The site has a layered history of ownership that reflects the changing fortunes of Irish landed families. In the late 16th century, it was held by a branch of the Synotts of Ballybrennan in Forth barony, who sold the property to Lord Esmonde of Limerick in 1626. His son, Sir Thomas Esmonde, is credited with rebuilding the castle, transforming it into what the Civil Survey of 1654-6 described as ‘a faire house’. At that time, Sir Thomas owned an impressive estate of 800 acres across Ardcavan parish, encompassing Ballytramon, Ballywish, Ballymartin, Crosstown, Ardcavan, Great Island (now Big Island), Ferrybank, and the mysteriously named Rath & knattan, possibly Knottown.

The castle itself was an oblong structure featuring one, possibly two, diagonally opposed circular towers; a design that suggests it may have been a fortified house rather than a purely defensive castle. This architectural choice would have balanced the need for security with the comfort expected of a gentleman’s residence in the 17th century. The building’s strategic position on the eastern side of Wexford’s inner harbour would have given its occupants commanding views across the water whilst maintaining easy access to the town.

Remarkably, Ballytramon Castle remained occupied well into the late 19th century, surviving centuries of Irish history before finally collapsing in 1940. Today, no visible remains of the structure survive at ground level in what is now a farmyard, though its location can still be identified from the Down Survey parish maps of 1656-8. The complete disappearance of such a substantial building serves as a reminder of how quickly our built heritage can vanish when left unprotected, taking with it centuries of local history and the stories of the families who once called it home.