Shanbally Castle
Encyclopedia
Shanbally Castle was built for Cornelius O'Callaghan, the first Viscount Lismore
, in around 1810. It was the largest house built in Ireland by the noted English architect John Nash
. The castle—located near Clogheen
, South Tipperary
—was acquired by the Irish Land Commission
in 1954. On 21 March 1960 the castle, after much controversy, was demolished.
, a few academics such as Professor Gwynn and some political voices such as Senator Sean Moylan, the Minister for Agriculture until his death in November 1957, and TD from Mitchelstown, John W Moher. Politically, the Fianna Fáil
Government had no love for houses of the ascendancy and local TD Michael Davern
was in favour of its demolition.
For a brief period it seemed that a purchaser could be found in the form of the London theatre critic Edward Charles Sackville-West, 5th Baron Sackville, who had a tremendous love of the Clogheen
area, which he had known since childhood. He agreed to buy the castle, together with 163 acre (0.65963818 km²), but pulled out of the transaction when the Irish Land Commission
refused to stop cutting trees in the land he intended to buy.
When this sale did not happen, the Irish Government
claimed that it could not find another suitable owner for the castle.
In March 1960, The Nationalist reported the final end of a building which was once the pride of the neighbourhood. "A big bang yesterday ended Shanbally Castle, where large quantities of gelignite and cortex shattered the building," it said. The explosion could be heard up to 10 miles (16.1 km) away.
A statement from the Irish Government
released after the demolition of the Castle said in response to protests favouring the retention of Shanbally Castle for the nation: "Apart from periods of military occupation the castle remained wholly unoccupied for 40 years".
Lismore
-Places:Australia*Lismore, New South Wales, city*Lismore, Victoria, townCanada*Lismore, Nova Scotia, villageIreland*Lismore, County Waterford, town*Lismore Castle*Lismore, County Down, a townland in County Down,Scotland*Lismore, Scotland, island...
, in around 1810. It was the largest house built in Ireland by the noted English architect John Nash
John Nash (architect)
John Nash was a British architect responsible for much of the layout of Regency London.-Biography:Born in Lambeth, London, the son of a Welsh millwright, Nash trained with the architect Sir Robert Taylor. He established his own practice in 1777, but his career was initially unsuccessful and...
. The castle—located near Clogheen
Clogheen, County Tipperary
Clogheen is a village in South Tipperary, Ireland. The latest census of 2006 recorded the population of Clogheen at 509.-Location:It lies in the Galtee-Vee Valley with the Galtee Mountains to the north and the Knockmealdowns in close proximity to the south. The River Tar which is a tributary of...
, South Tipperary
South Tipperary
South Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 52% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county...
—was acquired by the Irish Land Commission
Irish Land Commission
The Irish Land Commission was created in 1881 as a rent fixing commission by the Land Law Act 1881, also known as the second Irish Land Act...
in 1954. On 21 March 1960 the castle, after much controversy, was demolished.
Destruction
The protests against the demolition of Shanbally Castle came from some local sources, An TaisceAn Taisce
An Taisce , also known as the National Trust for Ireland, was established in 1948 with a similar mission to that of the National Trust in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
, a few academics such as Professor Gwynn and some political voices such as Senator Sean Moylan, the Minister for Agriculture until his death in November 1957, and TD from Mitchelstown, John W Moher. Politically, the Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
Government had no love for houses of the ascendancy and local TD Michael Davern
Michael Davern
Michael J. Davern was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Teachta Dála for Tipperary South from 1948 to 1965.He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in the 1948 general election, sitting in the 13th Dáil...
was in favour of its demolition.
For a brief period it seemed that a purchaser could be found in the form of the London theatre critic Edward Charles Sackville-West, 5th Baron Sackville, who had a tremendous love of the Clogheen
Clogheen
Clogheen is the name of several places in Ireland*Clogheen, County Tipperary*Clogheen, County Waterford*Clogheen, County Cork...
area, which he had known since childhood. He agreed to buy the castle, together with 163 acre (0.65963818 km²), but pulled out of the transaction when the Irish Land Commission
Irish Land Commission
The Irish Land Commission was created in 1881 as a rent fixing commission by the Land Law Act 1881, also known as the second Irish Land Act...
refused to stop cutting trees in the land he intended to buy.
When this sale did not happen, the Irish Government
Irish Government
The Government of Ireland is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.-Members of the Government:Membership of the Government is regulated fundamentally by the Constitution of Ireland. The Government is headed by a prime minister called the Taoiseach...
claimed that it could not find another suitable owner for the castle.
In March 1960, The Nationalist reported the final end of a building which was once the pride of the neighbourhood. "A big bang yesterday ended Shanbally Castle, where large quantities of gelignite and cortex shattered the building," it said. The explosion could be heard up to 10 miles (16.1 km) away.
A statement from the Irish Government
Irish Government
The Government of Ireland is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.-Members of the Government:Membership of the Government is regulated fundamentally by the Constitution of Ireland. The Government is headed by a prime minister called the Taoiseach...
released after the demolition of the Castle said in response to protests favouring the retention of Shanbally Castle for the nation: "Apart from periods of military occupation the castle remained wholly unoccupied for 40 years".