date stone incorporated into the gateway to the
Garden displays an engraving of 1696. Soon after serving as Governor
General of Canada between 1931 and 1935 the 9th Earl sold the house to
end 200 years of association with the Bessborough Family.
Source:
http://www.discoverireland.com/
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