Ballysaggartmore Towers: History, Walk Map + Parking

Just outside Lismore in Waterford, hidden in thick woodland, sit the remains of an abandoned vanity project – Ballysaggartmore Towers.

The Towers were built in 1834 by Arthur Kiely-Ussher, a wealthy landlord eager to impress his wife, as the showpiece entrance to what was meant to be the grandest mansion in Waterford.

But the money dried up, and this fairytale gateway led to nowhere. What’s left today is a dramatic Gothic archway, a forest walk, and a window into the excess and downfall of a powerful (and widely disliked) family.

Visiting Ballysaggartmore Towers

Although a visit to Ballysaggartmore‌ Towers in Lismore is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

The Towers are set in gorgeous woodland on the former Ballysaggartmore Demesne, about 2.5 kilometres from Lismore in County Waterford. If you’re visiting Lismore Castle, simply follow the signs for the Towers.

2. Parking

There’s a small car park at the entrance to the Towers (see it here on Google Maps). You’ll rarely struggling to get parking here, but keep in my that it’s one of the more popular attractions in Waterford, so visitor numbers surge at the weekend.

3. The walk

The Ballysaggartmore Towers walk is a 2km looped trail through mature woodland on the old Ballysaggartmore Demesne. It takes around 30–40 minutes to complete, follows a well-maintained gravel path, and passes two ornate Gothic-style towers, a stone bridge, and the ruins of the former gate lodges.

The story behind the Ballysaggartmore Towers

Arthur Keily-Ussher had a jealous wife. She was jealous that her brother-in-law had a nicer/bigger/better castle than Arthur, so she set about getting Arthur to build one just as grand or better.

They already had a house on the estate, but that wasn’t good enough for her Ladyship. Don’t feel sorry for him – he wasn’t a nice man.

In fact, he’s probably better known around Waterford for his awful treatment of his tenants during the Great Famine than for the Folly that is the Ballysaggartmore Towers.

Keily-Ussher had about 8,000 acres, 7,000 acres farmed by tenant farmers and the rest he kept as a demesne around his house. In 1834 work began on an elaborate carriageway, two gate lodges and the vast gates and towers with a bridge between.

Once all this was complete, they began to improve the estate. That seems to have consisted mainly of evicting their sitting tenants and demolishing their cottages. The Great Famine arrived, and with it, poverty for the Keily-Usshers.

They began to run out of money and, in the end, they abandoned their plans to build the grandest house in County Waterford.

The Ballysaggartmore Towers Walk

The Ballysaggartmore Towers walk is one of the lesser-known walks in Waterford, and it’s well worth doing if you’re in the area.

It’s a short walk (around 40 minutes or so) but the trail tends to be quiet and it’s a nice escape if you’ve just visited the busy Lismore Castle Gardens.

Where it starts

The walk starts from the car park here and the entrance to the start of the trail is nice and clear from the get-go.

Length and difficulty

The Ballysaggartmore Loop is a 2km trail that takes around 40 minutes to complete, depending on pace.

Muck and a waterfall

It can be a bit mucky underfoot if it’s been raining, so a pair of walking shoes are advisable. The path is well signposted, and there are lots of benches along the way where you can sit and enjoy the orchestra that is the birdsong.

Key landmarks along the trail

1. Ballysaggartmore Gate Towers: Built in 1834 as part of a grand entranceway, the twin towers are designed in Gothic style and they once marked the beginning of a long carriageway to Ballysaggartmore House
2. The Gate Lodges (Flanking the Towers): These small lodges sit at either side of the towers. Though roofless today, they were originally staffed residences for gatekeepers controlling access to the estate
3. The Bridge Lodge: Further along the trail is a dramatic stone bridge spanning a ravine. This also has an attached lodge structure and was part of the same ornamental gateway system
4. Site of Ballysaggartmore House: The main house, which once stood beyond the towers, was relatively plain in contrast to its entrance. It was destroyed by fire during the Civil War and later dismantled

Things to do nearby

One of the beauties of Ballysaggartmore Towers is that they’re a short spin away from some of the best things to do in Waterford.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from the towers.

1. Lismore Castle Gardens

The historic gardens of Lismore Castle are set on 7 acres within the 17th-century walls of the Castle. They are really 2 gardens as most of the lower garden was created in the 19th Century while the upper, walled garden was constructed in 1605. The layout today is much the same as it was then. The gardens are thought to be the oldest, constantly cultivated gardens in Ireland.

2. The Vee Pass

The Vee, a twisting road through farmland and forest that will ultimately provide you with some of the most spectacular views in the country. In late spring or early summer, the hedges are alive with purple rhododendrons. The Vee rises to 2,000 feet above sea level, which provides incredible panoramic views across Tipperary and Waterford.

3. Ballard Waterfall

Set your GPS for Mountain Barrack to reach the starting point for the trail up to Ballard Waterfall. There’s a car park, and an information board and you must read it as you’ll have to go around an electric fence and you need to know what to do. DO NOT try to cross over it. The walk will take you about 1.5 hours and the track is well signposted and takes you right to the gorgeous Ballard Waterfall.

4. Dungarvan

Dungarvan is one of the most popular holiday spots in Ireland. It’s a great base location to explore the Waterford Greenway and the Copper Coast from. There’s lots of things to do in Dungarvan and there are also some great restaurants in Dungarvan, if you’re feeling peckish.