Ballymore Castle

Ballymore Castle in Lawrencetown, County Galway, Ireland was originally a Madden tower house of the 15th century. A house was added in 1620, and the castle has been much altered since then.

The castle was built in 1585 by John Lawrence on land he had acquired through his marriage to the daughter of O'Madden, Lord of Longford. It was damaged in subsequent wars and repaired by his son, Walter, in 1620. John Lawrence Jnr. was dispossessed by Oliver Cromwell in 1641, having espoused the royalist cause in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

The castle and much of the estate was given to Sir Thomas Newcomen, who leased the castle to the Lawrences for many years. On his death, it passed to his stepson, Nicholas Cusack of Cushinstown, County Meath, who sold it to John Eyre of Eyrecourt about 1720. The Seymour family settled in the castle around 1700. The castle was modernised and a large house added in 1815. Thomas Seymour purchased the castle and lands outright from Giles Eyre around 1824. This family remained in possession of the castle until the early part of this century.

Mrs. Hale, a relative of the Seymours, inherited the estate which was somewhat reduced at this time, a large portion having been acquired by the Irish Land Commission.

References

• Lawrencetwon.com - Ballymore Castle