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Author
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Topic: Need to find this castle by 2-20-04 HELP!
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Robin1851
Member
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posted 01-05-2004 01:14 PM
  
Have you ever heard of Bushnell or Bushell Castle in Ireland? If not do you know where I can find out where it is? It's suppose to be in or around Killarney. I need to find this one before I go to Ireland the end of February. Can someone PLEASE HELP me? Before my dad died in February of 2003 he asked me to find this Castle. I am having trouble locating it. Thanks for any help.. |
Levan
Moderator
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posted 01-09-2004 07:27 AM
I've tried all my usual mechanisms for finding this castle - all have so far drawn a blank - this is very unusual for me, so I suspect that the castle either doesn't exist, or you've got its name wrong (it's not uncommon for castles to be known by several names - officially or otherwise). Obviously, for your sake, I'd love to be proved wrong!Levan |
LadyCasey
Member
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posted 01-20-2004 03:10 PM
I've spent a little time looking myself and have also come up empty handed...since your father died I can see how this can be a bit of a problem...do you know why he wanted you to find the castle? Would it have to do with heritage or something? Something he might have in papers somewhere...all I can suggest is that the name is indeed wrong or maybe the name bushnell or bushell is the surname and not really the name of the castle...don't really know but lots of luck to you!! |
Robin1851
Member
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posted 01-20-2004 10:10 PM
Thanks for the replies.. The name is right, I just have to locate it. My dad wanted me to find the Castle because it was his families Castle at one time, if it isn't still in the family...He wanted me to go over and meet some of the family while there.. I have been told to search the libraries while I am there to see what they have. It could be one of the smaller Castles that aren't advertised like the bigger ones are, such as Ross and Dromoland to name a couple. So for now my search continues...Thanks again..Robin |
Peter
Member
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posted 01-21-2004 02:57 PM
I've also had a look, and can find nothing with that name. Although castles/towers were being built fairly later in Ireland. Maybe it is a place deemed 'castle', but is really a later house ?
Of the other two you mention, Ross is an island castle but I don't know 'Dromoland' ?
The name sounds somewhat strange.
Will keep looking though. |
Robin1851
Member
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posted 01-21-2004 07:40 PM
Peter,
Thanks for the reply, Dromoland Castle is in Shannon... Very beautiful Castle... I will be staying there while in Ireland in March...I am under the understanding that some smaller Castles aren't as well known, which I think may be the case with the one I am looking for... I was told by my father before he died that Bushnell Castle is around Killarney.. So with any luck I will find it when I visit there... Thanks again..Robin |
Peter
Member
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posted 01-24-2004 10:58 AM
Dromoland Castle;
Some 10-miles or so from Shannon airport.
The Castle/Hotel that is there now dates from a complete rebuild in 1858. There have been at least three houses on the site since the original tower house of perhaps the late 15thC, or early 16thC.
The rebuild is probably why it is not listed amongst Irish sites, or in books.
On Bushnell/Bushell;
Still looking. |
Robin1851
Member
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posted 01-24-2004 03:30 PM
Thanks Peter, If you would like a copy of it I can email it to you... When I get back... But you can look on the web, there is a great site that has pictures of both the outside and the grounds as well as the inside... Very Beautiful Castle... Thanks for still looking... If I find it I will be sure to post on here where it is.. Robin |
Peter
Member
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posted 01-26-2004 05:59 PM
Yes, it is a hell of a site.
Looks brilliant.
I wouldn't take a bet on some of the orignal building existing somewhere inside. I will be passing near the castle/hotel later in April. Might even pop by for a look. |
Rory
Member
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posted 02-03-2004 07:43 AM
Robin,Could the 'castle' you're looking for be Bushfield? I could find no castle or castle site in Kerry (with which I'm fairly familiar) called Bushnell or Bushell, but I did find a reference to a large house called Bushfield which was built on the site of/ or perhaps incorporated, a tower house - a form of common Irish later medieval castle which is normally referred to simply as such: a castle. Bushfield House was more commonly known as Kilcoleman Abbey, but sadly it is no longer standing. It was located on the edge of the village of Milltown (about 11 miles north-west of Killarney) and is described in Valerie Bary's "Houses of Kerry" (Ballinakella Press 1994, p147-8) as follows (extracts):
"Present Condition - House: Now no trace. Demesne: One or two old trees left at the entrance gates. A housing estate has been built within the demesne.
Associated families: Godfrey
Features: The original house, Bushfield, was of two storeys, with three bays, believed to have been thatched and with three centrally-placed chimney stacks. The main residence was based on an old tower house whcih was renovated for family use c.1774...
History:John Godfrey, an officer in Cromwell's army, was granted 6,000 acres at Kilcoleman. The first house, Bushfield, was erected somewhere before 1700 and was a modest establishment. It was burned c.1774. William Godfrey, M.P., later the first Sir William, moved into a nearby tower house, about 1774, which he converted to what Beaufort terms 'a neat and good house'.... The Godfreys ... lived at Kilcoleman Abbey until 1949. Soon after this date, the estate was sold... resold...slates removed from the roof and, finally, the entire building was demolished." Could this demolished country house, sometimes known as an abbey, which appears to have incorporated parts of a castle within its walls, be the site you seek? Rory PS: Going back to Bushnell/Bushell (in case the above information isn't relevant to you), I failed to find either name in the Index to the Townlands of Ireland. This book lists all Irish townlands (the smallest unit of land division - parishes are made up of numerous townlands) and most Irish castles (and other archaeological sites) are generally known by the name of the townland in which they are situated. The only similar townland name in Kerry is Bushmount. However, since there is no Bushnell/Bushell townland, there was no point in checking the Sites and Monuments Record for Co. Kerry (the SMR), which is the government drafted list of known archaeological sites in the county (about 9400 in Kerry all told), as the SMR is referenced by townland and map location. This leaves us with the possibility that the castle you're looking for is not known by the name of the townland in which it is situated - for example, the fortified house at Paal East townland, near Kanturk in Co. Cork, is generally known as Kanturk Castle, though government surveys would list it under Paal East. However, I know of no castle in Kerry that is known as Bushnell/Bushell...
[This message has been edited by Rory (edited 02-03-2004).] |
Robin1851
Member
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posted 02-03-2004 11:20 AM
Rory,
It is possible that Bushfield could be the one I'm looking for. If it was owned by the Bushell/Bushnell family at one time. I guess I have some digging to do... Thanks so much for your reply...
Robin
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duncan
Senior Member
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posted 02-06-2004 09:52 AM
I did some digging, made a few calls to Ireland and still had no luck with your search of Bushnell or Bushell.
Wish you the best.------------------
Megan and Ralph at
Castle Duncan,
Castles and Medieval Discussion Forums
Aim duncan1castle
MSN Duncan_Castle1
Yahoo Duncan_Castle1
ICQ 309399435 |
Robin1851
Member
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posted 02-06-2004 10:31 AM
Thanks Duncan, I have come to the conclusion that this Castle is under another name..I will be asking around to the family to see if they remember any stories about the Castle, Maybe something they were told will help in this search. Sometimes the littlest things are whats gives the best clues... Thanks for everything... |
Robin1851
Member
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posted 02-22-2004 07:21 PM
This is a reply I got from genforum.com on this Castle.. Thought it might be of some use in locating it..
Robin,
I don't think this is much help, But i asked a friend living in Ireland about Bushell Castle and this was her reply...
Ohhh, Bushell Castle! A very confusing story! Its heritage is a little confusing and it's not one of those castles which is generally open to the public. As far as I understand a man, who had Galway ancestry, called Adelm de Burgo was sent to Southern Ireland with his brother Hugh ... and the son of Hugh, Richard, built a castle at Galway ... which was, in turn, called Bushell Castle. Although, several places claim this particular castle (Killarney included!) The general acceptance is that this castle was built in Galway and there it still remains (albeit in bits!) Although trying to find it may be a problem Patricia, since it is one of those places which has passed into folklore and many Co's and places within those Counties claim it (including Killarney) I have yet to see any proof whatsoever that it even exists!
Robin
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