Ballinkeele House is steeped in the history and heritage of Ireland. This classical house is one of the most distinguished, early 19th century examples in County Wexford. Designed by Daniel Robertson in 1840, Ballinkeele's architectural merits are quoted in Burkes Guide to country houses and it is also one of Irelands historic and listed buildings.

Ballinkeele was originally the home of the "glorious and tragic" Hays, historians, patriots, soldiers and politicians. The French Revolution and later the 1798 Rebellion urges flourished there. Fr John Murphy was a guest and often walked among the beautiful grounds at Ballinkeele.

John Hay, a former French army officer, was hanged in the grove in front of the house after the defeat of 1798. His brother Philip attained the seemingly impossible for one of his kind, a commission in the British Army.

Edward Hay, the historian and an eyewitness of 1798, instigated from here the gathering of the first competent census by Edward Blake in 1811. Co. Wexford is teeming with similar examples and themes.

John Maher purchased the property from the Hay family in 1824, his family having come originally from Tipperary, where they had three family estates, Tullamacjames, Turtulla and Tullamain Castle.

Now the home of John and Margaret Maher, the house is set in what was once parkland and is now mainly tillage. The entrance gates are a half moon shape made of cast iron and were designed by the original Architect, as were both the sweeping avenues - the village entrance and the one presently in use today.

The church in Ballymurn, built by the Maher family, is well worth a visit. The church has been magnificently endowed by the Mahers and unquestionably their now most famed contribution was a commissioned altarpiece, a pieta by John Hogan, only one of three in Ireland. Beside the church itself is the Maher Morturary Chapel designed by Pugin.

Historic Country House Lodgings in Co Wexford Ireland