Ballysaggart Village and Ballysaggartmore Towers

Overview

Ballysaggart is a tranquil village in the heart of County Waterford, situated about 8 km north‑west of Lismore and 25 km south‑west of Fermoy. The settlement provides the basics – a Catholic church, a public house, a shop, a garage and a petrol station – but its real attraction lies a few kilometres away: the dramatic Ballysaggartmore Towers and the surrounding mixed‑woodland walk. The twin Gothic gate towers dominate a short, well‑maintained 2 km loop that is popular with families, photographers and history enthusiasts.

History / Background

The towers were commissioned in 1834 by Anglo‑Irish landlord Arthur Kiely‑Ussher (sometimes recorded as Keily‑Ussher). He owned an 8,000‑acre estate and, eager to impress his wife, ordered the head gardener John Smyth to design an extravagant gateway to a mansion that never materialised. Construction began around 1850; the twin stone towers, a stone bridge and a gate lodge were completed, but the project ran out of money just as the Great Famine (1845‑1849) broke. Ussher’s reputation as a harsh landlord – evicting tenants who could not pay rent – added a sombre note to the unfinished ambition. The main house survived until the Irish Civil War, when it was burned and later dismantled in the 1930s. The roofless towers and bridge lodge have remained a striking, romantic ruin ever since.

What to See & Do

• The Twin Towers – Pointed arches, decorative battlements and a sense of fairy‑tale grandeur make them a magnet for photographers.
• The Bridge Lodge – One of the lodges spans a shallow ravine; the stone‑flagged arch frames the forest canopy perfectly.
• Woodland Loop – A gentle 2 km circuit that takes about 30‑45 minutes. The path winds through mature ash, oak, sycamore, horse‑chestnut, spruce and fir, with holly, hazel and bramble in the under‑storey. A poplar avenue adds seasonal colour, while autumn carpets the ground in gold and amber.
• Benches & Picnic Spot – Wooden benches are placed at scenic viewpoints and a small picnic table sits near the towers, ideal for a quiet break.
• Flora & Fauna – Expect a chorus of birdsong, occasional squirrels, and the ever‑changing palette of the woodland trees.
• Nearby Attractions – The walk is a short drive from Lismore Castle Gardens, the Vee Pass through the Knockmealdown Mountains, historic Cahir Castle, and the Copper Coast Geopark, allowing a flexible half‑day itinerary.

Practical Information