William Rowcester, of Bridge of Bargie (Bargie Castle), was pardoned for felony in 1540. He is described as a “horseman,” which, according to Hollinshead was a position next to that of captain or lord. About 1553 Nicholas Roche was granted the wardship and marriage of his son Richard.
The Most Rev. Michael Rossiter, Bishop of Ferns, is supposed by some to have been born in Bargy Castle, in 1648, but the Down Survey maps of 1657 describe the castle as being in ruins.
The last Rossiter to own Bargy was William Rossiter, who took part in the defence of Wexford against Cromwell. His lands were confiscated in 1667, and Bargy Castle was granted to William Ivory, Esq.
After this it passed to the Harvey family, and here Beauchamp Bagnal Harvey was born, who commanded the Wexford insurgents in 1798.
Bargy was confiscated to the Crown, after the suppression of the rebellion; and Bagnal Harvey, who owned the castle, and Colclough were captured on the Saltee Islands and executed at Wexford.
Troops were quartered at Bargy from 1798 to 1808, when the property was restored to James Harvey, brother of the late owner.
It is said that when a detachment of soldiers was sent to take possession of the fortress in 1798 they indulged so freely in the contents of the great wine cellars, that some of them injudiciously disturbed the hives in the garden, whereupon the bees attacked their tormentors with such force that some of the soldiers died from the effects, and others were pursued by the irate insects to the very town of Wexford.
Mr. Harvey lived in London, and the castle gradually fell into dilapidation until his death, when it passed to Councillor John Harvey, who restored it. Major Harvey, who died in 1880, is entombed in a mausoleum before the hall door. The castle was afterwards let to Mr. Leared, who re-roofed and improved it.
Ghostly tappings are reported to be heard on the castle windows between 10 and 11 p.m., while a phantom carriage is said to be sometimes audible driving up the disused avenue, when the horses’ hoofs cease before the old entrance in the keep, and a minute or two later the coach is again heard returning by the old drive.
| Authorities Consulted. |
| Act of Settlement. |
| Down Survey Maps. |
| Fiants of Edward VI. |
| Doyle, “Notes and Gleanings of Co. Wexford.” |
| Madden, “The United Irishmen.” |
| Article and letter in The People. |