Ballyheigue Castle

It was used as a residence of the Crosbie family (including the Bishop of Ardfert and Aghadoe, High Sheriffs of Kerry and members of the UK Parliament) and later as a gaol.

The large two-storey south-facing elevation with the entrance consisted of six bays flanked by three-storey, single-bay circular corner turrets.

He planned to live in England and informed Michael Pierce, captain of the Ballyheigue Company of the Irish Volunteers, that the building was to be occupied by the British military.

Following a sweep across north Kerry from the coast as far as Kilflynn to find IRA members, hundreds of men were detained in outbuildings on the site.

On 14 June 1923, Leen won a case in the King's Bench Division against Lloyd's of London underwriters who argued that he'd neglected to inform them that Crown forces had occupied the site and Sinn Fein members were interned there; he was awarded £9,500 and costs.

During the proceedings, Thomas Clifford, a draper's assistant and IRA officer, admitted starting the blaze with petrol on floorboards after being ordered to destroy the castle.

Ballyheigue Castle, showing the remains of the front elevation.
A romanticised view of Ballyheigue Castle by John Preston Neale , 1818. In reality, there is approximately 200m of land in front and continuous land either side.