Locations Nearby Brandon Bay Dingle Harbour Kilmackillogue Harbour Lake Hotel Killarney Rossbeigh Beach The Inch Strand

The townland of Ballynabloun, part of the old O'Connell estate, is situated in beautiful scenic St. Finans Bay, south west Kerry. The meaning in Irish is “Baile na bplann” – the Townland of the Wild Flowers because there is supposed to be a flower for each day of the year.

Ballynabloun has some very ancient remains, including the Landlord's Walled Kitchen Garden built in 1831 by Charles O' Connell, son-in-law of the liberator. It has the remains of a Ringfort, a Souterrain, an oratory and of course a Kitchen Garden which was built in 1831. The soil is good here, especially for the growing of crops, though parts of it rise up to 800ft above sea level.

The Gilleagh Stream rises in the Moyrisk Mountain and flows right through Ballynabloun. There are a few waterfalls in the stream before it enters the bay at Bun na hAbhann. Initially trees lined its banks from the sea to the mountain but now there are only about 50 trees left as some were cut down in 1924. The water in the Gilleagh is said to be the clearest in Kerry.

The O’Connells inherited Ballynabloun back in the 1650’s. They later became landlords of the area before they moved out towards Tarmons and Derrynane. It was Charles O’ Connell who built the Kitchen Garden here with its outdoor chimneys and dug well. He also planted apple trees and gooseberry bushes nearby and they grew in abundance until around 1960.

The views from all parts of Ballynabloun are stunning. From ‘Temple Castle Heights’ one can see as far as the McGillicuddy Reeks on a clear day. From Cum an Easboig facing the north, you can see Portmagee, Valentia, Dingle and as far up as Loop Head in Co. Clare. Looking south you can see Ballinskelligs, Waterville Lohar, Kenmare, the Beara Peninsula and the Bull, Cow and the Calf in Co. Cork.

If you have an interest in filming in this area our house, ‘Temple Cashel Heights’ and farmland would be an ideal location. The farm rises from 300 feet above sea level to the top of the mountain which is in excess of 1014’ – taking in panoramic views of mainland and seascapes as far as West Cork and the Clare coast. There is also a self-catering unit in our house which could be made ready for filmmakers in a short time.