posted 02-01-2004 09:40 AM            

"Lord Walter Fitzgerald, Cannon Carrigan and 'Philip Hore' did much work to record and describe those of Kildare and Leix, Ossory and Wexford" ... end of quote.

posted 02-10-2004 09:59 AM            

Castlegregory is a village in county Kerry in southwest Ireland. It is located on the north side of the Dingle Peninsula and there are some remains of a castle there, though not much - mostly just displaced architectural fragments.
According to 'The Houses of Kerry' (by Valerie Bary, ISBN 0 946538 08 5, page 68-9) it was built by Gregory Hoare in about 1550. She doesn't mention that he held the title 'Count' at the time and I'd be surprised if he did - this would be a very unusual title to have in 16th century Ireland. Anyway, Bary goes on to state:
"Bitter feuds were waged between Hoare and his neighbours, the Moores and the Husseys, so that when his son, Hugh, fell in love with Eileen Moore, it was necessary to keep it secret from old Gregory. Embittered by the loss of a new court case against the Moores, he was stricken by paralysis and all his faculties impaired. Hugh determined to marry Eileen in May, 1566, but Gregory realised what had been done and, meeting the wedding party at the door, fell dead with rage. It was an unlucky marriage. Hugh's sympathies were with the Englsih settlers, while Eileen's were with their overlord, Fitzgerald, Earl of Desmond. Their only surviving child, Marian Hoare, fell in love with Walter Hussey and they were married at the sudden death of their parents. Thus Walter Hussey became Lord of Castlegregory, Minard, the Magherees and Ballybeggan.... Their only son, Walter, dies defending Minard Castle in 1649; Castlegregory was fired and blown up at the same time. In 1667 the estate belonged to Thomas Welsted..."

I'm not sure where Bary gets all her information about the site as she provides no references, but I will check other sources and post any further info I find. In the meantime, Castlegregory (the village) is well worth a visit if you're in the country - It's about 17 miles west of Tralee and is beautifully situated between the mountains and the sea. Unfortunately, the castle isn't there anymore...

[This message has been edited by Rory (edited 02-10-2004).]