Overview
Knockelly is ultimately a Jacobean gentleman’s pad, though has served as a stronghold for the Earls of Ormond, a land agents residence for the nearby Grove estate and most recently, an elaborate farmyard. It forms a fascinating insight into social and architectural change within Ireland over 550 years, while setting the scene for charming love stories and local folklore. Throughout its long life, Knockelly has been in the custodianship of just five families.
Technically, Knockelly consists of several buildings, including a towerhouse dating from the mid-1460s that was last remodelled in 1610, and various 19th century agricultural outbuildings, all contained within an enclosure, or a bawn, built in 1560. The bawn wall incorporates gun turrets, bartizans (projecting lookout platforms) and a gatetower – the latter last extended and remodelled in 1830.
In addition to having an intact bawn wall, a rare claim to fame in an Irish context, the diverse range of buildings, built in different centuries, from different fabric and designed for different functions, makes Knockelly a unique insight into Irish social change, as well as architectural advancements in Ireland as influenced by international trends. Accordingly, Knockelly is nationally important and worthy of careful conservation.
As Knockelly was utilised in different ways over the centuries, buildings were either abandoned or repurposed and adapted, often with fabric taken from one building in order modify another. Inevitably, this process led to parts of the site gradually falling into disrepair, with the majority of buildings currently in a semi-ruinous state. A major conservation and restoration project commenced in 2022. It is intended to utilise the on-going works at Knockelly to promote the wider conservation and guardianship of both built heritage and the natural environment.
