THE EARLS OF KENMARE WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY KERRY, WITH 91,080 ACRES
The noble family of BROWNE was seated at Totteridge, Hertfordshire, in the reign of HENRY VIII, and at Crofts, Lincolnshire, in that of ELIZABETH I. Sir John Browne, Knight, of Crofts, entered his pedigree at the Heralds' Visitation of Lincolnshire, 1634. Since the establishment of the family in Ireland, it held a very distinguished position in the public transactions of that country.
SIR VALENTINE BROWNE, Knight, of Totteridge, Hertfordshire, Crofts, Lincolnshire, Hoxton, Middlesex, and Ross Castle, County Kerry (son of Sir Valentine Browne, Knight, of Totteridge and Hoxton, Constable-Warden, Victualler, and Treasurer of Berwick; Auditor-General of Ireland in the reign of ELIZABETH I; died 1567), received in 1583, instructions, jointly with Sir Henry Wallop, for the survey of several escheated lands in Ireland.
He was subsequently sworn of the Privy Council, and represented County Sligo in parliament in 1585. In the same year, Sir Valentine purchased from Donald, Earl of Clancare, all the lands, manors, etc in counties Kerry and Cork, which had been in the possession of Teige Dermot MacCormac and Rorie Donoghoemore.
Sir Valentine married firstly, Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Alexander, of London, and had issue, a son,
VALENTINE, of Crofts.
He wedded secondly, Thomasine, sister of the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, Sir Nicholas Bacon, and had further issue,
SIR NICHOLAS, who succeeded his father in the Irish estates;Valentine;Thomas;Elizabeth; Anne.
Sir Valentine died in 1588-89, and was buried at St Catherine's Church, Dublin; his eldest son by his second wife,
SIR NICHOLAS BROWNE, Knight, of Molahiffe, County Kerry, being co-patentee with his father of the Kerry estates, wedded Sichely Sheela, or Julia, daughter of O'Sullivan Beare, and had issue,
VALENTINE, his heir;Sir Nicholas died in 1606, and was succeeded by his son,
Anne.
VALENTINE BROWNE, of Molahiffe, High Sheriff of County Kerry, 1623, who was created a baronet in 1622, designated of Molahiffe, County Kerry.
Sir Valentine, after his father's decease, presented a petition to JAMES I, praying an abatement of the yearly rent reserved on the estate which he held from the Crown, as an undertaker, at the annual sum of £113 6s 8d, in regard of the small profit he made of it, being set out in the most barren and remote part of County Kerry; which request was complied with;
And he received a confirmation, by patent, of all his lands at a reduced rent, the grant from the Crown including "the Lakes of Killarney, with all the Islands of or in the same, and the fisheries of the said Lakes, and the soil and bottom thereof."He married firstly, the Lady Alice FitzGerald, fifth daughter of Gerald, 14th Earl of Desmond, and had issue,
VALENTINE, his successor.
Sir Valentine espoused secondly, Julia, daughter of Charles, 1st Viscount Muskerry, and had further issue,
Thomas, of hospital.
Sir Valentine died in 1633, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
SIR VALENTINE BROWNE, 2nd Baronet, who wedded, ante 1638, Mary, second daughter of Charles, 1st Viscount Muskerry (sister of his father's second wife), and had, with two daughters,
SIR VALENTINE BROWNE, 2nd Baronet, who wedded, ante 1638, Mary, second daughter of Charles, 1st Viscount Muskerry (sister of his father's second wife), and had, with two daughters,
VALENTINE, his successor;John, of Ardagh.
Sir Valentine died in 1640, and was succeeded by his elder son,
SIR VALENTINE BROWNE, 3rd Baronet (1638-94), of Ross Castle, sworn of the Privy Council of JAMES II, and created by that monarch, subsequently to his abdication, in 1689, Baron Castlerosse and Viscount Kenmare.
His lordship, who was Colonel of Infantry in the army of JAMES II, forfeited his estates by his inviolable fidelity to that unfortunate monarch.
He wedded Jane, only daughter and heiress of Sir Nicholas Plunkett, of Balrath, County Meath, and had five sons and four daughters.
The 1st Viscount was succeeded by his eldest son,
NICHOLAS, 2nd Viscount, of Ross Castle, an officer of rank in the service of JAMES II, and attainted in consequence, who espoused, in 1664, Helen, eldest daughter and co-heir of Thomas Browne, of Hospital, by whom he obtained a very considerable fortune, but which, with his own estates, became forfeited for his life.
The crown, however, allowed his lady a rent-charge of £400 per year for the maintenance of herself and her children.
Sir Nicholas died in 1720, leaving four daughters and his son and successor,
VALENTINE, 3rd Viscount (1695-1736), of Kenmare House, who recovered possession of the family estates forfeited for the life of his father.
His lordship, who was Colonel of Infantry in the army of JAMES II, forfeited his estates by his inviolable fidelity to that unfortunate monarch.
He wedded Jane, only daughter and heiress of Sir Nicholas Plunkett, of Balrath, County Meath, and had five sons and four daughters.
The 1st Viscount was succeeded by his eldest son,
NICHOLAS, 2nd Viscount, of Ross Castle, an officer of rank in the service of JAMES II, and attainted in consequence, who espoused, in 1664, Helen, eldest daughter and co-heir of Thomas Browne, of Hospital, by whom he obtained a very considerable fortune, but which, with his own estates, became forfeited for his life.
The crown, however, allowed his lady a rent-charge of £400 per year for the maintenance of herself and her children.
Sir Nicholas died in 1720, leaving four daughters and his son and successor,
VALENTINE, 3rd Viscount (1695-1736), of Kenmare House, who recovered possession of the family estates forfeited for the life of his father.
He married, in 1720, Honoria, second daughter of Colonel Thomas Butler, and great-grandniece of James, Duke of Ormonde, by whom he had issue, Thomas, his successor, and two daughters.
Sir Valentine espoused secondly, in 1735, Mary, Dowager Countess of Fingall, by whom he left a posthumous daughter, Mary Frances.
He was succeeded by his only son,
THOMAS, 4th Viscount (1726-95), of Kenmare House, who wedded, in 1750, Anne, only daughter of Thomas Cooke, of Painstown, County Carlow, by whom he had a son and a daughter, Catherine, married to Count de Durfort-Civrac.
He was succeeded by his son,
VALENTINE, 5th Viscount (1754-1812), of Kenmare House, who was created (the viscountcy of JAMES II never having been acknowledged in law), in 1798, Baron Castlerosse and Viscount Kenmare.
His lordship was further advanced to the dignity of an earldom, in 1800, as EARL OF KENMARE.
He married firstly, in 1777, Charlotte, daughter of Henry, 11th Viscount Dillon, and had an only daughter, Charlotte.
His lordship wedded secondly, in 1785, Mary, eldest daughter of Michael Aylmer, of Lyons, County Kildare, and had issue,
VALENTINE, his successor;His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,
Thomas;
William;
Michael;
Marianne; Frances.
VALENTINE, 2nd Earl (1788-1853), PC, of Kenmare House, who espoused, in 1816, Augusta, daughter of Sir Robert Wilmot, 2nd Baronet, though the marriage was without issue, when the family honours devolved upon his brother,
THOMAS, 3rd Earl (1789-1871), of Kenmare House, who married, in 1822, Catherine, daughter of Edmond O'Callaghan, and had issue,
VALENTINE AUGUSTUS, his successor;His lordship was succeeded by his son,
Ellen Maria; Mary Caroline.
VALENTINE AUGUSTUS, 4th Earl (1825-1905), KP PC JP, of Killarney House, High Sheriff of County Kerry, 1851, Knight of St Patrick, 1872, who wedded, in 1858, Gertrude Harriet, daughter of the Rev Lord Charles Thynne, and had issue,
VALENTINE CHARLES, his successor;His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,
Cecil Augustine;
Margaret Theodora May Catherine.
VALENTINE CHARLES, 5th Earl (1860-1941), CVO, of Killarney House, last Lord-Lieutenant of County Kerry, 1905-22, who espoused, in 1887, Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Charles Baring, and had issue,
VALENTINE EDWARD CHARLES, his successor;His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,
Maurice Henry Dermot (1894-1915);
GERALD RALPH DESMOND, 7th Earl;
DOROTHY MARGARET; Cecilia Kathleen.
VALENTINE EDWARD CHARLES, 6th Earl (1891-1943), of Kenmare House, Captain, Irish Guards, who married firstly, in 1928, Doris, daughter of Edward Delevinge; and secondly, in 1943, Enid Maude (3, Lees Place, W1), widow of Roderick Cameron.
His lordship dsp 1943, and was succeeded by his brother,
GERALD RALPH DESMOND, 7th Earl (1896-1952), OBE, of Kenmare House, Major, 1st Dragoons, served in 1st World War, 1916-18, ADC to His Excellency the Governor-General of Ireland, 1921, who died unmarried, when the titles expired.
GERALD RALPH DESMOND, 7th Earl (1896-1952), OBE, of Kenmare House, Major, 1st Dragoons, served in 1st World War, 1916-18, ADC to His Excellency the Governor-General of Ireland, 1921, who died unmarried, when the titles expired.
The Kenmare Estate subsequently passed to the 7th Earl's sister,
THE HON DOROTHY MARGARET BROWNE (1888-1961), one of Her Majesty's train bearers at the coronation of GEORGE V, 1911, who married firstly, in 1914, Lord Edward Arthur Grosvenor, youngest son of Hugh, 1st Duke of Westminster, KG, and had issue,
Beatrice Elizabeth Katherine; Rosemary Helen.
The elder daughter,
BEATRICE ELIZABETH KATHERINE GROSVENOR CBE (1915-85), of Kenmare House, Killarney, County Kerry, wedded, in 1944, Major Richard Desiré Girouard; the marriage was without issue.
Her sister,
ROSEMARY HELEN GROSVENOR (1918-69), married, in 1945, Major the Hon George William ffolkes Dawney MC, and had issue,
Valentine George;EDWARD WILLIAM;Elizabeth Rose; Mary Isabel Dorothy.
Following Beatrice Grosvenor's death, the remnants of the Kenmare Estate passed to her nephew, Edward William Dawney (who is married to Lady Jane Meriel Grosvenor, daughter of 5th Duke of Westminster).
The original Kenmare House (above) was built in 1726, after the estates were recovered by Sir Valentine Browne, 5th Baronet and 3rd Viscount Kenmare in the Jacobite peerage.
It was a grandiose structure with the characteristics of a French château, perhaps influenced by the Brownes' time spent exiled in France with JAMES II.
Lord Kenmare designed the house himself: It was two storeys in height, and had dormered attics and steep, slated roofs.
There were thirteen bays in front of the house, with three bays on each side of the centre breaking forward.
A servant’s wing was added around 1775.
In 1861 Valentine, Lord Castlerosse, played host to Queen Victoria at Killarney.
During the visit of the Queen to Kenmare House, Her Majesty chose the site of Killarney House, a vast Victorian-Tudor mansion, which was the successor to Kenmare House.
The 4th Earl of Kenmare built the new mansion in 1872 (above), on a hillside several hundred yards away from its predecessor, with spectacular views of Lough Leane.
In 1861 Valentine, Lord Castlerosse, played host to Queen Victoria at Killarney.
During the visit of the Queen to Kenmare House, Her Majesty chose the site of Killarney House, a vast Victorian-Tudor mansion, which was the successor to Kenmare House.
The 4th Earl of Kenmare built the new mansion in 1872 (above), on a hillside several hundred yards away from its predecessor, with spectacular views of Lough Leane.
The Victorian Elizabethan-Revival mansion was erected on a more elevated site, at a cost exceeding £100,000.
Its predecessor, Kenmare House, was demolished; the stable block beside it, however, remained.
Killarney House was supposed to have been instigated by Lady Kenmare (Gertrude Thynne, granddaughter of Thomas, 2nd Marquess of Bath, and inspired by Lord Bath's genuinely Elizabethan seat, Longleat in Wiltshire (which is not red-brick).
It was not unusual for the descendants of Elizabethan or Jacobean settlers in Ireland to assert their comparative antiquity in this period by building "Jacobethan" houses.
The house, which in addition to its other defects apparently did not sit happily in the landscape as it had many gables and oriels.
The interior was panelled and hung with Spanish leather.
It was considered to be one of the finest mansions in Ireland.
Killarney House was burnt twice: once, in 1879, just after its completion; and again, finally, in November, 1913.
It was never rebuilt.
The stable block, originally beside Kenmare House, however, was converted for family use as their new residence.
Killarney House and the Browne estate in Kerry were donated by Mrs Grosvenor (niece of 7th Earl) to form Killarney National Park.
The Victorian mansion was demolished in 1872 by the 4th Earl; and its successor was accidentally destroyed by fire in 1913 and never rebuilt; instead, the stable block was converted into the present Kenmare House.
In 1866, King Leopold II of Belgium visited the Kenmares at Killarney.
Sir Edwin Lutyens (the architect for Lady Kenmare's brother, the 3rd Baron Revelstoke, at Lambay Castle on Lambay Island, County Dublin, advised Lord Kenmare to build the new Kenmare House.
This Kenmare House was later abandoned and sold, when a new Kenmare House was built.
This new manor was confusingly constructed on the site of the former Killarney House by Mrs Beatrice Grosvenor, CBE, in 1956.
Less than twenty years later, in 1974, the house was replaced.
This last Kenmare House was built on the Killorglin Road, beside the Killarney golf course and the Castlerosse Hotel.
The sale of Kenmare House in 1985 to Denis P Kelleher effectively marked the end of the Kenmare family's proprietary connection with Killarney, after 450 years.
Killarney House was supposed to have been instigated by Lady Kenmare (Gertrude Thynne, granddaughter of Thomas, 2nd Marquess of Bath, and inspired by Lord Bath's genuinely Elizabethan seat, Longleat in Wiltshire (which is not red-brick).
It was not unusual for the descendants of Elizabethan or Jacobean settlers in Ireland to assert their comparative antiquity in this period by building "Jacobethan" houses.
The house, which in addition to its other defects apparently did not sit happily in the landscape as it had many gables and oriels.
The interior was panelled and hung with Spanish leather.
It was considered to be one of the finest mansions in Ireland.
Killarney House was burnt twice: once, in 1879, just after its completion; and again, finally, in November, 1913.
It was never rebuilt.
The stable block, originally beside Kenmare House, however, was converted for family use as their new residence.
Killarney House and the Browne estate in Kerry were donated by Mrs Grosvenor (niece of 7th Earl) to form Killarney National Park.
The Victorian mansion was demolished in 1872 by the 4th Earl; and its successor was accidentally destroyed by fire in 1913 and never rebuilt; instead, the stable block was converted into the present Kenmare House.
In 1866, King Leopold II of Belgium visited the Kenmares at Killarney.
Sir Edwin Lutyens (the architect for Lady Kenmare's brother, the 3rd Baron Revelstoke, at Lambay Castle on Lambay Island, County Dublin, advised Lord Kenmare to build the new Kenmare House.
This Kenmare House was later abandoned and sold, when a new Kenmare House was built.
This new manor was confusingly constructed on the site of the former Killarney House by Mrs Beatrice Grosvenor, CBE, in 1956.
Less than twenty years later, in 1974, the house was replaced.
This last Kenmare House was built on the Killorglin Road, beside the Killarney golf course and the Castlerosse Hotel.
The sale of Kenmare House in 1985 to Denis P Kelleher effectively marked the end of the Kenmare family's proprietary connection with Killarney, after 450 years.
Town residence ~ 54, Eaton Place, Belgrave Square.
First published in August, 2011.
First published in August, 2011.
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