Newbridge House

THE COBBES WERE THE GREATEST LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY DUBLIN, WITH 9,948 ACRES

WILLIAM COBBE, of Steventon, Hampshire, born ca 1450, was father of

JOHN COBBE, of Swarraton (The Grange), who married Army Barnes, and had a son,

THOMAS COBBE, of Swarraton, born ca 1510, living at the time of the Visitation of Hampshire, 1575, when he received from Robert Cooke, Clarenceux King-of-Arms, a ratification of the "armes and chriests of his ancestors."

By his second wife, Agnes, daughter of John Hunt, Thomas Cobbe was father of Richard, BD, Fellow and Vice-President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and one of its earliest benefactors; also of two other sons, joint possessors of the Northington estate, adjoining Swarraton.

By his first wife Margaret, daughter of Edward Beronshaw, Thomas Cobbe had, with other issue,

MICHAEL COBBE (1547-98), of Swarraton, who married Joan, eldest daughter and heiress of George Welborne, of Allington, Dorset, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS COBBE, of Swarraton, 1575, Captain of a foot company, 1634, who married Catherine, daughter of the Ven Owen Owen, Archdeacon of Anglesey and Rector of Burton Latimer, sister of John Owen, Bishop of St Asaph.

By her he had Michael, who married Anne, daughter of Bishop Broomfield, of Titchfield, MP, and had issue, Arthur; Lucy; and

RICHARD COBBE, born in 1607, Knight of the Shire for Hampshire, 1656, who wedded Honor, daughter of Sir Richard Norton Bt, of Rotherfield, and had issue,

THOMAS COBBE, Governor of the Isle of Man, who espoused Veriana, daughter of James Chaloner MP during the Long Parliament, by his wife Ursula, daughter of Sir Philip Fairfax, of Steeton, and had issue,

Richard Chaloner;

William;

CHARLES, of whom presently.

The youngest son,

THE MOST REV AND RT HON DR CHARLES COBBE (1686-1765), successively Lord Bishop of Killala, Dromore, and Kildare, and Lord Archbishop of Dublin, married Dorothea, daughter of the Rt Hon Sir Richard Levinge Bt, Speaker of the House of Commons, and Chief Justice of Common Pleas in Ireland, widow of Sir John Rawdon Bt, of Moira.

The Most Rev Dr Charles Cobbe, Photo Credit: The National Trust

His Grace, who built Newbridge House about 1737, was succeeded by his surviving son,

THOMAS COBBE (1733-98), of Newbridge, MP for Swords, 1759-83, Colonel of Militia, who wedded, in 1751, the Lady Eliza Beresford, daughter of Marcus, 1st Earl of Tyrone, and sister of George, Marquess of Waterford.

By her he had issue (with two daughters), an only son,

CHARLES COBBE (1756-98), of Newbridge, MP for Swords, 1783-90 and 1798, who married Anne Power Trench, sister of William, 1st Earl of Clancarty, and had issue,

CHARLES, his heir;

George, General in the army;

Henry, Vicar of Templeton;

Thomas Alexander, East India Company;

William Power, Captain RN.

The eldest son,

CHARLES COBBE JP DL (1781-1857), of Newbridge, High Sheriff, 1821, espoused, in 1809, Frances, only daughter of Captain Thomas Conway, of Morden Park, Surrey, and had issue,

CHARLES, his heir;
Thomas, Barrister; father of LEURIC CHARLES;
William;
Henry (Rev), Rector of Maulden;
Frances Power.

Mr Cobbe was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHARLES COBBE JP DL (1811-86), of Newbridge, High Sheriff of County Dublin, 1841, County Louth, 1867, who married firstly, in 1839, Louisa Caroline, daughter of George Frederick Brooke, of Summerton, County Dublin; and secondly, in 1883, Charlotte, daughter of the Rev Henry Moore, of Julianstown Rectory, County Meath.

He was succeeded by his nephew,

LEURIC CHARLES COBBE (1859-97), of Newbridge, who espoused, in 1881, Edith Corrine, and had issue,

THOMAS MABERLEY, his heir;
Charles Conway Grahame;
Janet Corrine; Vereana Estelle Beresford.

Mr Cobbe was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS MABERLEY COBBE (1884-1914), of Newbridge, who married, in 1905, Eleanor Colville, second daughter of Colonel Colville Frankland, and had issue,

THOMAS LEURIC;
Francis Charles (1913-49).

Mr Cobbe was succeeded by his elder son,

THOMAS LEURIC COBBE (1912-84), of Newbridge.

NEWBRIDGE HOUSE, near Donabate, County Dublin, was built ca 1737 by Richard Castle for Dr Charles Cobbe, later Lord Archbishop of Dublin.

It consists of two storeys over a high basement.

The ashlar entrance front is of six bays, with a tripartite, pedimented door-case.

There is a broad flight of steps up to the hall door; while the solid roof parapet has urns, with eagles at the corners (not swans!).

Shortly after the Archbishop's death in 1765 his son, Colonel Thomas Cobbe MP, whose wife was Lady Elizabeth Beresford, added an enormous drawing-room and a picture gallery to hold the extensive collection of Old Master paintings.

This room, forty-five feet long, was given a Rococco ceiling.

In the Red Drawing Room, added by them, they lavishly entertained and hung many of their superb pictures, purchased on their behalf by the incumbent of Donabate Church, the Rev Matthew Pilkington, who was well qualified to buy on their behalf, as it was he who composed the first major English Dictionary of Painters.

Their eldest son Charles died in 1770, and the eldest grandson, also Charles, became heir apparent.

He joined the army, served in India and returned to Bath in 1805.

Four years later he married Frances Conway and immediately went to live at Newbridge where he carried out much refurbishing with the aid of his wife's wealth.

It appears that, during the family's absence in Bath, the estate had become run down. Charles' considerable energies were used to build it up again.

He threw down the "wretched mud cabins" occupied by his tenants and built new houses on his estate which were paid for be the sale of some of the family's most prized paintings, viz. The Gastor Poussin and a Hobbema.

In the 1830s, Mr Cobbe sold the finest picture in his collection, a large landscape, in order to rebuild the houses on their mountain estates. It fetched £3,000 at auction, about £300,000 in today's money.

Charles Cobbe died in 1857 and was succeeded by his son, another Charles.

He, in turn died in 1886 leaving no male issue - his estate passing to his wife for her lifetime.

Prior to her death she had persuaded Thomas Maberley Cobbe, a grandnephew of her late husband, to return to Newbridge from America to take over the estate.

He died young in 1914 leaving two infant children, Thomas and Francis, the latter dying in 1949.

Thomas did not marry and on his death, in 1985, he was succeeded by Francis's family, Hugh, Alec and Mary.

*****

IN 1986, Newbridge, complete with many of the original contents on loan, passed from the Cobbe family to Dublin County Council.

The Cobbe family continue to reside at Newbridge House from time to time, due to a unique arrangement which had been entered into between the family and the Council.

The family have use of what had been their dining-room for entertaining; and they can stay upstairs in their own bedrooms.

On display in the coach-house is the magnificent state coach made in London, in 1790, for John FitzGibbon, 1st Earl of Clare, Lord Chancellor of Ireland and a relation of the Cobbes.

The coach had been painted black until restored by the Irish National Museum to its former golden magnificence ~ even the fresco panels had been painted out, probably for the funeral of Queen Victoria.

First published in April, 2011. 

Dunmore House

THE McCLINTOCKS OF DUNMORE OWNED 1,977 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY DONEGAL

This is a branch of an old Scottish family, established in Ireland for upwards of nearly four centuries.

ALEXANDER McCLINTOCK, the first of the family who settled in Ireland, purchased the Rathdonnell estates County Donegal, 1597, and devised them to his only son and heir,

ALEXANDER McCLINTOCK (1622-70), of Trinta, County Donegal, who wedded, in 1648, Agnes Stenson, daughter of Donald Maclean, and had issue,

JOHN, of Trinta, ancestor of the BARONS RATHDONNELL;
WILLIAM, of whom we treat.

The younger son,

WILLIAM McCLINTOCK (1657-1724), of Dunmore, County Donegal, wedded, in 1685, Elizabeth, only daughter of David Harvey, of Dunmore, County Donegal, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;
Mary; Elizabeth (m 1st EARL OF CALEDON);
Margaret; Jane.

The son and heir,

JOHN McCLINTOCK, of Dunmore, held the commissions of Captain in the Militia of Donegal Militia and Tyrone, bearing date respectively of 27 and 30 December, 1745.

Captain McClintock espoused, in 1728, Rebecca, daughter of Robert McCausland, of Fruit Hill (Drenagh), County Londonderry, and had issue,

ROBERT, his heir;
William;
Hannah; Lydia; Elizabeth; Jane.

The eldest son,

ROBERT McCLINTOCK JP, of Dunmore, Captain, Donegal and Tyrone Militias, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1759, Donegal, 1764, married, in 1760, Alice, daughter and heiress of Andrew Patton, of Springfield, County Donegal, and had issue,

John, died unmarried;
Andrew (Rev), Rector of Kanturk and Newmarket;
WILLIAM, of whom presently;
Thomas;
Alicia Anne.

The third son,

WILLIAM McCLINTOCK (1773-1825), wedded, in 1802, Catherine, daughter and heiress of Benjamin Ramage, of Cloghole, County Londonderry, and had issue,

ROBERT, his heir;
Benjamin;
Margaret.

The eldest son,

ROBERT McCLINTOCK JP DL (1804-59), High Sheriff of County Donegal, 1835, espoused, in 1833, Margaret, third daughter of Robert Macan, of Ballynahome House, County Armagh, and had issue,

ROBERT, late of Dunmore;
WILLIAM, of whom hereafter;
Benjamin;
Charles;
Letitia; Alice; Margaret Elizabeth; Emma; Anna Mary; Isabel.

The eldest son,

ROBERT McCLINTOCK JP DL (1838-99), of Dunmore, High Sheriff of County Donegal, 1878, married, in 1881, Jessie Macleod, daughter of C W W Alexander, and had issue,

Hilda Margaret; Vera; Madeline (twin with Vera).

Mr McClintock died without male issue, and was succeeded by his next brother,

WILLIAM McCLINTOCK JP (1841-), of Dunmore, High Sheriff of County Donegal, 1903, Lieutenant-Colonel, Royal Artillery, Superintendent, Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills, 1892-4, wedded firstly, in 1873, Elizabeth Esther, daughter of Samuel Lyle, of Oaks Lodge, Londonderry, and had issue,

ROBERT LYLE.

He espoused secondly, in 1877, Isabella, fourth daughter of George FitzMaurice.

Colonel McClintock's son and heir,

ROBERT LYLE McCLINTOCK CMG DSO (1874-1943), Captain and Brevet Major, Royal Engineers, married, in 1908, Jennie Margaret, daughter of Sir George Casson Walker KCSI.

Robert and Jennie had one son, Lieutenant William McClintock, Royal Artillery, born in 1913 who was paralysed in a riding accident in the 1930s.

Tragically Jennie shot William dead in the walled garden at Dunmore and then shot herself.

When William's fiancée, Helen Macworth, came upon the bodies, she too shot herself.

Colonel Robert McClintock died in 1943 and with him the male line of this branch died out.

DUNMORE HOUSE, near Carrigans, County Donegal, is said to have been built in 1742.

It is aptly described by Mark Bence-Jones in Burke’s Guide to Country Houses, 1978, as

A gable-ended, mid- 18th century house which Dr Craig considers may be by Michael Priestly. 

Two- storey, with an attic lit by windows in the gable ends, five-bay front with central venetian window above tripartite doorway later obscured by a porch. Lower two-storey wing added later. 

Staircase extending into central projection at the back of house.

Following Robert McClintock's death in 1943, Dunmore was sold to Sir Basil McFarland Bt.

Sir Basil's son, Sir John, the 3rd and present Baronet, continues to live at Dunmore with his family.

Amelia McFarland manages the Gardens for weddings and other functions.

First published in April, 2020.

WILLIAM III at Lisburn

KING WILLIAM III's PROGRESS TO THE BOYNE

SECOND STAGE: BELFAST TO LISBURN

After breakfasting at Belfast, His Majesty resumed his advance towards the Boyne; but about two miles on his way to Lisnagarvey (Lisburn) he was overtaken by a heavy shower of rain.

Observing some very large trees near the road, a short distance within the avenue-gate of "Cranmore," the King, with the habit of an old campaigner, took shelter under one of them.

Cranmore House in 1888 (Image: W A Green)

Mr Eccles, however, the gentleman who at that time resided at the place, requested the King and his staff to honour him by making use of his house.

The invitation was accepted, and His Majesty partook of some refreshment; some barrels of home-brewed ale being sent to such of the escort as remained under the trees.

Cranmore House passed from John Eccles to his grandson, Captain Jones; and then to another grandson, Benjamin Legge, of Malone, whose grandson, John Templeton, inherited the property. Following John Templeton's death, the house passed to his son and four daughters. It was subsequently inhabited by Michael McGovern.

The Eccles family came from Ayrshire. Gilbert Eccles (1602-94) was high sheriff of counties Fermanagh and Tyrone. His son was John Eccles (1632-1705); whose only son, Sir John Eccles (1664-1727) served the office of Lord Mayor of Dublin.

As the rain continued without abating, and the King was suffering from severe headache, he consented to repose himself for some hours; after which, as the weather improved towards evening, he resumed his march.

The said house became known as "Orange Grove," a name very probably given to it soon after the King's visit.

The tree which sheltered the King was long an object of interest to his admirers: it was blown down, however, during a violent storm in 1796, the same which dispersed the French fleet off Bantry Bay.

As the King passed through the village of Lambeg, near Lisburn, he was addressed in French by René Bulmer (Boomer), a Huguenot.

Lambeg House (Image: Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum)

The King stopped at Lambeg House, then belonging to the Wolfendens, later the property of Mr Richard Niven.

It was necessary to cross the River Lagan at this part by an ancient ford, and here one of the wagons broke down, which caused some delay.

It was repaired with timber furnished from the neighbouring manufactory of Mr Wolfenden.

There is an entry on record in the Vestry Book of Lisburn Cathedral, stating that His Majesty King William III and army marched through that town in 1690, and encamped at Blaris, on his way to the Boyne; but did not stop there, as he proceeded to Hillsborough.

The army encamped on Blaris Moor, on the part which is now intersected by the road to Dublin; and the place where the cavalry were stationed from this circumstance retains the name of "Trooper Field."

Extracts have been taken from the Ulster Journal of Archaeology, Volume One. 

Castle Bernard

THE EARLS OF BANDON WERE THE SECOND LARGEST LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY CORK, WITH 40,941 ACRES

The house of BERNARD, Earls of Bandon, derives, according to Thomas Hawley, Norroy King of Arms, from SIR THEOPHILUS, a valiant knight of German descent who, in 1066, accompanied WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR into England.

This Theophilus was son of Sir Egerette, and father of

SIR DORBARD BERNARD, the first of his family surnamed BERNARD.

His descendants settled at Acornbank in Westmorland, and in the counties of Yorkshire and Northamptonshire.

Among these we find Robert FitzBernard, who accompanied HENRY II to Ireland, and who, on the King's departure, had Wexford and Waterford committed to his custody.

SIR FRANCIS BERNARD, of Acornbank (the lineal descendant of Sir Dorbard), married Hannah, daughter of Sir John Pilkington, and was grandfather of

SIR HENRY BERNARD, Knight, who married Anne, daughter of Sir John Dawson, of Westmorland, and had four sons, ROBERT, William, Francis, and Charles.

FRANCIS BERNARD, the third son, settled in Ireland during ELIZABETH I's reign and purchased considerable estates.

He died leaving issue, besides two daughters, a son, 

FRANCIS BERNARD, Lord of the Manor of Castle Mahon, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Arthur Freke, of Rathbarry Castle (ancestor of Lord Carbery).

Mr Bernard was killed while defending his castle from an attack of the rebel forces, and left issue (with four daughters, all married), two sons,

FRANCIS, his heir;
Arthur, born in 1666.

The elder son,

FRANCIS BERNARD (1663-1731), was attainted by JAMES II’s parliament, but was restored to his estates by WILLIAM and MARY.

He was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland by QUEEN ANNE, Prime Sergeant, and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas.

Mr Bernard represented Bandon and Clonakilty in parliament.

He wedded, in 1697, Alice, daughter of Stephen Ludlow, ancestor of the Earls Ludlow, and grandson of Sir Henry Ludlow, of Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire (whose eldest son was the famous General Ludlow), by whom he left at his decease,

FRANCIS, his heir;
Stephen, of Prospect Hall;
North Ludlow, father of JAMES BERNARD;
Arthur;
William;
John;
Elizabeth, m 3rd Viscount Charlemont.

The eldest son,

FRANCIS BERNARD (1698-1783), of Castle Bernard, and Bassingbourne Hall, Essex, MP for Clonakilty, 1725-60, Bandonbridge, 1766-76,  espoused, in 1722, the Lady Anne Petty, only daughter of Henry, Earl of Shelburne; but died without surviving issue, when he was succeeded by his nephew,

JAMES BERNARD (1729-90), of Castle Bernard, son of North Ludlow Bernard, MP for County Cork, 1781-90, who married, in 1752, Esther, daughter of Percy Smyth, and heiress of her brother, William Smyth, of Headborough, and widow of Robert Gookin, and had issue,

FRANCIS, his heir;
Rose; Esther; Mary; Charlotte; Elizabeth.

The only son,

FRANCIS BERNARD (1755-1830), MP for Ennis, 1778-83, Bandonbridge, 1783-90, was elevated to the peerage, in 1793, in the dignity of Baron Bandon (coat-of-arms at top); and advanced to a viscountcy, in 1795, as Viscount Bandon.

His lordship was further advanced, in 1800, to the dignities of Viscount Bernard and EARL OF BANDON.

He wedded, in 1784, Catherine Henrietta, only daughter of Richard, 2nd Earl of Shannon, and had issue,

JAMES, his successor;
Richard Boyle (Very Rev), Dean of Leighlin;
Francis;
William Smyth;
Henry Boyle;
Charles Ludlow;
Catherine Henrietta; Charlotte Esther; Louisa Anne.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

JAMES, 2nd Earl (1785-1856), who married, in 1809, Mary Susan Albinia, eldest daughter of the Hon and Most Rev Dr Charles Brodrick, Lord Archbishop of Cashel, and had issue,

FRANCIS, his successor;
Charles Brodrick;
Henry Boyle;
Catherine Henrietta.

• Francis, 1st Earl (1755–1830)
• James, 2nd Earl (1785–1856)
• Francis, 3rd Earl (1810-77)
• James Francis, 4th Earl (1850–1924)
• Percy Ronald Gardner, 5th and last Earl (1904-79).

The 4th Earl was the last Lord-Lieutenant of County Cork, from 1877 until 1922.

CASTLE BERNARD, near Bandon, County Cork, was re-modelled by Francis Bernard, 1st Viscount Bandon and afterwards 1st Earl of Bandon.

He pulled down the two early 18th century fronts in 1798 and began building a new house alongside the old O'Mahony castle, which was joined by a corridor.

It was of two storeys with a nine-bay entrance front overlooking the River Bandon; and a garden front of three bays on either side of a deep curved central bow. 

It was altered and enlarged in Gothic style in the mid-19th century.

Castle Bernard became known as one of the most hospitable houses in Ireland and the house parties held by the 4th Earl and Countess were said to have been legendary.

In an early morning raid on the 21st June, 1921, an IRA gang, under Sean Hales, called at the Castle.

They intended to kidnap Lord Bandon, but "Buckshot" Bandon and his staff had taken refuge in the cellars.

Apparently disappointed in the first object of their call, the IRA decided to burn the house.

Hales was heard to say, "well the bird has flown, so we'll burn the nest."

At that, Lord Bandon and his party appeared from the cellars but it was too late, the fire had started. 

Ironically the IRA carefully took out all the furniture and piled it on the lawn before setting the building on fire.

Lady Bandon had to sit and watch the flames for some hours.

When the flames were at their height, she suddenly stood up in her nightgown and sang God Save the King as loudly as possible, which disconcerted the incendiaries, but while they may not have stood to attention, they let her have her say and did nothing about it.

Lord Bandon was then kidnapped by a local IRA gang and held hostage for three weeks, being released on 12th July.

The IRA threatened to have him executed if the authorities went ahead with executing IRA prisoners of war.

During his captivity, Bandon coolly played cards with his captors, who treated him well.

Tom Barry later stated he believed the kidnapping helped move HM Government towards the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 and the cessation of hostilities.

The elderly Lord Bandon never recovered from the experience and died in 1924.

Some years later, when the last of the IRA burning party died, the 4th Earl was asked to go to the funeral, which he did - in full funeral attire of top hat and morning coat.

Castle Bernard continued to be the home of the 5th Earl and Countess: they built a small house within the Castle boundary walls.

The 5th Earl died in 1979 and, as he had no heir, the titles became extinct.

Lady Bandon died in 1999, aged 102. 

Lady Jennifer Bernard, who inherited the property, lived on the grounds of the castle until she died in 2010.

A modern house was built a short distance from the ruin by the 5th Earl in the 1960s and the uncontrolled growth of trees and ivy gives the building its romantic character. 

There is a huge high window in the curved stairwell which would have been a magnificent feature in its day.

Above the grand doorway and grass covered steps are a fine carved crest and standards. 

Several of the attractive stone window frames are still more or less intact which adds to the appeal of this splendid ruin.

Percy, 5th Earl, GBE CB CVO DSO, Air Chief Marshal, was one of the most senior officers in the RAF. 

In his retirement the 5th Earl discovered the pleasures of fishing, particularly in the River Bandon which was well stocked with salmon, and in shooting, snipe and woodcock found in large numbers near Castle Bernard.

He was also developing an enthusiastic skill as a gardener with a particular knowledge of rhododendrons.

The 5th Earl died on 8 February 1979 at Bon Secours Hospital in County Cork aged 74 and without male issue.

Consequently on his death all the titles became extinct.

He was survived by Lois, Lady Bandon and the two daughters from his first marriage, Lady Jennifer Jane Bernard, of Castle Bernard (b 1935) and Lady Frances Elizabeth Bernard (b 1943).

A portrait in oils (painted 1969) of Lord Bandon, in his uniform as an Air Chief Marshal together with his robes as a peer of the realm, hangs in the main dining hall at the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell.

First published in August, 2011. 

Glanomera House

THE ARTHURS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY CLARE, WITH 10,534 ACRES

The Arthurs are stated to have been originally 'Artureighs', and to derive their descent from a common ancestor with the O'Briens, viz. Cormac Cas, King of Munster. The name, it is further asserted, was anglicised, in common with many others, on the invasion of Ireland by HENRY II, who is stated to have conferred honours and grants of land on one of that name in 1178.

In the records of Limerick, the name of ARTHUR frequently occurs from the earliest period down to the time of CHARLES I, when the family estates in County Limerick were confiscated by the usurper CROMWELL for loyalty to the royal cause.

The Arthurs subsequently removed to County Clare, and became seated at Glenomera. On the municipal roll of the city of Limerick are given the names of no less than forty-eight ARTHURS as mayors etc of that city.

From John Arthur, Mayor of Limerick in 1340, and Sir Dominick Arthur, also Mayor of that city, we pass to Sir Nicholas Arthur, Knight, Mayor in 1591.

Thomas Arthur was Bishop of Limerick in 1470; Richard Arthur was RC Bishop, 1643.

The Rev Geoffrey Arthur, of the Church of Rome, Treasurer of Limerick Cathedral, died in 1519, and was buried there, where his monument, with a curious Latin inscription, may still be seen.

Edward Arthur was MP for the city of Limerick, 1599; and Thomas Arthur, MP in 1585.

THOMAS ARTHUR, of Glanomera, son of Piers Arthur, wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Captain John Butler, heiress of the BUTLERS of Kilmoyler, County Tipperary, descended from the 9th Earl of Ormonde and the 11th Earl of Desmond; and was father of

THOMAS ARTHUR DL, of Glanomera, who wedded Lucy, fourth daughter of Sir Edward O'Brien Bt, of Dromoland, and left by her at his decease, 1803 (with a daughter, Mary), an only son and successor, 

THOMAS ARTHUR DL (1778-1845), of Glanomera, who espoused, in 1803, Harriet, second daughter and co-heir (with her only sister, Charlotte, wife of Sir Edward O'Brien Bt, of Dromoland) of William Smith, of Cahermoyle, County Limerick, and had (with nine daughters) seven sons,

THOMAS, his heir;
William Smith;
LUCIUS (Rev);
Edward;
Augustus;
Henry;
Frederick Brian Boru (Rev).

Mr Arthur was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS ARTHUR (1806-84),  of Glanomera, who wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Captain John Butler, of Kilmoyler, descended from Piers, seventh son of James, 9th Earl of Ormonde.

He was succeeded by his brother,

THE REV LUCIUS ARTHUR (1810-87), of Glanomera, who married, in 1840, Caroline Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of John Haycock Jervis, of Moseley, Warwickshire, and had issue,

THOMAS LUCIUS JERVIS, his heir;
Edward Henry Frederick;
Charles William Augustus;
Harriet Elizabeth Augusta; Ellen Lucy Julia; Maria Anne Florence;
Charlotte Katherine Susan; Grace Caroline Frances.

The eldest son,

THOMAS LUCIUS JERVIS ARTHUR JP (1847-88), of Glanomera, Captain, 6th R V Regiment, married, in 1881, Constance Helen, daughter of William Steele Studdert, of Clonboy, County Clare, by Constance his wife, daughter of Robert George Massy, and had issue,

CHARLES WILLIAM AUGUSTUS, his heir;
Desmond Phelps Pery Lucius Studdert, b 1884.

His elder son, 

CHARLES WILLIAM AUGUSTUS ARTHUR (1882-), of Glanomera, County Clare, wedded, in 1904, Rose Violet, daughter of John Joseph Roche-Kelly, of Rockstown Castle and Islandmore, County Limerick, and had issue,

Charles Augustus, died in infancy;
LUCIUS, of whom hereafter.

His second son, 

LUCIUS ARTHUR, born in 1913, was the grandfather of the surviving members of that line.

Photo Credit: Limerick City Museum; © Michael Kelly; Paul Kelly

GLANOMERA HOUSE, County Clare, was burnt in 1905.

Select Bibliography: Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland, 1912, page 15.   First published in March, 2013.

Chief Secretary's Lodge

THE CHIEF SECRETARY'S LODGE (Deerfield), Phoenix Park, Dublin, was originally built by Sir John Blaquiere, 1st Baron de Blaquiere, and became the Chief Secretary for Ireland's official residence in the late 18th century.

The Chief Secretary for Ireland, a position analogous to Prime Minister, had his office within Dublin Castle.

The office was abrogated when Éire (as it was then called) seceded from the United Kingdom in 1922.

It is now the official residence of the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland.

Colonel John Blaquiere came to Ireland as Chief Secretary to the Viceroy, Lord Harcourt, in 1772.

Like Viceregal Lodge (Áras an Uachtaráin) across the road (former residence of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland), the Chief Secretary's Lodge, or Deerfield as it is now called, is surrounded by its own sixty-acre park, with wonderful views of the Dublin mountains.

The Lodge, which cost £8,000 to build, comprises two storeys with two projecting bowed ends facing southwards.

There were two principal reception rooms.

A commodious staircase hall is bedecked with American flags and presidential portraits.

The brilliant white porte-cochère admits visitors under a large bust of President Lincoln.

The architect of the Lodge, with its immaculate walled gardens, fruit trees and glass-houses, is unknown.

In 1784, the house was acquired by HM Government as an official residence for the Chief Secretary for Ireland, analogous with the office of prime minister.

Illustrious occupants have included the Hon Sir Arthur Wellesley (1st Duke of Wellington), Lord Castlereagh, Sir Robert Peel and Lord Randolph Churchill.

Sir Winston Churchill, as a small boy, roamed the gardens and woods and took great delight in riding up and down the paths in his donkey and cart.

In 1927, the United States sent its first envoy, Fred Sterling, to the newly-formed Irish Free State.

Mrs Sterling noticed the empty house whilst walking in Phoenix Park, told her husband she'd found the ideal residence for him, and Deerfield has remained a part of American soil ever since.

First published in September, 2011.

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Castleboro House

THE BARONS CAREW WERE THE GREATEST LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY WEXFORD, WITH 17,830 ACRES

The CAREWS are one of the few families now remaining who can trace their descent without intermission from the Anglo-Saxon period of English history. For a long series of years, they maintained an elevated position among the landed proprietors of Devon.

A scion of the English stock settling in Ireland was ancestor of the CAREWS of that kingdom, of whom,

ROBERT CAREW wedded Anne, sister of Lawrence Hyde, of Cottington, and had issue,

ROBERT, his heir;

Lawrence;

Peter;

William;

Richard;

Henry.

Mr Carew died before June, 1661, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

ROBERT CAREW JP, of Bally Born, County Wexford, High Sheriff of County Waterford, 1711, who married, in 1710, Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of John Shapland, a wealthy merchant of Wexford, and had issue,

ROBERT, his heir;
SHAPLAND, succeeded his brother;
Thomas, of Ballinamona;
Ellen.

Mr Carew died in 1721, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

ROBERT CAREW, of Castle Boro, MP for Waterford, 1740, who dsp and was succeeded by his brother,

SHAPLAND CAREW (1716-80), of Castleboro, County Wexford, Barrister, MP for Waterford City, 1748-76, wedded Dorothy, daughter and co-heir of Isaac Dobson, and had issue,

ROBERT SHAPLAND, his heir;
Elizabeth; Eleanor; Dorothea; Mary; Dobson.

The son and heir,

ROBERT SHAPLAND CAREW (1752-1829), of Castleboro, MP for Waterford City, 1776-1800, espoused Anne, daughter and heir of the Rev Dr Richard Pigott, of Dysart, Queen's County, and had issue,

ROBERT SHAPLAND, his heir;
Dorothea; Elizabeth Anne; Ellen.

Mr Carew was succeeded by his son,

ROBERT SHAPLAND CAREW (1787-1856), of Castleboro, who married, in 1816, Jane Catherine, daughter of Major Anthony Cliffe, of Ross, by Frances his wife, eldest daughter of Colonel Deane, MP for County Dublin, and had issue,

ROBERT SHAPLAND, his heir;
Shapland Francis;
Anne Dorothea; Ellen Jane.

Mr Carew was elevated to the peerage, in 1838, in the dignity of BARON CAREW, of County Wexford.

His lordship was installed, in 1851, as a Knight of the Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick (KP).

• Robert Shapland Carew, 1st Baron (1787–1856);

• Robert Shapland Carew, 2nd Baron Carew (1818–81);

• Robert Shapland George Julian Carew, 3rd Baron;

• George Patrick John Carew, 4th Baron (1863–1926);

• Gerald Shapland Carew, 5th Baron (1860–1927);

• William Francis Conolly-Carew, 6th Baron (1905–94);

• Patrick Thomas Conolly-Carew, 7th Baron (b 1938).

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, the Hon William Patrick Conolly-Carew.

CASTLEBORO, near Enniscorthy, County Wexford, was a very large, imposing, Classical mansion of about 1840, built for the 1st Baron Carew.

The main block was of three storeys, the top storey used as an attic; a central, three-sided bow with Corinthian columns at the angles supporting the entablature; two bays on either side of the centre and a pair of Corinthian pilasters at each end.

The grand centre of the building presented the appearance of a Venetian palace, about ninety feet in length and, at the front, extended a façade of elegant and elaborate workmanship.

A projection of a semi-hexagon figure occupied about one third of the garden front (above), while the mansion extended a similar distance on each side.

A highly ornamental entablature ran along the entire building above the second story and was supported in the centre by four Corinthian columns with very rich capitals and by two pilasters of the same order on the right and left extremities.

A very rich and highly ornamental cut stone string course ran above the first storey with rosettes and scrolls.

The entrance front (below) displayed a lofty and magnificent portico supported by six columns of the Corinthian order.

The architect, Robertson, suffered from gout and, whilst the building was in progress, it was said he was pushed around sitting in a wheelbarrow with the plans in one hand and a bottle of fine wine in the other!

Castleboro was laid out with four stepped terraces, with a manicured grass bank on each side desending to an artificial lake.

In the centre of the third bank stood a magnificent fountain flanked by two smaller fountains with pools on the immediate upper terrace.

During the Irish Troubles of the 1920s, the Carews sold off the prize cattle herds and furniture and effects and lived full time in England.

The entrance front was of seven bays, with a deep, two-storey Corinthian portico.

The wings and pavilions, two-storey, were mainly neo-Classical; the garden front (below) being more plain.

A lengthy article in The People of 1923 entitled "Castleboro Burned: Lord Carew's Mansion In Flames: Now A Mass Of Debris" states:

'Castleboro, the ancestral home of the Right Hon. Lord Carew was burned to the ground on Monday night, and all that remains now of the palatial mansion are smoke begrimed roofless walls and a heap of debris.

The reason for the destruction of one of the finest residences in Leinster remains a mystery to all but those who were responsible for the destructive work which will only add more thousands to the bill that the Co Wexford will have to foot when the time of reckoning comes.

The work of destruction was perpetrated shortly after ten o'clock on Monday night. Between nine and ten the farm steward, Mr. Robert Richardson…was knocked up at his residence by armed men.

On answering the knock he was compelled to hand over the keys of a store in which some barrels of paraffin oil were stored.

These the armed men took possession of and rolled them from the farm yard to the main building and brought with them hay, which they also got in the farm yard.

Then it would appear that they soaked the hay in the paraffin and scattering it through the main building set it alight with the result that in a short time the whole place was ablaze…

Entrance to the house was gained through the French bay windows which would appear to have been broken by the butt end of rifles.

The noise of the breaking of the glass was plainly audible in the farm yard and tongues of flames leaping up to the sky after a short space of time conveyed the first intimation of what the advent of the armed men breaking in on their peaceable surroundings meant while they were left powerless to attempt to save their master's property…

It was impossible to do anything to extinguish the conflagration which had taken a complete hold of the building and which appeared to have been fired in several places. The fire raged furiously for some hours and completely destroyed the fine building'

'The building of the mansion cost, it is stated, £200,000 [£16 million in 2011], so that a claim which will undoubtedly be lodged is likely to run into a very big sum.

Castleboro was always famous for its gardens and through the liberality of the present Lord Carew visitors were allowed to stroll through the grounds, a privilege that was largely availed of in the summer months.

The scene of Monday night's fire was visited by large numbers of people on Tuesday and the terrible work was condemned on all sides.

The people of the district were always liberally treated by the Carew family and the wanton destruction of their beautiful home was learned with feelings of horror and dismay' (The People 10th February 1923).

Lord Carew did not live to see his claim for compensation satisfied and died on the 29th April 1923, less than three months following the destruction of his home.

Castleboro House survives as an impressive ruin in a somewhat bleak setting, the parkland to the north now used for grazing and the truncated terraces to the south – once second only to those at Powerscourt House, County Wicklow.

Other former seats ~ Woodstown, County Waterford; Crowcombe Court, Taunton, Somerset.
Former town residence ~ 28 Belgrave Square, London.

Carew arms courtesy of European Heraldry.   First published in July, 2011. 

The Livingston Centre

Balloo House (Image: Timothy Ferres, 2021)

On Monday, the 7th June, 2021, I lunched with the Rev Dr Stanley Gamble, Rector of Killinchy, at Balloo House, County Down.

Stanley and I share a deep passion for heritage, particularly in Northern Ireland.

Balloo House (Image: © Rosalind Davies)

After lunch we drove the short distance to the village of Killinchy, which overlooks beautiful Strangford Lough, where Stanley showed me the new community hub at Killinchy parish church.

We toured the former rectories in the village, of which three remain; the Georgian rectory, however, was demolished after the 2nd World War.

The Livingston Centre is now a focal point for a whole range of community activities, including a permanent exhibition on the life of the Rev John Livingston and his distinguished descendants, who include one man who helped draft the American Declaration of Independence and later negotiated the Louisiana Purchase; one who signed the Declaration of Independence; and another who was a key aide to Andrew Jackson at the battle of New Orleans and later served as his Secretary of State.

Livingston Centre , Killinchy Parish Church (Image: Ulster-Scots Agency)

This new hub in the village received financial assistance from the Ulster-Scots Agency.

Stanley remarked at the time:-

‘‘Everyone at Killinchy Parish Church is delighted with the progress of the Livingston Centre and we are all looking forward to seeing it finished and starting on the next chapter, supporting the development of our community in all sorts of ways, not least through greater appreciation of our Ulster-Scots heritage." 

"The Reverend John Livingston is rightly regarded as the first incumbent of three churches in Killinchy, the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian Church and the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church, and we hope that our shared history and identity will serve as a unifying force in the local community.’’

John Livingston was one of the first Scottish ministers who came over to Ulster, occupying a pulpit in the established Church of Ireland years before an organized Presbyterian denomination was established.

At the Livingston Centre (Image: Rev Dr Stanley Gamble, 7th June, 2021)

He was part of a group of Presbyterian clergy who, faced with growing hostility from the Anglican communion, organized the Eagle Wing expedition of 1636, the first planned attempt by Ulster-Scots to travel to America.

The expedition failed and Livingston eventually died in exile in Holland; he and his family, however, have made an indelible impression on the history of Ulster and the United States.

Livingston Days festivals, to celebrate the life and legacy of John Livingston, as well as connecting the local community with their broader Ulster-Scots identity, are now held annually.

The last programme included a tattoo held at Killinchy Primary School, featuring the talent of a range of local bands including Killinchy Silver Band, Cleland Memorial Pipe Band and Lord Londonderry’s Own CLB Flute Band.

This was followed up by a Family Fun Day, with a range of exhibitions and talks on an Ulster-Scots theme.

First published in June, 2021.