Kinnitty Castle

THE BERNARDS OF CASTLE BERNARD WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN THE KING'S COUNTY, WITH 14,629 ACRES

THOMAS BERNARD (-1720), of Oldtown and Clonmulsh, County Carlow, High Sheriff of County Carlow, 1708, married Deborah, daughter of Matthew Shepperd, of Killerick, County Carlow, and had issue,

Charles, of Bernard's Grove;
Franks, of Castletown;
JOSEPH, of whom we treat.

The third son,

JOSEPH BERNARD (1694-1764), of Straw Hill, County Carlow, and Castletown, King's County, High Sheriff of County Carlow, 1730, wedded, in 1717, Mary, daughter of John Edwards, of Old Court, County Wicklow, and had (with five daughters) three sons,

THOMAS, his heir;
John, Captain RN;
William, of Straw Hill.

Mr Bernard was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS BERNARD, of Castletown, who espoused Jane, Mrs Armstrong, eldest daughter and co-heiress of Adam Mitchell, of Rathgibbon.

Mr Bernard died in 1788, and was succeeded by his only son,

THOMAS BERNARD (c1769-1834), of Castle Bernard, Colonel, King's County Militia, High Sheriff of King's County, 1798-9, and for more than 32 years served as MP for that county, who married firstly, in 1800, Elizabeth, daughter of Henry, 1st Baron Dunalley, which lady dsp 1802; and secondly, in 1814, the Lady Catherine Henrietta Hely-Hutchinson, sister of John, 3rd Earl of Donoughmore, by whom he had issue,

THOMAS, his heir;
Francis;
John Henry Scrope, father of THOMAS SCROPE WELLESLEY BERNARD;
Richard Wellesley;
Frances Margaret; Marguerite.

Colonel Bernard was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS BERNARD (1816-82), of Castle Bernard, Lord-Lieutenant of King's County, 1867-83, High Sheriff of King's County, 1837, Colonel, King's County Militia, who died unmarried in 1882, when the family estate reverted to his cousin,

THOMAS SCROPE WELLESLEY BERNARD JP (1850-1905), Honorary Major, 3rd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, who married, in 1880, Monica Gertrude, sixth daughter of W H Darby, of LEAP CASTLE, Roscrea, and had issue, four daughters,

Marguerite Cecil Elizabeth, m, 1906, Charles J Alexander;
Monica Charlotte Emily;
Kathrine Anne;
Maude Mary Gertrude.

KINNITTY CASTLE, formerly known as Castle Bernard, near Birr, County Offaly, is a landmark building in the area and enjoys commanding views across the surrounding countryside.

This handsome castle was built ca 1833 by the Pain Brothers, important advocates of the Gothic-Revival style in Ireland and architects of Mitchelstown Castle.

Kinnitty displays architectural motifs typical of the style including tall chimney-stacks, gabled elevations, castellated towers and parapets, battered walls and labels to windows.

Built for Thomas Bernard, the estate has played an important role in the economic development of the nearby village of Kinnitty.

The castle was burnt by the IRA in 1922, though rebuilt in 1928 by the Bernard Family who, in 1946, sold it to the 6th Baron Decies, who in turn disposed of the property to the Irish State in 1951.

The Ryan Family acquired the Castle and Estate in 1994 and turned it into a hotel.

The interior survives, much altered.

The Bernards later lived at 30 Saumarez Street, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands.

First published in April, 2012.