Nestled in the picturesque landscape of Ardmore, County Waterford, lies a mysterious ruin that whispers tales of intrigue, tragedy, and forgotten grandeur. Welcome to McKenna’s Castle, a site that captivates visitors with its rich history and eerie legends.
A Castle Born from Ambition
Originally known as Ardo House, this imposing structure stands about a mile from Ardmore village. Its transformation into the castle we see today began in 1865 when Sir Joseph McKenna, a prominent figure in Irish politics, purchased the property. McKenna, driven by grand visions, added a curtain wall and towers, creating a medieval-inspired masterpiece that would become his family’s legacy.
A Tapestry of Dark Tales
The castle’s history is woven with macabre stories that send shivers down the spine:
- The legend of Costen, an heir caught stealing a gold cup, met a grim fate in a nearby sea cave, earning the place the ominous name “Croch an Oidhre” (the Heir’s Gallows).
- Sir Francis Prendergast’s chilling legacy, including the alleged hanging of a servant whose skeleton was later discovered beneath the dining room floor.
- Whispers of a child buried under the house’s steps add to the property’s haunting aura.
From Grandeur to Ruin
As the years passed, McKenna’s Castle witnessed a gradual decline:
- The last inhabitant, Joseph Emmanuel McKenna, abandoned the house during World War I.
- The Irish Civil War 1922 took its toll, leaving the once-majestic structure in ruins.
- Today, nature reclaims the site, with ivy and wildflowers adorning the crumbling walls.
The McKenna Vault: A Monument to Love
Perhaps the most poignant feature of the estate is the McKenna Vault. This extravagant mausoleum, built by Sir Joseph for himself and his beloved wife, Amelia Annie, is a testament to enduring love. The vault’s inscription, featuring quotes from Tennyson, Shakespeare, and Martin Tupper, paints a picture of profound devotion and loss.
A Hidden Treasure Awaits
While McKenna’s Castle now stands on private land, its allure continues to draw history enthusiasts and adventure seekers. Visitors who glimpse its weathered towers through the surrounding foliage can’t help but imagine the grand life it once housed and the secrets its walls still keep.
As you stand before these ruins, let your imagination wander. Picture the bustling household, the elegant parties, and the whispered conspiracies that once filled these now-silent halls. McKenna’s Castle may be a shadow of its former self, but its stories live on, waiting for those curious enough to uncover them.
Citations:
[1] https://ardmorewaterford.com/mckennas-castle/
We include some further details for those that want to dig a litter deeper
100’s Of Amazing Facts On The Secret Life Of McKennas Castle That No One Is Telling You
Step inside one of the great locations in Ardmore.
And immerse yourself in a medieval palace like no other in Ardmore.
Be transported to a world of intrigue and ambition as you experience the vibrant locations of one of Ardmore’s most popular properties.
Located about a mile from Ardmore on the townland of Ardoginna stands a grouping of towers and battlements known locally as Ardo House and McKenna Castle.
Located on private land a number of different family names have been associated with this site over the centuries.
One of the earliest owners was James Fitzgerald, who was recorded in the Civil Survey 1654 – 1656. In the early 17th Century there was a family by the name of Coster and later that century Sir Francis Prendergast resided there. The Coughlans of Ardo were referred to as the ‘de Casteries’ through whom, by marriage, were Marshall McMahon (President and Marshall of France in 1873). It was from Marshall McMahon that Sir Joseph McKenna purchased the property in 1865. Hence it became known as Mckenna’s Castle and it is located on private land and is now in a ruined state.
Ardo House is said to have some bizarre beginnings and some odd events have fallen upon it over the years.
Early surveyors during the mid 17th century found nothing here worth commenting on, soberly noting that James Fitzgerald of Ardoginna and his wife Ellen had given a 47-year lease to Pierce Power in 1619. However, the name Costen was added as the heir. It is said that Costen was caught trying to steal a gold cup and having fled the house was pursued by his irate guardian. He was then found hiding in a sea- cave nearby and was promptly hanged.
The place was afterward known as Croch an Oidhre (the Heir’s Gallows).
The next owner was Sir Francis Prendergast who is reputed to have hanged a servant whose skeleton was later found under the dining room floor. Strangely also there is also a report of a child being buried under some steps in the house.
Early in the 18th century the house and lands passed into the hands of a family named Coghlan. In 1795, aged 18, Anna, eldest daughter of Madam Coghlan, married the 8th Earl of Barrymore, confidante of the Prince Regent. The Coughlans must have fallen on evil days as there are several accounts of the Widow Coughlan and her smuggling activities, of her two handicapped children and her two beautiful daughters. One daughter became Lady Barrymore and her sister Eliza went to live with her in London, where she met the widowed emigré Duc de Castries. She married him and returned with him to France after the Revolution.
The houses were later acquired by Marshal McMahon (President and Marshal of France in 1873) on his marriage to Elizabeth, daughter, and heiress of the Duc de Castries (Marshal McMahon). It is not fully clear how it came into the ownership of Sir Joseph McKenna but it is thought that he acquired it from the National Bank of which he was a director. He is said to have added the curtain wall and towers plus ah extravagant mausoleum, for his wife and himself. He was laid to rest there in 1906 and the house was then taken by his son, Joseph Emnanuel who apparently lived there until some time during World War 1 after which the house was abandoned.
The mausoleum in the grounds was regarded by Mr.Bence Jones as the “final touch of macabre fantasy. He describes looking through the broken window at the tombs of the McKennas, adding: “Guarding it is an almost life-sized marble angel, comfortable and homely looking as though resting after having eaten a picnic lunch, a most surprising apparition amongst the briars and nettles by the side of the field.”
The angel remains lost in the undergrowth and the house, with its ghosts and its memories.
The McKenna Vault at Ardoe about one mile west of Ardmore near the ruin of Ardoginna House. Inscription reads as follows:
“This monument is erected in deepest love by his wife, Amelia Annie.
My life is like a broken stair leading round a ruined tower leading nowhere. [Tennyson]
Love: What a volume in a word, an ocean in a tear, a seventh heaven in a glance, a whirlwind in a sigh. [Martin Tupper]
See what a grace was seated on this brow; The front of Jove himself an eye like Mars to threaten and command. A station like the Herald Mercury, new-lighted on a Heaven-kissing hill.
A combination and a form, indeed where
Every God did seem to set his seal to give the world assurance of a man.
This was your husband.
[Shakespeare]
Rock of ages cleft for me
Let me hide myself in thee”
Sir Joseph Niall McKenna, former owner of Ardoginna House. [now in ruins], and his wife are buried in this vault. The coffins may be seen through a window at the side.
In 1942 and ITA National Survey wrote about the Ruins of Ardoginna House as being formerly the residence of Sir Joseph McKenna, M.P. Rented to a committee [Rev. James Walsh, Miceul O Foghludha, Dr. Foley, M.D., Muiris de Leis, Labhras O Cadhla and Deuglain O Cuilliu] in 1920. Irish classes were continued here in 1920 and 1921 when Monae House was bought. The house was destroyed during the 1922 Troubles. Mention of this house in John Locke’s poem “The dawn on the hills of Ireland”. This place is known locally as “An Sean-Colaiste”.
Catherine Matthes
Thank you for sharing the story, I was there last Sunday, blown away by Mckennas, love it to bits!