Moyne House

THE HAMILTON-STUBBERS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN THE QUEEN'S COUNTY, WITH 7,388 ACRES

HUGH HAMILTON settled at Lisbane, County Down, during the reign of JAMES I, and was made a denizen of Ireland in 1616.

He died in 1655 and was buried at Bangor, County Down, leaving issue,

John, of Ballymenoch;
ALEXANDER, of whom presently;
Robert.

The second son,

ALEXANDER HAMILTON, of Killyleagh, County Down, married Jean, daughter of John Hamilton, of Belfast, and had issue,

HUGH, his heir;
Jane, m William Sloane, of Chelsea.

Mr Hamilton died in 1676, and was succeeded by his son,

HUGH HAMILTON, of Ballybrenagh, who wedded Mary, sister of Robert Ross, of Rostrevor, and daughter of George Ross, of Portavo, by Ursula his wife, daughter of Captain Hans Hamilton, of Carnesure, and had issue,

ALEXANDER, his heir;
George, of Tyrella;
Jane.

Mr Hamilton died in 1728, and was succeeded by his elder son,

ALEXANDER HAMILTON, of Knock, County Dublin, and of Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, MP for Killyleagh, 1730-61, who espoused Isabella, daughter of Robert Maxwell, of Finnebrogue, County Down, by Jane, daughter of the Rev Simon Chichester, Vicar of Belfast (eldest son of Henry Chichester, of Marwood, by Jane, daughter of the Rt Rev Robert Maxwell, Lord Bishop of Kilmore).

He died in 1768, leaving four sons and three daughters, viz.

HUGH (Rt Rev), Lord Bishop of Ossory;
ROBERT, of whom we treat;
George;
Charles;
Isabella; Anne; Elizabeth.

The second son,

ROBERT HAMILTON, of Gloucester Street, Dublin, married Hester, daughter of Crewe Chetwood, of Woodbrook, Queen's County, and had issue,

ALEXANDER CHETWOOD, his heir;
Robert.

Mr Hamilton died in 1790, and was succeeded by his elder son,

THE REV ALEXANDER CHETWOOD HAMILTON, Rector of Thomastown, County Kilkenny, who married, in 1801, Eleanor, daughter and co-heir of the REV SEWELL STUBBER, and assumed, in 1824, the surname of STUBBER in lieu of Hamilton, and the arms of Stubber only.

By her he had issue,

ROBERT, his heir;
Sewell (Rev);
William, of Roundwood, father of CHARLES PAULET HAMILTON;
Alexander Chetwood;
Richard Hugh (Rev);
Hester Maria; Harriet Anne; Sophia Elizabeth; Anne Matilda.

The Rev Alexander Chetwood Hamilton died in 1830, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

ROBERT HAMILTON STUBBER JP DL (1803-63), of Moyne, High Sheriff of Queen's County, 1831, who married, in 1840, Olivia, daughter of the Rev Edward Lucas, of the Castleshane family, and widow of Henry Smyth, of Mount Henry, Queen’s County, and had issue,

ROBERT HAMILTON, his heir;
Olivia Harriet Florence Hamilton; Eleanor Frances Beatrice Hamilton.

Mr Hamilton-Stubber was succeeded by his son and heir,

ROBERT HAMILTON HAMILTON-STUBBER JP DL (1844-1916), of Moyne and Castle Fleming, Queen’s County, High Sheriff of Queen's County, 1873, Lieutenant, Royal Dragoons, who espoused firstly, in 1877, Adèle Grainger, daughter of Alexander Duncan, of Knossington Grange, Leicestershire, and had issue,

ROBERT;
Olive.

He wedded secondly, in 1885, Georgina Alice Mary, youngest daughter of George Power, sixth son of Sir John Power Bt, of Kilfane, County Kilkenny, and had issue, a daughter, Margery.

Mr Hamilton-Stubber sold the Moyne estate to his cousin,

CHARLES PAULET HAMILTON (1834-1907), grandson of the Rev A C Hamilton, who wedded, in 1878, Emily Louise, daughter of William Smyth-King, and had issue,

Maurice William Chetwode (1882-1955);
HUBERT CHARLES;
Elinor Frances; Kathleen Elizabeth; Alice Maude; Mary Beatrice.

Mr Hamilton's younger son,

HUBERT CHARLES HAMILTON DSO (1887-1946), of Moyne, Barrister, wedded, in 1912, Honoria Eliza Sylvia Vera, daughter of Major Travers Robert Blackley, and had issue, an only child,

HUBERT CHARLES PAULET HAMILTON (1915-2007), of Moyne, Captain, Royal Irish Fusiliers, who married firstly, in 1941, Margaret Helen, daughter of Sir Owen Watkin Williams-Wynn Bt, and had issue,

ANDREW PAULET.

He espoused secondly, in 1950, Katharine Frances, daughter of William Evelyn Joseph Dobbs, and had further issue,

Hubert Kildare, b 1953;
Dominick Charles, b 1954;
Sophia Elinor, b 1960.

MOYNE HOUSE, near Durrow, County Laois, is a five-bay two-storey house with dormer attic, built ca 1730.

It has a pedimented central bay with a projecting porch.

Moyne was renovated and extended about 1880, with two-bay, two-storey wings and a dormer attic.

The house has a double-pitched and hipped slate roof, with rolled lead ridge tiles and limestone ashlar chimney-stacks.

The roof is gabled; rubble limestone walls; a Venetian-style window opening to entrance bay and oculus to pediment.

The house is set back from the main road in its own landscaped grounds.

It has a stable complex, including two-storey rubble stone ranges, one of which was renovated about 1970 to accommodate residential use.

Of its interior, the drawing-room is notable for its Adam-Revival ceiling; while the dining-room has a frieze of plasterwork in late 18th century style; and a carved wood chimney-piece in Elizabethan style. 

Moyne Polo Club, established in 1996, is affiliated to the Hurlingham Polo Association.

A Midsummer Ball and one-day tournament is held in June; a two-day tournament on the penultimate weekend in July; and a tournament in August with the emphasis on junior polo.

Moyne House became the Hamilton family home in the early part of the 19th century, when Robert Hamilton-Stubber (1803-63) moved there from Kilkenny.

The house then descended via Robert Hamilton-Stubber (1846-1916) to Major Robert Hamilton-Stubber DSO (d 1963), who sold Moyne to his cousin, Hubert Charles Hamilton, in the 1920s; from whom the present branch of the family is descended.

The Hamilton family still live at Moyne.

First published in December, 2012.

Stradbally Hall

THE COSBYS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN THE QUEEN'S COUNTY, WITH 10,110 ACRES

In the time of QUEEN MARY, this family, originally of the counties of Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, settled in Ireland.

ROBERT COSSBYE, of Harmston, in Lincolnshire, living in 1516, married Isabel, daughter and heiress of Ralph Pare, of Great Leake, Nottinghamshire, and had a son and heir,

JOHN COSBIE, who wedded Mabel, daughter of _____ Agard, of Foston, Nottinghamshire, and had two sons, viz. RICHARD, of Great Leake, and

FRANCIS COSBIE (1510-80),

The patriarch of the family in Ireland, a man famed for personal courage, as well as civil and military talents. When young he served in the wars of HENRY VIII in the Low Countries, and was not undistinguished. His abandonment of his native soil arose from the downfall of the Lord Protector, Sir Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, whose daughter Mary, widow of Sir Henry Peyton, Knight, he had married. 

Deeming the disgrace and death of that once potent nobleman a sentence of exclusion from place and preferment in England, against his immediate connections at least, Cosbie (Mary Seymour, his first wife, being then dead), removed to Ireland, taking with him his second wife, Elizabeth Palmer, and the two surviving sons of the first. Here, in the land of his adoption, he soon found the opportunity of establishing a reputation, which he despaired of effecting in the land of his birth. 

He became an active defender of The Pale, and his vigilance, zeal, and success attracting the observation of government, he was appointed, by QUEEN MARY, 1558, General of the Kern, a post of great trust and importance in those times.

In 1559 he represented the borough of Thomastown in parliament, when he was constituted, by ELIZABETH I, Sheriff of Kildare.

Cosbie was granted, in 1562, the site of the suppressed abbey St Francis at Stradbally.

He married firstly, the Lady Mary Seymour, daughter of Sir Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, and had issue,

ALEXANDER, his heir;
Henry;
Arnold.

General Cosby wedded secondly, in 1575, Elizabeth Palmer, and had issue, an only daughter, Catherine.

He fell at the battle of Glendalough, 1580, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

ALEXANDER COSBY, of Stradbally Abbey, who also obtained very extensive grants of land in the Queen's County.

He wedded Dorcas, daughter of William Sydney, of Otford, Kent, maid of honour to ELIZABETH I, and had issue,

FRANCIS, father of WILLIAM; fell at the battle of Stradbally Bridge;
RICHARD, succeeded to his nephew;
Charles;
Arnold;
Mabel; Rose.

Alexander Cosby, slain at the battle of Stradbally Bridge with the O'Mores, 1596, was succeeded, although for a few minutes only, by his eldest son,

FRANCIS COSBY, of Stradbally Hall, who being slain as stated above, never enjoyed the inheritance, but was succeeded by his infant child,

WILLIAM COSBY, of Stradbally Hall, born in 1596, who died in June that year, when the estates reverted to his uncle,

RICHARD COSBY, of Stradbally Hall, Captain of the Kern, who gained the battle of Dunamace over the O'Mores, 1606, who espoused Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Robert Pigott, Knight, of Dysart, and had issue,

ALEXANDER, his heir;
FRANCIS, who succeeded his nephew at Stradbally;
Sydney;
William;
Dorcas.

Richard Cosby died in 1631, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

ALEXANDER COSBY (1610-36), of Stradbally Hall, who married Anne, daughter of Sir Francis Slingsby, Knight, of Kilmore, County Cork, and was succeeded by his son,

FRANCIS COSBY, of Stradbally Hall, who dsp before 1638, when he was succeeded by his uncle,

FRANCIS COSBY (1612-), of Stradbally Hall, MP for Carysfort, who wedded Ann, daughter of Sir Thomas Loftus, Knight, of Killyan, and had issue,

ALEXANDER, his heir;
Thomas, of Vicarstown; father of THOMAS;
Sydney.

The eldest son,

ALEXANDER COSBY, of Stradbally Hall, espoused Elizabeth, daughter of Henry L'Estrange, of Moystown, King's County, and had issue,

DUDLEY, his heir;
Henry;
Thomas;
Loftus;
Alexander, father of PHILLIPS;
William;
Arnold;
Anne; Elizabeth; Jane; Dorcas; Isabella; Celia; Dorothy.

Alexander Cosby died in 1694, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

DUDLEY ALEXANDER SYDNEY COSBY (1662-1729), of Stradbally Hall, Lieutenant-Colonel, MP for Queen's County, 1703-29, who married firstly, Ann, daughter and heir of Sir Andrew Owen, Knight, which lady dsp 1698; and secondly, Sarah, daughter of Periam Pole, of Ballyfin, by whom he had,

POLE, his heir;
Sarah.

Colonel Cosbie was succeeded by his son,

POLE COSBY, of Stradbally Hall, who wedded Mary, daughter and co-heir of Henry Dodwell, of Manor Dodwell, County Roscommon, and by her, left at his decease, in 1766 (with a daughter, Sarah, who married firstly, the Rt Hon Arthur Upton, of Castle Upton; and secondly, Robert, Earl of Farnham), a son and successor,

DUDLEY ALEXANDER SYDNEY COSBY (c1730-74), MP for Carrick, 1763-8, 1ST BARON SYDNEY, of Leix, so created in 1768.

His lordship, Minister Resident to Denmark, wedded, in 1773, the Lady Isabella St Lawrence, daughter of Thomas, 1st Earl of Howth, but died in the ensuing month, January, 1774, without issue.

His peerage became extinct, while the inheritance reverted to his lordship's cousin,

VICE-ADMIRAL PHILLIPS COSBY (1729-1808), of Stradbally Hall, Admiral of the Red, who espoused, in 1792, Eliza, daughter of William Gunthorpe, and sister of William Gunthorpe, of Southampton, but having no issue, was succeeded at his decease by his kinsman,

THOMAS COSBY (1742-98), of Vicarstown, and afterwards of Stradbally, who wedded firstly, Frances Booker, and by her had two sons, both of whom died young.

He married secondly, Grace, daughter and co-heir of George Johnstone, of Glaslough, County Monaghan, and had issue,

Dudley, accidentally drowned, 1789, sp;
Francis, drowned at cork, 1791, sp;
THOMAS, his heir.

Mr Cosby was succeeded by his only surviving son,

THOMAS COSBY, of Stradbally Hall, Governor of Queen's County, High Sheriff, 1809, who wedded, in 1802, Charlotte Elizabeth, daughter of the Rt Hon Thomas Kelly, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in Ireland, and had issue,

THOMAS PHILLIPS, his heir;
William (Rev);
Sydney, father of ROBERT ASHWORTH GODOLPHIN;
Wellesley Pole;
Frances Elizabeth; Harriet Georgiana.

Mr Cosby, High Sheriff of Queen's County, died in 1832, and was succeeded by his son,

THOMAS PHILLIPS COSBY JP DL (1803-51), of Stradbally Hall, High Sheriff of Queen's County, 1834, Captain, Royal Regiment of Horse Guards, and dsp 1851, when the property devolved upon his nephew,

ROBERT ASHWORTH GODOLPHIN COSBY JP (1837-1920), of Stradbally Hall, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of the Queen's County, High Sheriff of Queen's County, 1863, Colonel, 3rd Leinster Regiment, who wedded firstly, in 1859, Alice Sophia Elizabeth, only daughter of Sir George Edward Pocock Bt, of The Priory, Christchurch, Hampshire, and had issue,

DUDLEY SYDNEY ASHWORTH, his heir;
Sydney George Coventry;
Edith Augusta Emily; Mary Powlet; Aline Islay; Lilian Alice; Violet Grace.

Colonel Cosby married secondly, in 1885, Eliza, daughter of the Rev Capel Molyneux, Vicar of St Paul's, Onslow Square, and widow of Sir Charles Goring, 9th Baronet, of Highden, Sussex.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

DUDLEY SYDNEY ASHWORTH COSBY DL (1862-1923), of Stradbally Hall, Captain, 3rd Battalion, Scottish Rifles, who wedded, in 1895, Emily Mabel, daughter of Lieutenant-General James Gubbins, and had issue,

ERROLD ASHWORTH SYDNEY, his heir;
Eric James Dudley;
Ivan Robert Sydney;
Irene Mabel Alys; Dulcie Iris Voilet.

Captain Cosby was succeeded by his eldest son,

ERROLD ASHWORTH SYDNEY COSBY (1898-1984), of Stradbally Hall, Major, The Rifle Brigade, who wedded, in 1934, Enid Elizabeth, daughter of Major Maurice William Chetwode Hamilton, and had issue,

ADRIAN PATRICK SYDNEY ALEXANDER;
David Ashworth Sydney Phillips, b 1947;
Julian Charles Seymour Francis, b 1947;
Anthea Moira Enid, b 1940.

Major Cosby was succeeded by his eldest son,

ADRIAN PATRICK SYDNEY ALEXANDER COSBY (1937-), of Stradbally Hall, Irish Guards, who married, in 1972, Alison Margaret, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Wylie, and has issue,

THOMAS SYDNEY ASHWORTH, b 1974;
Mary Siobhan Elizabeth, b 1973.

Entrance Front

STRADBALLY HALL, County Laois, is a nine-bay, two-storey Georgian house, built in 1772.

The present mansion's predecessor was erected by Lieutenant-Colonel Dudley Cosby in 1699, likely incorporating an earlier dwelling.

Stradbally Hall (Image: Ger Browne, 2021)

About 1868, Ralph Ashworth Godolphin Cosby engaged Sir Charles Lanyon to enlarge and re-model the house in the Italianate style.

Garden Front

A new entrance front was added with a large, single-storey, balustraded portico.

Stradbally estate is now renowned for its Electric Picnic music festival held in the grounds.

First published in December, 2016.

Castle Durrow

THE VISCOUNTS ASHBROOK WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTIES KILKENNY AND OFFALY, WITH 16,768 ACRES

The family of FLORE, or FLOWER, formerly seated at Oakham, Rutland, represented that county in parliament during the reign of RICHARD II, in the person of ROGER FLORE MP, Speaker of the House of Commons during the time of HENRY VI, who died in 1427.

The Irish branch was founded by

SIR GEORGE FLOWER, Knight, who, in ELIZABETH I's reign, embracing a military life, was a very active and brave officer against the rebels in Ireland, having command of 100 foot-soldiers in the old army.

In 1601, he was Sergeant-Major of Her Majesty's army; and thereafter was knighted and appointed Governor and Constable of Waterford Fort, 1627; and soon after died.

Sir George was succeeded by his eldest son, 

THE RT HON SIR WILLIAM FLOWER (c1600-c1682), Knight,  also a military man in active service under Lieutenant-General Michael Jones, Governor of Dublin, during the Irish rebellion in 1641, and subsequently one of the Privy Council of CHARLES II.

Sir William was born at Whitwell, Rutland, in 1600. During the Irish rebellion, he was seized, in 1648, with other officers, on suspicion of affection to the Marquess of Ormonde (Lord Ormonde was their former general at that time, upon his return to the Kingdom), where they were sent prisoners to England. 

Sir William lived to see the restoration of CHARLES II, to whose first Parliament, in 1661, he was returned as Member for St Canice (Irishtown).

He was made captain of a company of foot and afterwards lieutenant-colonel to GEORGE II's Regiment of Guards, in Ireland.

He was appointed, in 1662, one of the trustees for "Satisfying the Arrears of the Commissioned Officers" who served His Majesty in Ireland before the 5th June, 1649.

He wedded firstly, Frances, daughter of Walter Weldon, of St John's Bower, County Kildare, and widow of William Savage, by whom he had four children; and secondly, a wife about whom little is known.

Sir William's nephew,

THOMAS FLOWER, of Durrow, County Kilkenny (son of John Flower), married, firstly, in 1683, Mary, fourth daughter of Sir John Temple, Attorney-General for Ireland, by whom he had one son, WILLIAM; and secondly, Miss Jeffries, by whom he had two other children, Jeffreys and Catherine.

He was succeeded by his elder son,

WILLIAM FLOWER (1685-1746), of Durrow, MP for County Kilkenny, 1715-27, Portarlington, 1727-33, High Sheriff of County Kilkenny, 1731, who was elevated to the peerage, in 1733, in the dignity of Baron Castle Durrow, of Castle Durrow, County Kilkenny.

His lordship espoused Edith, daughter of the Hon Toby Caulfeild, and had two sons and two daughters.

He was succeeded by his only surviving son,

HENRY, 2nd Baron, who was created, in 1751, VISCOUNT ASHBROOK.

His lordship married Elizabeth, daughter of Lieutenant-General William Tatton, and dying in 1752, left, with two daughters, a son and successor,

WILLIAM, 2nd Viscount (1744-80), who wedded, in 1766, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Ridge, by whom he had two sons and four daughters,

WILLIAM, his successor;
HENRY JEFFREY, 4th Viscount;
Harriet; Caroline; Sophia; Elizabeth.

His lordship was succeeded by his elder son,

WILLIAM, 3rd Viscount (1767-1802), at whose decease, unmarried, the honours devolved upon his brother,

HENRY JEFFREY, 4th Viscount (1776-1847), who espoused firstly, in 1802, Susannah, only daughter and heiress of the Rev William Maximilian Freind, and granddaughter and heiress of THOMAS WALKER, of Woodstock, by whom he had issue,

HENRY, his successor;
Caroline; Susannah Sophia.

He married secondly, in 1812, Emily Theophila, daughter of Sir Thomas Metcalfe Bt, and had, by that lady, one surviving daughter, Charlotte Augusta.

His lordship was succeeded by his son,

HENRY JEFFREY, 5th Viscount (1806-71), High Sheriff of County Kilkenny, 1834, who wedded, in 1828, Frances, daughter of the Ven Sir John Robinson Bt, Archdeacon of Armagh, and had issue,

HENRY JEFFREY, his successor;
WILLIAM SPENCER, 7th Viscount;
ROBERT THOMAS, 8th Viscount;
Mary Sophia; two other daughters.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

HENRY JEFFREY, 6th Viscount (1829-82), DL, High Sheriff of Queen's County, 1856, who espoused, in 1860, Emily, daughter of John Frederick Abingdon, and had issue, an only child, WILLIAM SPENCER (1875-82).

His lordship was succeeded by his next brother,

WILLIAM SPENCER, 7th Viscount (1830-1906), DL, who married, in 1861, Augusta Madeline Henrietta, daughter of George Marton, and had issue, two daughters,

Lucy Adelaide Frances; Adelaide Caroline.

His lordship was succeeded by his brother,

ROBERT THOMAS, 8th Viscount (1836-1919), who wedded, in 1866, Gertrude Sophia, daughter of the Rev Sewell Hamilton, and had issue,

LLOWARCH ROBERT, his successor;
Reginald Henry;
Frances Mary; Eva Constance Gertrude; Gertrude.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

LLOWARCH ROBERT, 9th Viscount (1870-1936), DL, who espoused, in 1899, Gladys Lucille Beatrice, daughter of General Sir George Wentworth Alexander Higginson, and had issue,

DESMOND LLOWARCH EDWARD, his successor;
Eileen Augusta Sybil.

Desmond Llowarch Edward Flower, 10th Viscount (1905–95);
Michael Llowarch Warburton Flower, 11th Viscount (b 1935).

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, the Hon Rowland Francis Warburton Flower (b 1975). 

The heir apparent's heir apparent is his son Benjamin Warburton Flower (b 2006).

CASTLE DURROW, near Durrow, County Laois, is an early 18th century mansion, with a high-pitched roof and tall chimney-stacks.

It was constructed by Colonel William Flower MP, later 1st Lord Castle Durrow. Colonel Flower commenced with the construction of the manor in 1712.

The Flower family assumed residency of Castle Durrow in 1716.

The house consists of two storeys with a dormered attic in the roof; nine bays, of which the front is divided into three groups of three bays by huge Doric pilasters, formerly crowned with urns (now erected on the porch).

Later generations of the Ashbrooks adorned the house with 18th century plasterwork and 19th century stained-glass.

There is a notable castellated entrance gate in the square of the town of Durrow.

Castle Durrow was sold by the 9th Viscount in 1922.

Subsequently, the property was sold to a Mr Maher of Freshford, County Kilkenny, who was primarily interested in the rich timber reserves of the estate.

By 1928 the old hard wood forests of Durrow were scarce.

Eventually the Irish Land Commission divided up the arable portions of the property, and the forestry department took over many of the woods for further plantation.

During this time Castle Durrow was vacant for a few years.

In 1929, with the Bishop’s approval, the parish of Durrow acquired the estate for the purchase price of £1,800 and Castle Durrow was transformed into a school, St Fintan’s College and Convent.

Peter and Shelley Stokes bought the castle in 1998 and transformed it into a hotel.

Other former seat ~ Beaumont Lodge, Old Windsor, Berkshire.
Present seat ~ Arley Hall, Cheshire.

First published in October, 2012. 

Brittas Castle

THE DUNNES WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN THE QUEEN'S COUNTY, WITH 9,215 ACRES

The estate of Brittas was time immemorial in the ancient family of DUNNE, anciently O'Doinn, chief of the name, and a sept of historic note. The O'Doinns occur frequently in the works of James MacGeoghegan, in the Annals of the Four Masters, and the other Irish authorities. 

RORY O'DOINN, Chief of I-Regan, died, according to the Annals of the Four Masters, in 1427, and was father of

LENAGH O'DOINN, Chief of I-Regan, who built Castlebrack, in the Queen's County.

He married a daughter of O'Neill of Ulster and had issue,

TEIG, of whom hereafter;
Falie.

The elder son,

TEIG O'DOINN, Chief of Iregan, wedded firstly, Ellen, daughter of "Lord Power", and had issue,

TEIG (OGE), of whom presently;
Rory;
Edmundboy;
Shane;
Cahir.

 eldest son,

TEIG (Oge) O'DOINN, Chief of Iregan, espoused firstly, Gormla, daughter of O'Connor Faile, and had issue,

Brien, dsp;
TEIGH (REOGH), of whom we treat;
Edmund, of Park;
Dermot.

He married secondly, Giles, daughter of MacGillepatrick, of Upper Ossory, and had further issue,

Donogh;
Cormac;
Cahir;
Dermot.

The second son,

TEIGH (REOGH) or THADY O'DOINN, of Iregan, had a grant of English liberty for himself and his issue, in 1551.

He wedded a daughter of McMorrish, and had issue,

THADY or TEIG (OGE), his successor;
TORLOGH or TERENCE, of whom presently;
Donagh, of Gurtin and Balliglass, living 1570;
Phelim;
Finola.

The eldest son,

THADY (or TEIG OGE) O'DOINN, of Tenchinch and Castlebrack, appointed Captain of Iregan, 1558, made settlements of his estates in 1590, 1591, and 1593, and was living in 1601.

He wedded Elizabeth, daughter of James FitzGerald, of Ballysonan, County Kildare, and had issue,

TEIG (LOGHA) or TEIG OGE, or THADY, his heir;
Cormac;
Brian or Barnaby;
CAHIR or CHARLES, of whom presently;
Murtogh;
Grany;
Two daughters.

The eldest son,

TEIGH (LOGHA) or THADY O'DOYNE (-1637), of Castlebrack, surrendered his estate, 1611, and had a regrant of the greater portion in 1611.

He espoused firstly, Margaret, daughter of Shane O'Neill, who left him and married Cuconaght Maguire, and had by her a son, Teige reogh or Thady, dsp before 1635.

He married secondly, Ellis, daughter of Redmond FitzGerald, of Clonbolg, County Kildare, and had seven sons who survived infancy,

Edmund or Edward, dsp before 1635;
John, dsp before 1635;
William, of Park;
Richard, in holy orders; Vicar-General of Kildare;
James;
Rory or Roger;
Torlogh.

We now return to

CAHIR O'DOINN, alias CHARLES DUNN, LL.D, fourth son of Thady O'Doinn, Captain of Iregan, Fellow of Trinity College Dublin, 1593, Master in Chancery, 1602, MP, 1613, Vice-Chancellor, 1614.

He petitioned against the regrant of Iregan to his brother and got a grant to himself of Brittas and portion of the Iregan estates, which he bequeathed by his will, dated 1617, to his nephew,

BARNABY or BRIAN OGE DUNN (1590-1661), of Brittas, High Sheriff of Queen's County in 1623.

He obtained from CHARLES I a patent for a large estate in the barony of Tinnahinch, to hold to him and his heirs for ever in soccage, provided that he did not take the name, style, or title of O'DOINN, and that he should drop that same and call himself BRIAN DUNN.

He married Sybella, daughter of Sir Robert Piggott, Knight, of Dysart, and widow of Richard Cosby, of Stradbally, both in the Queen's County, and was succeeded by his son,

CAHIR or CHARLES DUNNE, of Brittas, who wedded Margaret, sister of John Coghlan, of Birr, and had issue,

TERENCE, his heir;
Edward;
John;
Charles;
Daniel;
Mary; Peggy; Polly; Clare.

Mr Dunne died in 1680, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

TERENCE DUNNE, of Brittas, a captain in Moore's Regiment of Infantry, who fought for JAMES II and fell at Aughrim in 1691.

He espoused, in 1676, Margaret, daughter of Daniel Byrne, and sister of Sir Gregory Byrne, 1st Baronet, MP for Ballinakill, and had issue,

DANIEL, of Brittas;
Charles, dsp;
Barnaby;
EDWARD, of whom presently;
Dorothy.

The fourth son,

EDWARD DUNNE, of Brittas, married, in 1730, Margaret, daughter of Francis Wyse, of the Manor of St John, County Waterford, and had issue,

FRANCIS, his heir;
Barnaby, dsp;
Anastasia; Juliana; Margaret; Mary.

Mr Dunne died in 1765, and was succeeded by his elder son,

FRANCIS DUNNE, who wedded, in 1760, his cousin, Margaret, daughter and co-heir of Nicholas Plunkett, of Dunsoghly Castle, County Dublin, by Alice his wife, daughter and co-heir of Daniel Dunne (see above), and had issue,

EDWARD, his heir;
Francis;
Nicholas;
Alice; Frances; Katherine; Margaret.

Mr Dunne died in 1771, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

EDWARD DUNNE JP (1767-1844), of Brittas, a general in the army,  Deputy Governor and High Sheriff of Queen's County, 1790, MP for Maryborough, 1800.

He took an active part in suppressing the Irish Rebellion of 1798, at which time he commanded the Pembrokeshire Fencible Cavalry.

General Dunne wedded, in 1801, Frances, daughter of Simon White, of Bantry House, sister to Richard, 1st Earl of Bantry, and had issue,

FRANCIS PLUNKETT, his heir;
EDWARD MEADOWS, successor to his brother;
Robert Hedges (Rev);
Richard;
Charles;
Frances Jane.

General Dunne was succeeded by his eldest son,

THE RT HON FRANCIS PLUNKETT DUNNE JP DL (1802-74), of Brittas and Dunsoghly Castle, County Dublin, Privy Counsellor, a major-general in the army, Lieutenant-Colonel, Queen's County Militia, MP for Portarlington, 1847-57, Queen's County, 1859-68, Clerk of the Ordnance, 1852, Private Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1858-9, who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his brother,

EDWARD MEADOWS DUNNE JP (1803-75), of Brittas, Barrister, who married, in 1835, Marianne, daughter of Langford Rowley Heyland, of Glendarragh, County Antrim, and Tamlaght, Lieutenant-Colonel, Londonderry Militia, and had issue,

Edward Eyre, 1836-48;
Alexander Dupré, 1838-55;
FRANCIS PLUNKETT, his heir.

Mr Dunne was succeeded by his only surviving son,

FRANCIS PLUNKETT DUNNE JP (1844-78), of Brittas, High Sheriff of the Queen's County, 1878, who wedded, in 1873, his cousin, Frances Jane, daughter of the Rev Robert Hedges Dunne, and had issue,

Francis Plunkett, died young;
ALICE MAUDE, of Brittas;
KATHLEEN PLUNKETT, of Brittas.

Mr Dunne, leaving his estates to be equally divided between his two surviving daughters, ALICE MAUDE and KATHLEEN PLUNKETT, who sold the estate of Brittas in 1898 to their uncle, Robert Hedges Plunkett Dunne, on whose death, in 1901, these ladies succeeded, again, to Brittas and Dunsoghly Castle.

Francis Plunkett Dunne was succeeded in the male representation of his family by his cousin, Charles Henry Plunkett Dunne.

BRITTAS CASTLE, near Clonaslee, County Laois, was a castellated house of sandstone with limestone dressings, built in 1869 by Major-General Francis Dunne, to the design of John McCurdy.

The Dunnes were influential in the form and history of Clonaslee, as evidenced in its planned form and also from a number of ruins in the area.

The former residence of a branch of the family remains in ruins one mile from the village at Clara Hill.

Also, near the east bank of the Clodiagh River, stand the ruins of Ballinakill Castle, built in 1680 by Colonel Dunne.

Throughout the 18th century, Clonaslee prospered due to its location on an important highway across Laois leading onto Munster.

The proximity of Brittas - the seat of the Dunnes - was also influential as the power of this family had by now grown beyond that of a native Irish chieftain.

In 1771, Francis Dunne, then head of the Dunne Family, became a Roman Catholic and built a thatched parish chapel in the village.

This was located close to the site of the present church.

The Dunne family continued to finance the construction of landmark buildings in the village:

The parish Church was erected in 1814 under General Edward Dunne (known locally as 'shun-battle Ned' because of his rumoured refusal to fight at the 1815 battle of Waterloo).

When the main residence in Tinnahinch was blown up in 1653, the Dunne chief had to build anew.

At this time there was a low thatched lodge located at Brittas.

Major-General Francis Plunkett Dunne built a Neo-Gothic mansion at Brittas in 1869.

It was extended ten years later by Millar & Symes.

It is claimed that General Dunne obtained loans from Germany to build the castle, and rental income from his tenants was used to repay the lenders.

The gate piers of the grand house still remain on the western edge of the Green.

The walls and windows give an idea of the house's architecture.

It was three storeys high and the roof was originally thatched.

On the wall over the main entrance, the family crest is still visible, depicting an eagle and a drawn sword.

The last of the family to reside in Brittas House were the Misses Dunne.

The house had extensive gardens, shrubberies and out-offices.

The links with Clonaslee village, and the remains of the Brittas estate are strong.

The expansive demesne grounds contain many splendid trees – remnants of the larger plantations. Lawson's cypress, copper beech, yew, sycamore, cut-leaved beech, and oak that covered much of the townland of Brittas over a century ago.

Brittas Lake – which has recently been restored – was originally constructed as a reservoir for the house.

Its banks are stone lined and water was pumped from the Clodiagh River.

Brittas Castle suffered a fire fire in 1942 and, despite the best efforts of the Tullamore fire brigade, it was destroyed.

First published in September, 2012.

Rathdaire House

THE ADAIRS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN THE QUEEN'S COUNTY, WITH 9,655 ACRES

The family of ADAIR were originally from Scotland and settled in Ireland about 1690, at the time of the battle of the Boyne.  

THOMAS ADAIRE, son of Archibald Adaire, wedded Mary Hamilton, and settled in the Queen's County (Laois).

His son,

ARCHIBALD ADAIRE, married and was father of

JOHN ADAIR, of Rath, Queen's County, High Sheriff of Queen's County, 1782, who died in 1809, and was father of

GEORGE ADAIR JP DL (1784-1873), of Rath, High Sheriff of Queen's County, 1822, who married Elizabeth, second daughter of the Very Rev Thomas Trench, Dean of Kildare (brother of the 1st Lord Ashtown), and had an only son,

JOHN GEORGE ADAIR JP DL (1823-85), of Rathdaire, Queen's County, and GLENVEAGH CASTLE, County Donegal, High Sheriff of Queen's County, 1867, County Donegal, 1874.

George and his son John George, better known as Jack, built a "state of the art" farmyard at Belgrove in 1851. To justify their investment they ejected their tenants from the best land in Ballyaddan, Rathroinsin, Belgrove, etc., expecting to run the land more efficiently in a larger unit, rather than depending on what they could extract from their tenants.

Jack himself acquired more land in Tipperary, Kildare, and Donegal, and also a large ranch in Texas called the JA Ranch. He died in 1885 on his way home from the States, aged 62 years. Thanks to Dr. Bob Spiegelman of New York we have learned a great deal more about the JA Ranch and Jack's connections with it, as well as Glenveagh in Donegal. When the Irish Land Commission acquired the Estate in 1935 they divided it among some of the Estate employees and enlarged many of the small farms in the area.

The farmyard was divided between four families, and four of the farm buildings were converted into dwellings. Later on three of the families moved elsewhere or changed from farming. As the other families left the Murphy family bought out the rest of the yard. Michael Murphy Sr. was yard-man on the estate when he was a youth and he got a quarter of the farmyard in the 1935 division; he survived to see his family own the whole farmyard eventually.

Mr Adair married Cornelia, daughter of General J S Wadsworth, US Army, in 1867, and died without issue.

Former seats - Rathdaire, Monasterevin, County Laois; Glenveagh Castle, County Donegal.

RATHDAIRE HOUSE, or Bellegrove, was a two-storey over basement Italianate house of ca 1835, with the entrance bay to the centre having full-height flanking bows.

It was burnt in 1887 and is now in ruins with the basement filled-in.

The fittings are now gone; the interior ruinous.

The house is set back from road in its own grounds, now in use as a tillage field.

Stable complex, pair of detached gate lodges, gateway and site of former winter garden to site.

First published in June, 2012.

Emo Court

THE EARLS OF PORTARLINGTON WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN THE QUEEN'S COUNTY, WITH 11,149 ACRES

JOSEPH DAMER, of Chapel, Devon, married Jane, daughter of William St Loe, of Dorset, and had two sons, ROBERT, and Ambrose, born 1572. The former,

ROBERT DAMER, of Chapel, born 1571, wedded, in 1600, Mary, daughter of Edward Colmer, and had with a daughter Elizabeth, a son,

JOHN DAMER, of Godmanston, born 1602, who espoused, in 1628, Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev William Maber, and had, with other issue,

JOSEPH, of whom hereafter;

George.

The eldest son,

JOSEPH DAMER (c1630-1720), an officer in the Parliamentary Army, under Cromwell, disposed of his lands in Somerset and Dorset, and purchased other estates in Ireland, whither he removed.

He died unmarried, and bequeathed his estates to his nephew,

JOHN DAMER, of Shronehill, County Tipperary, who married, in 1724, Margaret, eldest daughter of Andrew Roe, of Rossborough, County Tipperary, and dsp 1768, when the estates devolved upon his brother,

JOSEPH DAMER, of Came, Dorset, LL.D. MP for Dorchester, born in 1720, who wedded Mary, daughter of John Churchill, of Henbury, Dorset, and had issue,

JOSEPH, his heir;

John;

George;

Mary; Martha.

Mr Damer died 1736-7,  and was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOSEPH DAMER, 1ST EARL OF DORCHESTER (1718-98), who espoused, in 1742, the Lady Caroline Sackville, only surviving daughter of 1st Duke of Dorset, and had issue,

John, dsp;

GEORGE, who succeeded his father;

Lionel;

CAROLINE (1752-1829). At the decease of this lady the Damer estates passed to the noble family of DAWSON.

The 1st Earl's eldest surviving son,

GEORGE, 2nd Earl (1746-1808), died unmarried at Dorchester House, Park Lane, London, in 1808, when his honours became extinct.

Family of Dawson

MARMADUKE D'OSSONE, the founder of the Dawson family in England, was amongst the soldiers of fortune in the train of WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.

From him lineally sprang,

RICHARD DAWSON, of Spaldington, Yorkshire (20th in descent), who married Anne, daughter of Sir Henry Lowther, Knight, of Lowther Hall, Westmorland, and from this marriage descended,

WILLIAM DAWSON, the first member of the family whom we find in Ireland.

This gentleman was collector of the revenue for the counties of Down and Antrim, and the port of Carrickfergus, in the reign of CHARLES II.

He wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Jardine, of the ancient family of Applegirth, in Scotland, and was father of

EPHRAIM DAWSON (c1683-1746), who having purchased Portarlington and other estates in the Queen's County (now known as Laois), took up his residence there, and represented Portarlington, 1713-14, and Queen's County, 1715-46, in the reigns of GEORGE I and GEORGE II.

He espoused Anne, daughter and heir of Samuel Preston, and granddaughter of John Preston, of Ardsallagh, County Meath, by whom he left an only surviving son,

WILLIAM HENRY DAWSON (1712-79), MP for Portarlington, 1733-70, and, after his father died, MP for Queen's County, 1761-8, who married, in 1737, Mary, eldest daughter of Joseph Damer, of Dorset, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;
Joseph;
William (Rev);
Samuel;
Ephraim;
Mary; Martha; Anne.

Mr Dawson was elevated to the peerage, in 1770, in the dignity of Baron Dawson, of Dawson's Court, Queen's County; and was advanced to a viscountcy, in 1776, as Viscount Carlow.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN, 2nd Viscount (1744-98), who was created, in 1785, EARL OF PORTARLINGTON.

His lordship wedded, in 1778, the Lady Caroline Stuart, daughter of John, 3rd Earl of Bute, and had issue,

JOHN, his successor;
Henry, father of the 3rd Earl;
George Lionel, father of the 4th Earl;
Lionel Charles;
William;
Caroline Elizabeth; Louisa Mary; Harriet; Anna Maria.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN, 2nd Earl (1781-1845), who died unmarried, when the titles devolved upon his cousin,

HENRY JOHN REUBEN, 3rd Earl (1822-89), KP DL, who married, in 1847, the Lady Alexandrina Octavia Maria Vane, daughter of Charles, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, though the marriage was without issue, when the titles devolved upon his cousin,

LIONEL SEYMOUR WILLIAM, 4th Earl (1832-92), DL, who wedded, in 1855, Harriet Lydia, daughter of Henry, 6th Baron Rokeby, and had issue,

LIONEL GEORGE HENRY SEYMOUR, his successor;

Montagu Francis Beauchamp Seymour;

Mary Frances Seymour.

His lordship was succeeded  by his eldest son,

GEORGE LIONEL HENRY SEYMOUR, 5th Earl (1858-1900), JP DL, who espoused, in 1881, Emma Andalusia Frere, daughter of Lord Nigel Kennedy, and had issue,

LIONEL ARTHUR HENRY SEYMOUR, his successor;

George Seymour;

Aline Mary Seymour; Christian Norah; Moyra Marjorie.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

LIONEL ARTHUR HENRY SEYMOUR, 6th Earl (1883-1959), who married, in 1907, Winnifreda, daughter of George Skelton Yuill, and had issue, an only child,

GEORGE LIONEL YUILL SEYMOUR (1907-44), styled Viscount Carlow, Air Commodore, Auxiliary RAF, who wedded, in 1937, Peggy, daughter of Charles Cambie, and had issue,

GEORGE LIONEL YUILL SEYMOUR, of whom hereafter;

Lionel John Charles Seymour.

Lord Carlow was killed in action during the 2nd World War, when the titles passed to his elder son,

GEORGE LIONEL YUILL SEYMOUR, 7th Earl (1938-), who married, in 1961, Davinia, daughter of Sir Edward Henry Windley, and has issue,

CHARLES GEORGE YUILL SEYMOUR, styled Viscount Carlow;

Edward Lionel Seymour;

Henry Lionel Seymour;

Marina.

The Emo Court Project has a comprehensive guide to the Portarlington family and Emo here.

IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY, IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT AN OFFICIAL IRISH RESIDENCE BE FOUND FOR THE PRINCE OF WALES, LATER KING EDWARD VII.

EMO COURT WAS ONE OF THE PROPERTIES CONSIDERED.

The building of Emo Court (also known as Emo Park) began ca 1790 for John Dawson, 1st Earl of Portarlington, whose name is recalled in Dawson Street in Dublin. 

The 1st Earl was interested in architecture, and invited James Gandon to come to Ireland, where he is best remembered for designing the Custom House and the Four Courts in Dublin. 

Emo Court was built to replace an earlier building on a nearby site known as Dawson’s Court, and is the only country house designed by Gandon.

The house is two storeys over a basement with attics forming end towers at each end of the building. 

The entrance front has a seven-bay centre with a pedimented Ionic portico. 

On each side on the end towers, there is a panel of Coade stone, on one side representing the Arts and on the other a pastoral scene.

In the Arts panel, James Gandon can be seen with the plans of Emo Court in his hand.

Heraldic tigers stand imposingly at the entrance steps.

The house had not been completed when the 1st Earl died in 1798, and the 2nd Earl was continually short of money, but managed, in 1834, to engage Louis Vulliamy, a fashionable London architect, to complete the dining room and garden front portico. 

However, the house was still unfinished when the 2nd Earl died in 1845. 

It was left to the 3rd Earl in 1860 to commission William Caldbeck, a Dublin architect, to finish the drawing-room, rotunda and library.

He added a detached bachelors’ wing which was joined to the house by a curved corridor.

The Portarlingtons used Emo less and less, till the 1st World War.

Thereafter, it stood empty for a decade, until 1930.

In 1930, the house was bought by the Jesuits to use as a seminary, and it underwent inevitable changes to adapt it to its new life: The wall and mahogany doors between the rotunda and drawing room were removed to provide a chapel; the library became the refectory; the dining-room became the conference room.

The marble columns in the library were dismantled and removed; statues and a marble Rococo chimney-piece were carefully put in storage in the basement; and other changes were made to turn the home into an institution.
 

In 1958, dry rot was discovered and the well-known Dublin architect Michael Scott suggested that the house be demolished to make way for a new building.

This did not happen, and repairs were made and central heating installed.

In 1969 the Jesuits left Emo, and the house was bought by  Major Cholmeley Dering Cholmeley-Harrison RM (retired). 

Major Cholmeley-Harrison had already employed the services of Sir Albert Richardson and Partners, the firm of architects, to restore his previous houses in London and Co Waterford, and at Emo they rose to the occasion.

Over a period of twenty years, Emo Court was restored to its former glory, even more glorious than before: The marble columns and chimney-piece, the magnificent doors, floors and walls were restored to a neo-Classical beauty; the entrance hall was painted in trompe-l’oeil to represent the plaster decoration that Gandon had planned but which was never carried out.

All of this was assisted by the discovery of Gandon’s original drawings for the house, which are now in the Irish Architectural Archive in Dublin. 

Major Cholmeley-Harrison presented Emo to the Irish state in 1994.

He continued to reside in the private apartments till he died, aged 99, in 2008.

Former residences ~ 34, Chesham Place, SW1; Earlywood, Ascot, Berkshire.

Portarlington arms courtesy of European Heraldry.   First published in 2012.

Granston Manor

THE EARLS OF UPPER OSSORY WERE THE SECOND LARGEST LANDOWNERS IN THE QUEEN'S COUNTY, WITH 22,510 ACRES

This most ancient and noble family was descended from Heremon, the first monarch of the Milesian race in Ireland; and after they had assumed the surname of FITZPATRICK, they were for many ages Princes of Ossory, in the province of Leinster; from whom, in a direct male line, descended

BARNABY FITZPATRICK (c1485-1575), last Prince of Ossory, on his submission to HENRY VIII, who was created, 1541, Baron Upper Ossory.

He wedded, about 1530, Margaret Burke, eldest daughter of Piers, 8th Earl of Ormond, and had issue,

BARNABY, his successor;
FLORENCE, successor to his brother;
Grainne.

His lordship was succeeded by his elder son,

BARNABY, 2nd Baron (c1535-81), companion and favourite to EDWARD VI, whose letters to that monarch are still preserved.

He served as a volunteer in France, under HENRY II, against the Emperor; and after his return he behaved with great bravery against Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger, and was knighted in 1558.

His lordship espoused, in 1560, Joan, daughter of Rowland, 2nd Viscount Baltinglass, and had issue, an only child, MARGARET.

He died without male issue, when the title devolved upon his brother,

FLORENCE, 3rd Baron (d 1613), who married Catherine, daughter of Patrick O'More, of Abbeyleix, and had issue, six children, of whom

Geoffrey;

THADY, successor to his brother;

JOHN, father of 1st BARON GOWRAN;

Joan.

The eldest surviving son,

THADY, 4th Baron, wedded Joan, daughter of Sir Edmund Butler, of Cloughgrenan, and had issue,

BARNABY, his successor;
Dermot;
Turlough;
John;
Margaret; Catherine; Onora; Joan.

His lordship died in 1627, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

BARNABY, 5th Baron, who wedded Margaret, eldest daughter of Walter, 11th Earl of Ormond, and had issue,

BARNABY, his successor;
Edward;
James.

His lordship died ca 1638, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

BARNABY, 6th Baron, who espoused Catherine, daughter of Sir Edward Everard, and had issue,

BARNABY, his successor;
John.

His lordship died ca 1666, and was succeeded by his elder son,

BARNABY, 7th Baron (d 1696), who married Margaret, daughter of Pierce, 1st Viscount Ikerrin, and had issue,

Barnaby, dsp;
Kieran, died in infancy;
John, died young;
Catherine; Mary.

His lordship, an adherent to JAMES II, was outlawed in 1690, and shortly thereafter his title was forfeited.

His kinsman,

COLONEL THE HON JOHN FITZPATRICK, of Castletown, Queen's County (son of Florence, 3rd Baron Upper Ossory), wedded Elizabeth, fourth daughter of Thomas, Viscount Thurles, and sister of James, 1st Duke of Ormonde, and had issue,

Edward, died unmarried;
RICHARD, his successor;
Arabella.

His second son,

RICHARD FITZPATRICK (c1662-1727), married, in 1718, Anne, second daughter and co-heir of Sir John Robinson, 2nd Baronet, of Farmingwood, Northamptonshire, and had issue,

JOHN, his heir;
Richard, m to Anne Usher;
three daughters.

Mr Fitzpatrick was raised to the peerage, in 1715, in the dignity of Baron Gowran, of Gowran, County Kilkenny.

His lordship was succeeded by his elder son,

JOHN, 2nd Baron (1719-58), who wedded, in 1744, the Lady Evelyn Leveson-Gower, daughter of John, 1st Earl Gower, and had issue,

JOHN, his successor;
Richard;
Mary, m to 2nd Baron Holland;
Louisa, m to 2nd Earl of Shelburne.

His lordship was created, in 1751, EARL OF UPPER OSSORY.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN, 2nd Earl (1745-1818), who espoused, in 1769, Anne, only child and heir of Henry, 1st Baron Ravensworth, and had issue,

Anne, b 1770;
Gertrude.

His lordship died without male issue, when the titles expired.

His natural son, however,

JOHN WILSON (1811-83), succeeded to the family estates and, in 1842, and assumed the surname of FITZPATRICK.

He wedded, in 1830, Augusta Mary, daughter of the Rev Archibald Edward Douglas, and had issue,

BERNARD EDWARD BARNABY, his successor;
Gertrude; Augusta; Florence; Cecilia; Edith; Olivia.

Mr Fitzpatrick, High Sheriff of Queen's County, 1836, MP for Queen's County, 1837-69, Privy Counsellor, 1848, Lord-Lieutenant of Queen's County, 1855-83, was elevated to the peerage, in 1869, in the dignity of BARON CASTLETOWN, of Upper Ossory, Queen's County.

His lordship was succeeded by his only son,

BERNARD EDWARD BARNABY, 2nd Baron (1849-1937), KP CMG PC, of Granston Manor, who married, in 1874, Emily Ursula Clare, only surviving daughter and heir of Hayes, 4th Viscount Doneraile, though the marriage was without issue.

His lordship, High Sheriff of Queen's County, 1876, MP for Portarlington, 1880-3, Privy Counsellor, 1908, Knight of St Patrick, 1908, died in 1937, when the barony expired.

The Castletown Papers are deposited at the National Library of Ireland.

P

GRANSTON MANOR, Abbeyleix, Queen's County (Laois),was a large rambling house, partly late-Georgian and partly later.

It had two storeys with an attic roof.

The entrance front comprised five bays with a Wyatt window above a balustraded portico.

The entrance front is is at the end of the house, which is considerably deeper that its width, with lower wings.

There is a long garden front with single-storey projections and balustrades.

The interior was renovated during the Edwardian era, mostly by the 2nd Lord Castletown.

The hall became part of an adjoining room, thus becoming a hall-cum-sitting room.

A new oak staircase was built.

The drawing-room was greatly enlarged.

Following the death of the 2nd Baron in 1937, Granston passed to his nephew, Lieutenant-Colonel G H J S Smyth, who assumed the surname of FitzPatrick.

Granston was sold to the Harper family in 1947, who re-sold about 1961.

It was acquired by Mr and Mrs H Duncan-Collie, but was almost totally gutted by fire in 1977.

First published in August, 2011.