WARDTOWN HOUSE, Ballymacaward, Ballyshannon
Wardtown House, Ballymacaward, Ballyshannon
View to Benbulben from Wardtown House
This beautiful old ruin sits in the townland of Ballymacaward 2 and a half miles / 4 km north west of Ballyshannon in County Donegal.
The location is stunning, having views to Wardtown Strand, the Erne Estuary and further to the distinctive Benbulbin mountian, County Sligo.
It is sometimes called a castle (Wardtown Castle or Ballymacaward Castle) but it is more correctly named Wardtown House. It faces towards the distinctive mountain in County Sligo, Benbulben.
It was built and owned by the Ffolliot family who came to Ireland in the 16th century. Building of Wardtown House began in 1739 and completed a year later. That period had a very severe winter and many local emplyed in the building of it. Hugh Allingham (a half-brother to William Allingham) in his 'Ballyshannon: Its History and Antiquities (1879) where he wrote about the building of the house and the local people there employed in the work':
"At the close of 1739 this country was visited with a frost of extraordinary length and severity.It extended into the year 1740, lasting in all 108 days. A period of great scarcity and distress followed, and it was at that time that General Folliott, the owner of Wardtown, decided to build Wardtown Castle, thereby giving employment to the distressed classes of the neighbourhood. The remuneration they received during the progress of the work was sixpence per day and their food. Considering the value of money in those days, this was a liberal allowance and fully equivalent to 2s. per day at the present time. Before the erection of Wardtown Castle, the Folliott family had a residence on their property there.’
The Ffolliot family used it as a residence until the end of the 18th century and thereafter let it out. Interestingly one of the residents who rented the house was Dr. Simon Sheil who was founder of the Sheil Hospital in Ballyshannon.
Eventually the house fell into disuse and ultmately the ruin it is today.
The location is stunning, having views to Wardtown Strand, the Erne Estuary and further to the distinctive Benbulbin mountian, County Sligo.
It is sometimes called a castle (Wardtown Castle or Ballymacaward Castle) but it is more correctly named Wardtown House. It faces towards the distinctive mountain in County Sligo, Benbulben.
It was built and owned by the Ffolliot family who came to Ireland in the 16th century. Building of Wardtown House began in 1739 and completed a year later. That period had a very severe winter and many local emplyed in the building of it. Hugh Allingham (a half-brother to William Allingham) in his 'Ballyshannon: Its History and Antiquities (1879) where he wrote about the building of the house and the local people there employed in the work':
"At the close of 1739 this country was visited with a frost of extraordinary length and severity.It extended into the year 1740, lasting in all 108 days. A period of great scarcity and distress followed, and it was at that time that General Folliott, the owner of Wardtown, decided to build Wardtown Castle, thereby giving employment to the distressed classes of the neighbourhood. The remuneration they received during the progress of the work was sixpence per day and their food. Considering the value of money in those days, this was a liberal allowance and fully equivalent to 2s. per day at the present time. Before the erection of Wardtown Castle, the Folliott family had a residence on their property there.’
The Ffolliot family used it as a residence until the end of the 18th century and thereafter let it out. Interestingly one of the residents who rented the house was Dr. Simon Sheil who was founder of the Sheil Hospital in Ballyshannon.
Eventually the house fell into disuse and ultmately the ruin it is today.
Click on any of the images below to enlarge.
WARDTOWN HOUSE ~ From Buildings of Ireland
Wardtown House interior
"This majestic and sophisticated former country house forms a conspicuous and imposing ruin in the rural landscape to the north-west of Ballyshannon.
Its imposing and rigidly-symmetrical front elevation (south) is notable for the unusual full-height almost tower-like bowed projections to the centre and to either end. A further bowed projection is found to the centre of the rear elevation (north), adding interest to this secondary elevation. These bowed projections are among the earliest examples of such an architectural device in Irish country houses. The rigid symmetry is also evident to the single room deep interior with central entrance hall with bowed projections to either end, large formal rooms to either side with window openings to front and rear, and by the bowed projections to either end which contain elegant circular rooms to the front with surviving plasterwork to the ceilings, and, unusually, stairhalls to the rear at either end. The window openings to the front elevation reduce in scale from the ground floor to the eaves in a typically classical manner, while there elegant segmental heads to the window openings are almost late Baroque in architectural character. Cut stone decoration to the front elevations is kept to the bare minimum with the pronounced eaves cornice adding some interest at roof level.
This building is unusually sophisticated for a building of its type in date in Ireland, and even more unusual to find in rural Donegal. The original architect or designer is not known but it was obviously someone of some architectural ambition and pretension. Rowan (1979) noted similarities between the bowed tower-like projections and the geometry at Wardtown with the small-scale ‘castle idiom’ of Sir John Vanbrugh (c. 1664- 1726), the great English architect. Rowan and Craig also suggested that Wardtown may have been the work of Sir Edward Lovett Pearse, Architect and Surveyor General Ireland of Ireland from 1731 – 33, and the architect credited with introducing or popularising the Palladian style of architecture to Ireland. Indeed there are strong similarities between the design of Wardtown and Arch Hall, County (now also sadly in ruins), a building whose design has been accredited to Pearse. However, Pearse died in 1733 so it may by the work of Richard Castle (died 1751), a partner and probable apprentice (and close relative) of Pearse who designed many Palladian houses in Ireland, though none known in Donegal. Castle did produce an unexecuted design for a country house with towers (IAA). Wardtown House was originally built for a General or Colonel Folliott in 1739 – 40, and replaced an earlier house (location unknown; with three hearths) associated with the Folliott family in the area that was in existence in 1665 (Hearth Money Rolls).
The Folliott family had arrived in the Ballyshannon area during the Ulster Plantation of the early 1600s. The Ballymacaward estate was originally acquired (leased from Trinity College, who owned the land) by the Folliotts in 1616. The first lessee, a Henry Folliott, had served in the military service of the Crown on a number of occasions around the Ballyshannon area during the turbulent 1590s and during the first decade of the 1600s. He was knighted in 1600 for his military prowess and service to the Crown, and was probably created the First Baron of Ballyshannon, c. 1616. A later Henry Folliott, the Third and last Baron Ballyshannon, served as M.P. for Ballyshannon in 1695 - 97. The renewal of the lease between Trinity College and the Folliott family in 1733 stipulated that the lessee build ‘within ten years, a house of lime and stone forty foot by eighteen foot and one and a half storeys high’. Wardstown House, as built, was significantly more substantial than this stipulation. The Folliott family left Wardstown sometime during the late-eighteenth century becoming absentee landlords. Wardstown House was later the residence of Dr. Simon Sheil in 1824 (Pigot’s Directory). It later became the residence of the Likely family, c. 1835, who sub-leased the land from the Folliotts (Trinity College still held ownership). It remained in the Likely family, with an Ellie Likely the last resident, until c. 1916.
The building quickly fell into ruin by the early 1920s and the estate was later broken-up by the Land Commission in the 1930s. This once fine country house is an important element of the built heritage of Donegal, and is one of the more interesting buildings of its type and date in the county. It forms a pair of related sites with the associated outbuilding (see 40910708) to the east, and is a landmark feature in the attractive rural landscape to the north-west of Ballyshannon."
Its imposing and rigidly-symmetrical front elevation (south) is notable for the unusual full-height almost tower-like bowed projections to the centre and to either end. A further bowed projection is found to the centre of the rear elevation (north), adding interest to this secondary elevation. These bowed projections are among the earliest examples of such an architectural device in Irish country houses. The rigid symmetry is also evident to the single room deep interior with central entrance hall with bowed projections to either end, large formal rooms to either side with window openings to front and rear, and by the bowed projections to either end which contain elegant circular rooms to the front with surviving plasterwork to the ceilings, and, unusually, stairhalls to the rear at either end. The window openings to the front elevation reduce in scale from the ground floor to the eaves in a typically classical manner, while there elegant segmental heads to the window openings are almost late Baroque in architectural character. Cut stone decoration to the front elevations is kept to the bare minimum with the pronounced eaves cornice adding some interest at roof level.
This building is unusually sophisticated for a building of its type in date in Ireland, and even more unusual to find in rural Donegal. The original architect or designer is not known but it was obviously someone of some architectural ambition and pretension. Rowan (1979) noted similarities between the bowed tower-like projections and the geometry at Wardtown with the small-scale ‘castle idiom’ of Sir John Vanbrugh (c. 1664- 1726), the great English architect. Rowan and Craig also suggested that Wardtown may have been the work of Sir Edward Lovett Pearse, Architect and Surveyor General Ireland of Ireland from 1731 – 33, and the architect credited with introducing or popularising the Palladian style of architecture to Ireland. Indeed there are strong similarities between the design of Wardtown and Arch Hall, County (now also sadly in ruins), a building whose design has been accredited to Pearse. However, Pearse died in 1733 so it may by the work of Richard Castle (died 1751), a partner and probable apprentice (and close relative) of Pearse who designed many Palladian houses in Ireland, though none known in Donegal. Castle did produce an unexecuted design for a country house with towers (IAA). Wardtown House was originally built for a General or Colonel Folliott in 1739 – 40, and replaced an earlier house (location unknown; with three hearths) associated with the Folliott family in the area that was in existence in 1665 (Hearth Money Rolls).
The Folliott family had arrived in the Ballyshannon area during the Ulster Plantation of the early 1600s. The Ballymacaward estate was originally acquired (leased from Trinity College, who owned the land) by the Folliotts in 1616. The first lessee, a Henry Folliott, had served in the military service of the Crown on a number of occasions around the Ballyshannon area during the turbulent 1590s and during the first decade of the 1600s. He was knighted in 1600 for his military prowess and service to the Crown, and was probably created the First Baron of Ballyshannon, c. 1616. A later Henry Folliott, the Third and last Baron Ballyshannon, served as M.P. for Ballyshannon in 1695 - 97. The renewal of the lease between Trinity College and the Folliott family in 1733 stipulated that the lessee build ‘within ten years, a house of lime and stone forty foot by eighteen foot and one and a half storeys high’. Wardstown House, as built, was significantly more substantial than this stipulation. The Folliott family left Wardstown sometime during the late-eighteenth century becoming absentee landlords. Wardstown House was later the residence of Dr. Simon Sheil in 1824 (Pigot’s Directory). It later became the residence of the Likely family, c. 1835, who sub-leased the land from the Folliotts (Trinity College still held ownership). It remained in the Likely family, with an Ellie Likely the last resident, until c. 1916.
The building quickly fell into ruin by the early 1920s and the estate was later broken-up by the Land Commission in the 1930s. This once fine country house is an important element of the built heritage of Donegal, and is one of the more interesting buildings of its type and date in the county. It forms a pair of related sites with the associated outbuilding (see 40910708) to the east, and is a landmark feature in the attractive rural landscape to the north-west of Ballyshannon."
Click on any images below to enlarge.
WARDTOWN HOUSE ~ Writings from the 1930's
From the National Folklore And Schools Collection (circa 1930s):
"Wardtown Castle is an old ruin in the town land of Wardtown. It is a very big building. There are over a hundred rooms in it. It is only about thirty years ago since it was occupied, the people who lived in it then were of the name of Likleys. The people who lived in it then before the Likleys were of the name of Foillards and Foillard sold it to Likley for fifteen shillings. There is a very big wall around it called the death wall. There are many office houses at it and a good many hay sheds. A few years ago the Wardtown farm was divided among the people of the inhabitants."
And:
"Wardtown Castle was last occupied by a man named Harry Likley about twenty five years ago. A man named Ward first owned it, and because his daughters were drowned in lough Na mBean Fionn he thought there was bad luck in it. He sold the castle to Shiel's for one half crown. Mr. Shiel's sold it to Foillard and he sold to Harry Likley. Many people say that they often heard music about it."
And:
"There is a lake near the Bar called Loch Mon Finn. It ebbs and flows with the tide. There is no bottom to it and three fair ladies who lived in Wardtown castle are supposed to have been drowned there.
An old legend says that there is a crock of gold there. It is supposed that the ladies went out to fetch it and that they got tangled up in the reeds and they were drowned."
And:
"My father told me a story about a hidden treasure that in a Lough in the warren of Wardtown called Lough na mBean Fionn. There were three fair haired girls called Wards drowned in this Lough, and the Lough, and the townland it is in were called after them. One night these three girls left Wardtown castle and were drowned in the Lough. A diver was brought to the Lough and when he went down to the bottom he saw the three bodies, and a crock of gold with a snake twisted around it. He came up again and was offered any money to take up the bodies but he refused."
"Wardtown Castle is an old ruin in the town land of Wardtown. It is a very big building. There are over a hundred rooms in it. It is only about thirty years ago since it was occupied, the people who lived in it then were of the name of Likleys. The people who lived in it then before the Likleys were of the name of Foillards and Foillard sold it to Likley for fifteen shillings. There is a very big wall around it called the death wall. There are many office houses at it and a good many hay sheds. A few years ago the Wardtown farm was divided among the people of the inhabitants."
And:
"Wardtown Castle was last occupied by a man named Harry Likley about twenty five years ago. A man named Ward first owned it, and because his daughters were drowned in lough Na mBean Fionn he thought there was bad luck in it. He sold the castle to Shiel's for one half crown. Mr. Shiel's sold it to Foillard and he sold to Harry Likley. Many people say that they often heard music about it."
And:
"There is a lake near the Bar called Loch Mon Finn. It ebbs and flows with the tide. There is no bottom to it and three fair ladies who lived in Wardtown castle are supposed to have been drowned there.
An old legend says that there is a crock of gold there. It is supposed that the ladies went out to fetch it and that they got tangled up in the reeds and they were drowned."
And:
"My father told me a story about a hidden treasure that in a Lough in the warren of Wardtown called Lough na mBean Fionn. There were three fair haired girls called Wards drowned in this Lough, and the Lough, and the townland it is in were called after them. One night these three girls left Wardtown castle and were drowned in the Lough. A diver was brought to the Lough and when he went down to the bottom he saw the three bodies, and a crock of gold with a snake twisted around it. He came up again and was offered any money to take up the bodies but he refused."
Click on any of the images below to enlarge.
WILLIE REILLY AND COLLEEN BAWN ~ A Forbidden Love
Film poster for Willy Reilly And His Colleen Bawn
From The National Folklore And Schools Collection (circa 1930's):
"There is a famous castle about three miles outside Ballyshannon. It is known as Wardtown Castle. It was there the “Colleen Bawn” lived with her father Squire Folliott. The Colleen Bawn” fell in love with an outlaw, Willie Reilly, but her father would not allow her to marry him. Willie Reilly was arrested and put in jail. The “Colleen Brawn” got sick and lost her memory, and her father was very much upset. So an order was made to release Willie Reilly and he and the “Colleen Bawn” got married."
And:
"Near the Atlantic is Wardtown Castle. It lifts its brow above the encircling sandhills. A romance hangs around the Castle. It was here the Colleen Bawn resided before being betrothed to her lover Willie Reilly.
Prior to the coming of the English, the lands adjoining the Castle were the property of the Mc Wards the historian bards of the O'Donnells."
Over the years there has been great interest in the forbidden love between a Catholic boy and his "Colleen Bawn", Helen Folliard (Ffolliott), the daughter of a powerful Protestant landowner. Their love was forbidden because it happened during Pental Times in Ireland when such a love would not be allowed.
A book published in 1855 and written by one William Carlton, titled 'Willy Reilly And His Dear Colleen Bawn: A Tale Founded Upon Fact' tells the tale of their love.
And at the start of the 20th century, a film (see poster to left here). You can watch a trailer for the old film here WILLIE REILLY AND HIS COLLEEN BAWN .
"There is a famous castle about three miles outside Ballyshannon. It is known as Wardtown Castle. It was there the “Colleen Bawn” lived with her father Squire Folliott. The Colleen Bawn” fell in love with an outlaw, Willie Reilly, but her father would not allow her to marry him. Willie Reilly was arrested and put in jail. The “Colleen Brawn” got sick and lost her memory, and her father was very much upset. So an order was made to release Willie Reilly and he and the “Colleen Bawn” got married."
And:
"Near the Atlantic is Wardtown Castle. It lifts its brow above the encircling sandhills. A romance hangs around the Castle. It was here the Colleen Bawn resided before being betrothed to her lover Willie Reilly.
Prior to the coming of the English, the lands adjoining the Castle were the property of the Mc Wards the historian bards of the O'Donnells."
Over the years there has been great interest in the forbidden love between a Catholic boy and his "Colleen Bawn", Helen Folliard (Ffolliott), the daughter of a powerful Protestant landowner. Their love was forbidden because it happened during Pental Times in Ireland when such a love would not be allowed.
A book published in 1855 and written by one William Carlton, titled 'Willy Reilly And His Dear Colleen Bawn: A Tale Founded Upon Fact' tells the tale of their love.
And at the start of the 20th century, a film (see poster to left here). You can watch a trailer for the old film here WILLIE REILLY AND HIS COLLEEN BAWN .
You can listen to a song about the love affair sang here by Tom Lenihan WILLIE REILLY AND HIS COLLEEN BAWN.
"Arise up Willy Reilly, and come along with me,
I mean for you to go and leave this country,
To leave my father's dwelling, his houses and free land,
And away goes Willy Reilly and his dear Colleen Bawn.
They go by hills and mountains and by yon lonesome plain,
By shady groves and valleys all dangers to refrain,
But her father followed after her, with a well armed band,
And taken was poor Reilly, and his dear Colleen Bawn.
‘Tis home then she was taken, and in her cabin bound.
Poor Reilly all in Sligo jail lay on the stony ground.
Till at the bar of justice, before the judge did stand,
For nothing but for the stealing, of his dear Colleen Bawn.
‘Tis in the cold, cold irons, my hands and feet are bound,
I’m handcuffed like a murderer and, tied unto the ground.
But all this toil and slavery, I’m willing for to stand,
Hoping for to be succoured, by my dear Colleen Bawn.
The jailer’s son to him did go, and this to him did say:
‘Arise up Willie Reilly, you must appear this day.
For great squire Foiler’s anger, you never can withstand.
I’m afraid you’ll suffer sorely, for your dear Colleen Bawn.
This is the news young Reilly, last night that I did hear:
The lady’s oath will hang you, or else will set you clear.’
‘If that be so’, said Reilly, ‘with pleasure I will stand,
Hoping for to be succoured by my dear Colleen Bawn.’
Now Reilly’s dressed from top to toe all in a suit of green,
His hair hangs o’er his shoulders most glorious to be seen.
He’s tall and straight and comely, as any can be found,
He is fit for Foiler’s daughter, was she heiress to the crown.
The judge, said he ‘This lady, being in her tender youth,
If Reily has deluded her, she will declare the truth.’
Then like a moving beauty bright, before him she did stand
‘You're welcome here, my heart's delight, and my dear Colleen Bawn.’
The lady with a tear began, and thus replied she,
‘The fault is none of Reilly’s, the blame lies all on me.
I forced him for to leave his place, and come along with me.
I loved him out of measure, which fraught our destiny.’
Then out bespoke noble Fox, from the table he stood by.
‘Oh, gentlemen consider on the extremity,
To hang this young man for love, is murder you may see,
So spare the life of Reily and let, and leave this country.’
‘Good, my Lord, he stole from her, her diamonds and her rings.
Gold watch and silver buckles, and many precious things.
Which cost me in bright guineas, more than five hundred pounds,
I’ll have the life of Reilly should I lose ten thousand pounds.’
‘Good my Lord, I give them as a token of true love,
And when we are a-parting, I will them all remove,
If you have got them, Reilly, pray, send them home to me.’
‘I will, my loving lady, with many thanks to thee.’
‘There is a ring amongst them I’ll allow yourself to wear.
With thirty locket diamonds, well-set in silver fair.
And as a true love token, wear it on your right hand,
How you’ll think of my poor broken heart, when you’re in a foreign land.’
Again, out spoke noble Fox, ‘You may let the prisoner go.
The lady’s oath has cleared him, as the jury all may know.
She has released her own true love, she has renewed his name,
May her honour bright gain high estate and her offspring rise to fame."
There is a huge amount of information about the song HERE.
"Arise up Willy Reilly, and come along with me,
I mean for you to go and leave this country,
To leave my father's dwelling, his houses and free land,
And away goes Willy Reilly and his dear Colleen Bawn.
They go by hills and mountains and by yon lonesome plain,
By shady groves and valleys all dangers to refrain,
But her father followed after her, with a well armed band,
And taken was poor Reilly, and his dear Colleen Bawn.
‘Tis home then she was taken, and in her cabin bound.
Poor Reilly all in Sligo jail lay on the stony ground.
Till at the bar of justice, before the judge did stand,
For nothing but for the stealing, of his dear Colleen Bawn.
‘Tis in the cold, cold irons, my hands and feet are bound,
I’m handcuffed like a murderer and, tied unto the ground.
But all this toil and slavery, I’m willing for to stand,
Hoping for to be succoured, by my dear Colleen Bawn.
The jailer’s son to him did go, and this to him did say:
‘Arise up Willie Reilly, you must appear this day.
For great squire Foiler’s anger, you never can withstand.
I’m afraid you’ll suffer sorely, for your dear Colleen Bawn.
This is the news young Reilly, last night that I did hear:
The lady’s oath will hang you, or else will set you clear.’
‘If that be so’, said Reilly, ‘with pleasure I will stand,
Hoping for to be succoured by my dear Colleen Bawn.’
Now Reilly’s dressed from top to toe all in a suit of green,
His hair hangs o’er his shoulders most glorious to be seen.
He’s tall and straight and comely, as any can be found,
He is fit for Foiler’s daughter, was she heiress to the crown.
The judge, said he ‘This lady, being in her tender youth,
If Reily has deluded her, she will declare the truth.’
Then like a moving beauty bright, before him she did stand
‘You're welcome here, my heart's delight, and my dear Colleen Bawn.’
The lady with a tear began, and thus replied she,
‘The fault is none of Reilly’s, the blame lies all on me.
I forced him for to leave his place, and come along with me.
I loved him out of measure, which fraught our destiny.’
Then out bespoke noble Fox, from the table he stood by.
‘Oh, gentlemen consider on the extremity,
To hang this young man for love, is murder you may see,
So spare the life of Reily and let, and leave this country.’
‘Good, my Lord, he stole from her, her diamonds and her rings.
Gold watch and silver buckles, and many precious things.
Which cost me in bright guineas, more than five hundred pounds,
I’ll have the life of Reilly should I lose ten thousand pounds.’
‘Good my Lord, I give them as a token of true love,
And when we are a-parting, I will them all remove,
If you have got them, Reilly, pray, send them home to me.’
‘I will, my loving lady, with many thanks to thee.’
‘There is a ring amongst them I’ll allow yourself to wear.
With thirty locket diamonds, well-set in silver fair.
And as a true love token, wear it on your right hand,
How you’ll think of my poor broken heart, when you’re in a foreign land.’
Again, out spoke noble Fox, ‘You may let the prisoner go.
The lady’s oath has cleared him, as the jury all may know.
She has released her own true love, she has renewed his name,
May her honour bright gain high estate and her offspring rise to fame."
There is a huge amount of information about the song HERE.
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DETAILS
PARKING: Yes. But you are on private land and children live in the houses there so drive with absolute care and park with respect. ENTRANCE FEE: No (you cannot enter as it is extremely dangerous, you may just view from the front). FACILITIES: No. Other than if you have paid to enter the adjoining Castle Adventure Open Farm . |