Clonegal
Huntington Castle
A lived-in castle at Clonegal with a 14th century abbey, a 500 year old yew walk and a 17th century barn for the reception.
Ireland
Ballykealey House wedding venue, Ballon, Co. Carlow
A 19th century manor at Ballon, built as a wedding gift, taken exclusively with a ballroom and rooms for 105.
- From €122 per guest
- 1h 20m from Dublin
A closer look
A place with character.
Ballykealey was built after John James Lecky proposed to Sarah Lucia Smith, which makes it a fitting place for a wedding. The Blackstairs Mountains sit in the distance, and the house comes with exclusive use of the manor and its gardens.
Ceremonies can happen indoors or out, including a barnyard setting, and the reception runs in the ballroom. There are 12 bedrooms in the house, two courtyard suites and 15 self-catering lodges, sleeping 105 guests on site. The kitchen is in house.
Before you book
Worth asking.
- What are the minimum numbers for our date and package?
A little more of the place
The feeling, in photographs.
Planning facts
Getting there, the light, and how we checked.
Try your date and guest list
Getting there
For guests travelling in. Driving times are by road without traffic, from Ballykealey House, so allow more at busy times.
- Airports
-
- Dublin Airport 1h 20m 106 km
- Shannon Airport 2h 30m 194 km
- Cork Airport 2h 30m 201 km
- Ferry ports
-
- Rosslare Europort 1h 10m 78 km
- Dublin Port ferry terminal 1h 35m 118 km
- Railway stations
-
- Carlow 20m 17 km
- Muine Bheag 25m 16 km
Railway stations are those on the Irish Rail network, and the nearest by road is not always the best connection. Check the timetable before you plan a guest's day around a train.
Where guests can stay
OpenStreetMap lists 2 places to stay within 10 km of Ballykealey House, and 17 within 20 km. Distances are in a straight line, not drive times.
- Mount Wolseley Hotel Spa & Country Club Hotel 6 km
- Carraig B&B Guest house or B&B 9.8 km
- Carlton Millrace Hotel Hotel 13.2 km
- Lord Bagenal Hotel 13.3 km
- Meadowside B&B Hotel 13.4 km
- Millview House Guest house or B&B 13.7 km
OpenStreetMap is mapped by volunteers and is thinner in rural areas, so treat these counts as a minimum and check booking sites for your dates. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, updated October 2026.
Light through the year
Worked out for Ballykealey House's location on the 15th of each month, in Irish clock time. Golden hour is the last stretch before sunset when the sun is low and warm, a good window for portraits after the ceremony.
| Month | Sunrise | Golden hour from | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:32 | 15:38 | 16:39 | 8h 07m |
| February | 07:45 | 16:46 | 17:36 | 9h 51m |
| March | 06:44 | 17:43 | 18:29 | 11h 45m |
| April | 06:30 | 19:37 | 20:23 | 13h 53m |
| May | 05:31 | 20:23 | 21:15 | 15h 44m |
| June | 05:01 | 20:55 | 21:52 | 16h 50m |
| July | 05:19 | 20:51 | 21:45 | 16h 26m |
| August | 06:07 | 20:08 | 20:56 | 14h 49m |
| September | 06:59 | 19:00 | 19:45 | 12h 46m |
| October | 07:50 | 17:47 | 18:34 | 10h 44m |
| November | 07:48 | 15:39 | 16:35 | 8h 47m |
| December | 08:32 | 15:07 | 16:12 | 7h 40m |
In the national record
The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage lists the country house at Ballykealey House, dated 1825 to 1835 and rated as of regional importance. Record number 10301306. See the record
Source: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, licensed CC BY 4.0. The venue may describe its own dates differently.
How it compares nearby
The three venues most like Ballykealey House within reach, side by side. Distances are in a straight line.
| Venue | Away | Guests | Rooms on site | Exclusive use | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballykealey House | This venue | Ask | Yes | Yes | €122 to €195 per guest |
| Lisnavagh House | 16 km | Up to 160 | Yes | Ask | Ask for prices |
| Burtown House | 29 km | Ask | Yes | Yes | Ask for prices |
| The Abbey Athy | 31 km | Up to 200 | Yes | Yes | From €130 per guest |
How we checked this
- Guests. Ballykealey House hasn't published a capacity we could confirm, so none is shown. Read from the venue's own website, last checked September 2026.
- Price. €122 to €195 per guest. Published by the venue at its own page. Checked September 2026.
- Rooms, exclusive use and catering. Taken from the venue's own website, last checked September 2026.
- Journey times and light. Calculated from the venue's location on OpenStreetMap roads, with sun times from standard solar equations. They are guides, not promises.
Questions about Ballykealey House
- How many guests can Ballykealey House hold?
- We couldn't confirm a capacity from the venue's own site, so ask Ballykealey House for numbers for your date.
- Does Ballykealey House have accommodation?
- Yes, there is accommodation on site, with 105 beds.
- Can you have exclusive use of Ballykealey House?
- Yes, it is listed as exclusive use. Check which buildings, grounds and hours your booking includes.
- How much does a wedding at Ballykealey House cost?
- €122 to €195 per guest. 2027 wedding packages per guest, with minimum numbers of 80 to 130 depending on package. Prices change, so confirm what's included.
- Where is Ballykealey House?
- Ballykealey House is in Ballon, Co. Carlow, Ireland. By road, without traffic, it's about 1h 20m from Dublin, about 2h 30m from Cork, about 2h 50m from Galway.
More in Co. Carlow
See all
Rathvilly
Lisnavagh House
A Tudor Gothic house near Rathvilly with ceremonies in a yew walk or brick barn and dancing in the Garden Wing.