Ballyseedy Castle

THE BLENNERHASSETTS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY KERRY, WITH 34,592 ACRES

This family is of English origin, and has either received its surname from, or conferred it upon, the township of Blennerhasset, Cumberland, where it appears to have been stationary for several centuries. Members of the family represented Carlisle in nearly every parliament from RICHARD II to JAMES I, and later frequently represented either Kerry or Tralee.

The Blennerhassetts maintained the highest rank amongst the gentry of County Kerry, where the first settlers,

THOMAS BLENNERHASSETT, of Flimby, Cumberland, MP for Carlisle, 1584-1604, and his son, ROBERT, settled in County Kerry as an undertaker in the plantations of the province of Munster (then forfeited by the Earl of Desmond), having obtained the grant of a considerable estate there, from ELIZABETH I.

Thomas Blennerhassett received in 1586 from Sir Edward Denny, by virtue of his seigneury of Dennyvale, a grant of lands in Kerry, "to be held for ever, for one red rose to be rendered yearly at the feast of St John the Baptist."

His son,

ROBERT BLENNERHASSETT, of Ballycarty, First Provost of Tralee, MP for Tralee, 1613-15-35-39, married Elizabeth, daughter of Jenkin Conway (who was granted lands in the same county), and had (with a daughter, Elizabeth) three sons,

JOHN, his heir;
Edward, High Sheriff of Kerry, 1642;
Arthur, ancestor of Blennerhassett of Riddlestown.

The eldest son,

JOHN BLENNERHASSETT, of Ballyseedy, Captain of a foot regiment, 1643, MP for Kerry, High Sheriff of Kerry, 1641, who wedded Martha, daughter of George Lynn, of Southwick Hall, Peterborough, and had issue,

John, his heir; ancestor of HILDA BLENNERHASSETT;
ROBERT;
Thomas;
Mary; Alice; Lucy.

The second son,

ROBERT BLENNERHASSETT (c1622-c1689), High Sheriff of County Kerry, MP for Tralee, espoused Avice, daughter and co-heir of Jenkin Conway, of Killorglin, County Kerry, and had issue,

HENRY, his heir;
Edward;
Robert;
John;
Conway;
Thomas;
Anne; Lucy; Catherine; Avice; Alice.

The eldest son,

HENRY BLENNERHASSETT, who married Dorcas, daughter of Francis Crumpe, of Killarney, and had issue,

Arthur, who went to France and became a Doctor of the Sorbonne;
John;
William;
ROBERT, of whom presently;
Samuel;
Edward;
Richard;
Dorcas; Avice; Alice; Lucy.

The fourth son,

ROBERT BLENNERHASSETT, wedded Frances, daughter of Richard Yielding, and had issue,

ROWLAND, his heir;
Henry;
Arthur;
Belinda; Alice; Millicent; Sarah.

The eldest son,

ROWLAND BLENNERHASSETT (1741-1821), of Blennerville, espoused Millicent Agnes, daughter of Richard Yielding, of Belview, County Limerick, and had issue,

ROBERT, his successor;
Richard Francis;
Arthur, of Blennerville;
Rowland;
William;
Catherine.

Mr Blennerhassett was created a baronet, in 1809, designated of Blennerville, County Kerry.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR ROBERT BLENNERHASSETT, 2nd Baronet (1769-1831), High Sheriff of County Kerry, 1823, who married, in 1790, Rosanna, daughter of Arthur Blennerhassett, and had issue,

ARTHUR, his successor;
Rowland;
Robert;
Richard;
William;
Catherine.

Sir Robert was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR ARTHUR BLENNERHASSETT, 3rd Baronet (1794-1849), High Sheriff of County Kerry, 1820, who wedded, in 1826, Sarah, daughter of John Mahony, and had issue,

ROWLAND, his successor;
Rosanna.

Sir Arthur was succeeded by his only son,

THE RT HON SIR ROWLAND BLENNERHASSETT, 4th Baronet (1839-1909), JP, DL, MP for Galway, 1865-74, Kerry, 1880-85, High Sheriff of County Kerry, 1866, Privy Counsellor, who espoused, in 1870, Countess Charlotte Julia von Leyden, and had issue,

ARTHUR CHARLES FRANCIS BERNARD, his successor;
Paul Charles William Marmaduke Rowland;
William Lewis Rowland Paul Sebastian;
Marie Carola Franciska Roselyne.

Sir Rowland was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR ARTHUR CHARLES FRANCIS BERNARD BLENNERHASSETT, 5th Baronet (1871-1915), JP, who married, in 1899, Mary Frances, daughter of Ludwig, Baron von Aretin, and had issue, an only child,

SIR MARMADUKE CHARLES HENRY JOSEPH CASIMIR BLENNERHASSETT, 6th Baronet (1902-40), who wedded, in 1938, Gwenfra Mary, daughter of Harrington Morgan, and had issue,

MARMADUKE ADRIAN FRANCIS WILLIAM, his successor.

Sir Marmaduke, Temporary Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, was killed in action during the 2nd World War.

He was succeeded by his only son,

SIR (MARMADUKE) ADRIAN FRANCIS WILLIAM BLENNERHASSETT, 7th Baronet (1940-), who married, in 1972, Carolyn Margaret, daughter of Gilbert Brown, and has issue,

CHARLES HENRY MARMADUKE (b 1975);
Celina Mary Charlotte (b 1973).

BALLYSEEDY CASTLE, Tralee, County Kerry, is a large Georgian mansion of ca 1760.

The entrance front has two curved bows, with a battlemented roof parapet.

On one side of the front there is a low, castellated service wing, with square and circular turrets; and the other side has a "sham" wall containing false windows.

The Gothic features date from 1816.

Miss Hilda Blennerhassett (1884-1965) bequeathed Ballyseedy to her kinsman, Sir Adrian Blennerhassett, 7th Baronet.

Sir Adrian subsequently sold the estate, in 1967, to Arthur and Eileen Sheraton.

Ballyseedy, or Ballyseede as it is now called, is now a hotel.

Belfast Castle Walk

The prospect from Belfast Castle was splendid on New Year's Day, 2017.

I donned the sturdy walking shoes, stuffed a few items in the little haversack, and drove across Belfast to Cave Hill in the north of the city.

As I drove along the Antrim Road, I passed the Castle's only gate lodge, an elaborate structure built in a similar style to the mansion itself, replete with monograms, coronets and armorial bearings of the Chichester family, Marquesses of Donegall.

I motored up the winding drive and managed to find a parking-space close to Belfast Castle.

The Estate Trail walk takes about forty minutes.

Some of the signage along this route was slightly worn and in need of bolder paint.

Steam lift in the basement

The 3rd Marquess of Donegall was quoted as saying that his Ormeau estate was "under a disadvantage for want of a more suitable family residence."

Despite being in constant debt, he decided to construct a new mansion house at lands he still owned in the deer park to the north of Belfast.

W H Lynn, the architect responsible for the design of Belfast Central Library and the Bank Buildings, had designed a mansion for Lord Donegall's sister-in-law in County Tipperary, and was approached to design his lordship's new mansion at Deerpark.

The proposal to build was announced in 1865, though construction was delayed due to a legal dispute between Lord Donegall and his neighbour (he originally intended to build his new house too close to his neighbour’s property).

Lord Donegall's father, the 2nd Marquess, had squandered the family fortune to such an extent that his son was left with a very considerable burden.

The Donegall wealth had dwindled so drastically that the project was almost left unfinished.

However, the 3rd Marquess's son-in-law, Lord Ashley (afterwards 8th Earl of Shaftesbury), who had married Lord Donegall's only daughter, the Lady Harriet Chichester, effectively bailed his father-in-law out.

The cost of constructing the Scots-Baronial mansion was originally estimated to have been £11,000 (£1.2 million today).

However, the expense was considerably underestimated, resulting in the 3rd Marquess becoming embroiled in yet more debt.

The very construction of Belfast Castle was threatened.

The project was saved by Lord Ashley, who acted as guarantor and paid the outstanding sums.

Belfast Castle remained the residence of Lord Donegall for a mere 14 years (1870-84).

Tragically his only surviving son and heir, Frederick Richard, Earl of Belfast, had died in 1853.

The Castle was the Ulster residence of the 9th Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury until 1934, when Lord Shaftesbury presented the house and grounds to the City of Belfast.

Lord Shaftesbury served the office of Lord Mayor of Belfast in 1907 and was appointed Chancellor of the Queen's University of Belfast the following year.

First published in January, 2017.

Castle ffrench

THE FFRENCHES OWNED 5,025 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY GALWAY

The common ancestor of the Barons ffrench and the Barons de Freyne was WALTER FFRENCH, who migrated from Wexford and settled in the town of Galway in 1425. He was Sovereign (Chief Magistrate) of that town, 1444 to 1445.

From him descended JOHN FFRENCH, Mayor of Galway, 1538-9, who added the wing to the church of St Nicholas, Galway, called "ffrench's Aisle," and built a beautiful side chapel in the Franciscan Abbey in Galway. He also erected the stone building which stood on arches over the river at Galway, called "John ffrench's Chamber."

This munificent patron of the Church died in 1545, leaving two sons,

Dominick;

ROBUCK.

The younger son,

ROBUCK FFRENCH, Mayor of Galway, 1582-3, died in 1598, leaving issue, two sons,

EDMUND;

Walter.

The elder son,

EDMUND FFRENCH, Mayor of Galway, 1606-7, died about 1618, leaving two sons,

Dominick;

JOHN.

The younger son,

JOHN FFRENCH, purchased before 1636, the castle and lands of Clogher (now called Castle ffrench) in the baronies of Kilconnell and Killyan, County Galway, and died in 1642, leaving a son,

JASPER FFRENCH, of Clogher, who was deprived of his estate in 1655 by the Cromwellian Commissions, who allotted it to Dr Gerald Fennell and Ellen his wife.

In 1671, Jasper ffrench repurchased the estate from Ellen the widow, and got a confirmatory grant in 1677 by patent under the Acts of Settlement.

He rebuilt the castle in 1683.

Jasper ffrench had two sons,

Patrick;

MARTIN.

The younger son,

MARTIN FFRENCH, of Clogher, was father of

THOMAS FFRENCH, of Clogher, who wedded, in 1717, Clara, daughter of Charles Hamilton, of Fairfield, County Galway, and had, with other issue,

Martin;

CHARLES, of whom we treat;

Anne.

Mr ffrench died in 1755. His second son,

CHARLES FFRENCH, of Castle ffrench (otherwise Clogher), Mayor of Galway, 1773-4, was created a baronet in 1779, designated of Castle ffrench, County Galway.

He married, in 1761, Rose, daughter of Patrick Dillon, of Killeen, County Roscommon, and had issue,

THOMAS HAMILTON, his successor;
Jane; Catherine.

Sir Charles died in 1784, and his widow,

ROSE, LADY FFRENCH, was elevated to the peerage, in 1798, in the dignity of BARONESS FFRENCH, of Castle ffrench, County Galway, for services rendered to the Government by her son, with remainder to her issue by her late husband, Sir Charles.

Her ladyship died in 1805, and was succeeded by her only son,

SIR THOMAS FFRENCH, 2nd Baronet (c1765-1814), who wedded, in 1785, Margaret, eldest daughter of Thomas Reddington, of Kilcornan, County Galway, and had issue,

CHARLES AUSTIN, his successor;
Thomas;
Martin;
Nicholas;
Gonville;
Rose; Sarah; Margaret.

Sir Thomas, who succeeded to the barony of ffrench on the demise of his mother, in 1805, was a Roman Catholic, and a most strenuous supporter of the system of complete emancipation, so as to preclude religious distinctions from interfering with civil rights.

He was also an eminent banker, and the embarrassments which occurred previously to his decease are said to have hastened that event, which happened in 1814.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHARLES AUSTIN, 3rd Baron (1786-1860),  who espoused, in 1809, Maria, daughter of John Browne, and had issue,

THOMAS, his successor;
MARTIN JOSEPH, 5th Baron;
John;
Margaret Mary.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS, 4th Baron (1810-92), DL, who married, in 1851, Mary Anne, daughter of Richard Thompson, though the marriage was without issue, and he was succeeded by his brother,

MARTIN JOSEPH, 5th Baron (1813-93), JP, a barrister, who wedded, in 1862, Catherine Mary Anne, daughter of John O'Shaughnessy, and had issue,

CHARLES AUSTIN THOMAS ROBERT, his successor;
John Martin Valentine Joseph, father of the 7th Baron;
Ellen Mary Anne Josephine; Maria Anne Josephine Catherine;
Frances Mary Anne Catherine Josephine; Margaret Elizabeth Mary Anne Josephine.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHARLES AUSTIN THOMAS ROBERT, 6th Baron (1868-1955), who espoused firstly, in 1892, Margaret, daughter of Matthew James Corbally, and had issue, an only child, MARTIN JOSEPH MATTHEW (1893-4), who died in infancy.

He married secondly, in 1951, Catherine Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Christopher John Nixon Bt, without further issue, when the title devolved upon his cousin,

PETER MARTIN JOSEPH CHARLES JOHN, 7th Baron (1926-86), who espoused, in 1954, Katherine Sonya, daughter of Major Digby Coddington Cayley, and had issue,

ROBUCK JOHN PETER CHARLES MARIO, his successor;
Rose Sophia Iris Mary; Clare Katherine Grace Mary.

His lordship was succeeded by his son,

ROBUCK JOHN PETER CHARLES MARIO, 8th Baron (1956-), of Clonbrock, Ahascragh, County Galway, who married, in 1987, Dörthe Marie-Louise, daughter of Captain Wilhelm Schauer, and has issue,

Tara Elise Sophia Eleonora, born in 1993.

CASTLE FFRENCH, Ahascragh, County Galway, is a noble mansion, ashlar-faced, comprising three storeys over a high basement.

There are two adjoining fronts.

The house, built in 1779 for Sir Charles ffrench, Mayor of Galway.

There were two other buildings in the vicinity of the present house, dating from the 16th and 17th centuries.

The present mansion has a five-bay entrance front, including a three-bay breakfront.

The pilastered doorcase has a fanlight; and the roof has a parapet with urns.

The side elevation comprises three bays, with a four-bay rear elevation.

Castle ffrench is renowned for its fine plasterwork in the reception rooms, adorned with foliage, trophies, Irish harps, birds etc.

During the early 1800s the 2nd Baron ffrench lost a considerable amount of money as a result of the negligence of his bank manager; and the family fortune suffered another misfortune following the Irish famine, when the 3rd Baron refused to collect rents from his tenants.

Consequently Castle ffrench had to be sold.

It was, however, re-purchased by the parents of the 6th Baron in 1919.

First published in October, 2019.

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; 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.