Thursday, 5 November 2026

Ballygarth Castle, Julianstown.

Ballygarth Castle,

Julianstown, Meath.

Ballygarth Castle in Julianstown lies on private property.

Prior permission to visit is strongly advised.

It was once a simple Tower House but has had substantial alterations throughout the centuries and no longer resembles anything that looks like an original Tower House.

If you look closely at the left front façade you might just be able to discern the original outline of the Tower House which is still "in situ" so to speak.

It is a wondeful bulding and must have looked quite resplendent at one time.

There are several large metal spherical balls outside which look a little like oversized Cannon balls or old Mortar bombs but they are nothing quite so explosive.

They are actually counterweights which were once used to open large doors or gateways.

I had never seen suchlike before so I found that somewhat interesting in and of itself.

The Castle was I believe originally a Netterville Castle.

The Neterville Institute near Dowth in County Meath presumably was built by the same family, albeit at a much later date.

It is today known as Netterville Manor.

The Netterville Institute served as an Almshouse to support widows and orphans.

There is also a Tower House beside the Manor as well as the famous Passage Tomb and Rock art at Dowth.

Back to Ballygarth Castle....

The ruin of a Church beside Ballygarth Castle predates 1600, possibly built in the 14th century though exactly when it was built I'm unsure of.

A stone bearing several inscribed letters and three diamonds with a date carved "1602" is related to the Gifford family. The three diamond symbol identifies their family Crest.