Hello,
Just returned on 27/6/08 from Ballymoyer. Brought mum back to see her home for last time. My mother was born on the Kennon forge/farm who's land joins to the site of the old Synnot house or the castle as the locals used to call it. My mum has alzheimers now but I do remember her telling me how she went into the old castle, and remembers bullet holes all through the place caused by the black and tans who must have used it as a resting place as they travelled. It was then occupied by a family called the Bells for a while, and then it was gifted to the national trust, who pulled it down as it was probably unsafe. My grandfather worked for the Synnots he was born in 1888 and we think it was from the time 1900-1914 as he went to the US after this but it could have been 1920-30. My great grandmother was the seamstress who sewed for the two Synnot ladies mentioned in the Sword and Blossom book. The Synnot family sadly were looked upon as English and were not liked by some, but my Uncle Hugh says now that they were a lot better employers and landlords than some of the day, and without them Ballymoyer would not have its forests and old cottages which make it such a lovely place to live. He remembers the carriage that used to go up past the farm into Newtownhamilton. He said that on its return during the winter months you would know that the coachman's hands had frozen and the horses were out of control by the sound of the hooves. A strong man would wait before the entrance to the Castle and make a leap at the lead horse to slow it, apparantly this happened all the time.
I have done some research on the Synnot family and visited the old church where the Synnot crypt is. There are only two headstones readable, One of Mark seton Synnot and the other Major General Arthur Hart Synnot, who I think is the father of the Sword and Blossom Synnot.
St Lukes church is still in perfect condition as this was commisioned by the Synnot's for the Church of Ireland. My Great Grandfather and G.G.grandfather would have worked for the Synnot's as blacksmiths in the old Kennon forge which was moved to where it is now for St Malachy's school to be built on.
I hope this answers some of your questions.
Regards Sheelagh