Barntown Castle


Barntown Castle is about west of Wexford town on the main Wexford to New Ross road. It is a Tower House in ruins set in the middle of a grazing field. A Georgian mansion has replaced the castle as the residence of the local landowners, currently the Joyce family. The ruins of the castle are used as a cattle shelter. Barntown village and townsland has a Pugin designed Roman Catholic church and a national school. Close by, on the ridge of the hills south of the castle, is a monument to General Clooney famous for his part in the 1798 Rising. This man is referred to as Col. Clooney on a plaque at the ruins of Geneva Barracks, on Waterford Harbour. He also, reputedly, captured a British warship near Duncannon during the 1798 Rebellion. He is buried in St. Mullins.