Ballycurrin
This old tower-house, or defensive mansion, consists of a quadrangular
ivy-mantled keep--now somewhat altered for modern purposes--sixty-four
feet long on the south, thirty-nine on the west face, and forty-seven
feet high; but possessing no architectural memorial by which to assign
even a probable date to it; as the dressed stones are not chiselled, but
punched, or what is styled "sparrowpicked"; massive defence
and security having evidently been the main objects of its founders. Both
it and the newer residence are most pleasingly situated on a green slope,
rising from a sheltered little bay, and surrounded by a large park of
well-grown timber. There is no reference to this ancient building in our
histories or inquisitions; and the only legend attaching there to is,
that it was built in the "ould times" by one of three brothers,
the two others of whom erected those of Ballynahinsey and Moceara (possibly
Mac Ceara), with which it forms a triangle. After the Milesian invasion,
our bardic histories say that one of that race, named "Caicer, erected
a castle at Dún Inn, in the West of Ireland." Upon the shore
adjoining Ballycurrin there exists a mound, or earthen tumulus of that
name, and mentioned in Keating's History of Ireland. There is, however,
no mortared structure in Ireland older than the Christian Era. And he
is also of opinion that Ceara, one of the artificers said to have come
over at that time left his name to many localities in Connacht--such as
Loch Ceara, Caiseal Ceara; and in this immediate neighbourhood, Tobar
Ceara and Gáirrín Ceara, or Ceara's well and garden. In
the old quit rent receipts Ballycurrin is called Ballycar, possibly a
corruption or anglicized version of Baile Ceara. In the vicinity was found
the collection of amber beads, and several bronze antiquities, now in
the collection of the Royal Irish Academy.
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