Guide to Irish Castles, Manors, and Country Houses

of THE PROVINCE OF MUNSTER for:

-- Co. CLARE --

Notes: (1) -- M. Bence-Jones, A Guide to Irish Country Houses, London, 1988.

Notes: (2) -- Built beside River "Ratty", Original Castle had "Motte & Bailey". Built in abt. 1250 by Robt. de Muslegros, Anglo-norman, whose dau. & heiress married Sir Wm. Mortimer. It was surrendered to Edw. I, in yr. 1275 and in the following yr. Geoffrey de Gyamul took for the King 'The Castle of Bawred with the Cantred of Tradery." It was then granted to Thos. de Clare, who settle in Thomond in 1277. In 1318 Richard de Clare, the son of Sir Thos., was slain in the battle at Dysert O'Dea, and his widow set fire to the castle and town, and sailed for Englad, never to set foot on Irish soil again. Edw. II, then mad a grant of Bunratty to James Bellafago, but in 1325, it was seized by adherents of the Earl of Desmond, it in 1332, it was taken by King Muircheartach O'Brien of Thomond. In 1353, a new castle was built by the English Justiciar, Sir Thos. de Rokeby. 2 yrs later it was capture by Murchadh O'Brien and from that date until the 17th Cent. it remained in Irish hands.

The existing structure was erected in abt. 1425. In 1642, it was handed over to Cromwell's Army by the 6th Earl of Thomond. In 1645, the English commander was Admiral Wm. Penn, the father of Wm. Penn of PA. Finally, Viscount Gort purchased the ruin and the Office of Public Works set about repairing it...

Notes: (3) --Henry Ivers came to Co. Clare bef. 1658. Amassing a considerable amount of land by virtue of his position as Clerk to the King's Commission for settling the Quit Rents (A tax levied on lands distributed to the settlers by the Govt.) He died in 1691 possessing over 12,000 acres. Henry Ivers eight bought or built the castle (Square-Tower first), it name was Ballyrella", a stone fireplace dated 1648 was saved when Castle was demolished..

Henry's son John inherited it in 1691, represented Co. Clare at the Parliment in Dublin for 16 yrs. He had a house in St. Stephen's Green; it was he who changed the family name of IEVERS. He died in 1731, shortly after his son Henry, Jr. pulled down the old castle. The new building architect was John Rothery (who died in 1736. The house was still unfinished. Rothery's son Isaac completed it). The IEVERS were a military family in the regin of Geo. III.

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