About Ballycurrin House
The acres of land that homes Ballycurrin House & Estate, and its castle ruins, ooze history. Dating back to 1400’s, there is much to know and learn about this now peaceful piece of heaven.
The main house itself dates back to 1760 and was the former home of the infamous Lynch family, the tribe of merchant princes who ruled Galway for some 600 years, but was later burnt down in the 1921 Troubles and left in ruins for almost a century until renovations and restoration began in the 2000’s.
The last Lynch to live there was Charles Lynch, who died in 1897. A supporter of the Land League, Charles established a Gaelic football club among his tenants and gave over his lawns for the sport. Charles and his wife Helena had only one child who died in infancy, so on Charles' death, the estate passed to the Clarkins. One of an American branch of the Lynch family contested the will but to no avail - the 1901 census shows a clatter of Clarkins living there.
In 1914 it was sold to the Congested Districts Board, which in turn passed it to a retired English army officer named Colonel Beddington. He renovated and landscaped it before being hounded out of the place during the Irish war years. Rumours still abound as to who was actually responsible for burning the house down in 1921.
The 14th century Ballycurrin Castle, one of the Lynchs defensive towerhouses, now in ruins, is located in close proximity to the main house on the estate, making the most wonderful backdrop to the overall site.
Down on the lakeshore, though no longer a part of the estate, is Ireland's only inshore lighthouse, said to have been built in the 1700s by Henry Lynch so the steamer from Galway to Cong could get to Ballycurrin House with provisions. Sources differ on that though. Locals favour the version that has Henry Lynch's wife building Ballycurrin Lighthouse so her husband could find his way home from the pub!
In addition, and in more modern times, there are also three additional lodges on the estate and having been sold in 2022, Ballycurrin House & Estate is currently undergoing a new and final facelift.