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Above: 1734 map of Ballylinch demense: family seat of the Viscounts Ikerrin, later created Earls of Carrick - until they moved across the river to their fine new house, Mount Juliet.
This part of Ireland has very strong Norman associations, particularly with the great Butler family, who have played a large part in the history of Mount Juliet.
The estate as we know it today was originally two separate estates, Walton's Grove and Ballylinch, each with its own separate history.
The Waltons were an ancient Norman family who owned Oldtown, the townland of Mount Juliet. They changed the name Oldtown to Walton's Grove. They were here for centuries, until Cromwell dispossessed William Walton in 1653. An unknown Cromwellian owned Walton's Grove for a short period, but after the Restoration it became the property of James, Duke of York, later James II. James sold it to a Mr Sweet, who in turn sold it to Mr Kendal in 1719. He changed the name to Kendal's Grove.
One stormy winter's night, "Old Mr Kendal" as he was known, was robbed by highwaymen and an important portfolio was taken. He begged the Rev Thomas Bushe to retrieve it for him. Rev Bushe duly caught the robbers and returned the portfolio. Old Mr Kendal was so overcome with gratitude that he left all his property, including Kendal's Grove, to Rev Bushe. Unfortunately, Rev Bushe was wildly extravagant and had to sell all his property to settle his debts. He sold Kendal's Grove to his neighbour, the Earl of Carrick, in 1757 The Earl of Carrick built Mount Juliet on this land.
This part of the estate is now a thriving stud farm and an integral part of the day to day life on the estate. Originally called Bally Inch, which is a translation of the Gaelic "Baile Inse", meaning the peninsulated townland. The townlands and castles of Legan and Ballylinch belonged to Jerpoint Abbey until the Suppression of the Monasteries by Henry VIII in 1541. They were then granted to Thomas, Earl of Ormande (the Black Earl). He in turn granted them to Oliver Grace, a descendant of the Norman adventurer Raymond Fitzwilliam le Gros.
Oliver's son Gerald built Ballylinch Castle and moved here from Legan Castle in 1563. However, the Graces were dispossessed by Cromwell, who granted Ballylinch to one of his followers, Colonel Daniel Redman, in 1654. His daughter Eleanor married James Butler, 3rd Viscount Ikerrin moved their residence to Ballylinch from Lismalin in Tipperary.
In 1757 the Rev Thomas Bushe sold what had formerly been Walton's Grove to his neighbour, Somerset Hamilton Butler, 8th Viscount Ikerrin, 1st earl of Carrick, thus amalgamating the two estates.
The Earl of Carrick built his mansion on the opposite bank of the River Nore and called it Mount Juliet in compliment to his wife, Lady Juliana, always known as Juliet. The family moved their residence from Ballylinch Castle, which was mostly torn down. The Earls of Carrick remained in Mount Juliet from the 1750s until 1914, when they sold the estate to the McCalmont family who lived there until recently.
