Clanabogan House

THE GALBRAITHS OWNED 3,826 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY TYRONE

JOHN GALBRAITH settled at Roscavey, County Tyrone, and died in 1668, leaving a son and successor,

CAPTAIN JAMES GALBRAITH, of Roscavey, who marred Mary, widow of Captain James Gledstanes, of FARDROSS, County Tyrone, and left an only son,

JOHN GALBRAITH (c1670-1742), of Roscavey, who wedded Anne Maria, eldest daughter of the Rev Richard Forbes, Rector of Ballinderry, and was father of

JOHN GALBRAITH (c1711-51), of Roscavey, Barrister, who espoused Katherine, daughter of Samuel Perry, of Mullaghmore, and had issue,

JAMES, his heir;
George (Rev);
John Forbes;
Samuel, of Greenmount and Omagh;
Katherine; Mary; Anne.

Mr Galbraith was succeeded by his eldest son,

JAMES GALBRAITH JP, of Roscavey, Deputy Governor of Tyrone, who married, in 1762, Mary, third daughter of Brabazon Noble, of Donaghmoyne, County Monaghan, and had issue, two sons and five daughters, who all died unmarried except the second son,

JAMES GALBRAITH, of Roscavey, who wedded his cousin Katherine, daughter and eventually heiress of Samuel Galbraith, of Greenmount and Omagh, and had issue,

James, died unmarried;
John, of Greenmount and Roscavey;
George;
SAMUEL, of whom we treat.

Mr Galbraith died in 1800, and was succeeded by his youngest son,

SAMUEL GALBRAITH JP (1797-1864), of Clanabogan and Riverstown, County Tyrone, and of Crowdrumin, County Longford, who succeeded to the entailed estates of his uncle, Arthur Lowry Galbraith in 1819, and to those of his mother in 1832.

He espoused, in 1824, Susanna Jane, second daughter of the Rev Dr Robert Handcock, and had issue,

JOHN SAMUEL, his heir;
Robert;
Samuel;
GEORGE (Very Rev), of Clanabogan;
James;
William Arthur;
Jane; Katherine.

Mr Galbraith, High Sheriff of County Tyrone, 1833, County Longford, 1840, was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN SAMUEL GALBRAITH JP DL (1828-1903), of Clanabogan and Riverstown, and Crowdrumin, High Sheriff of County Longford, 1874, Tyrone, 1875, who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his brother,

THE VERY REV GEORGE GALBRAITH (1829-1911), of Clanabogan, Dean of Derry, who married, in 1874, Florence, youngest daughter of ACHESON LYLE, of The Oaks, County Londonderry, and had issue,

SAMUEL HAROLD LYLE, his heir;
James Ponsonby;
Eleanor Georgina Susannah.

The Dean was succeeded by his elder son,

SAMUEL HAROLD LYLE GALBRAITH (1876-1922), of Clanabogan, Captain, Royal Irish Regiment.

CLANABOGAN HOUSE, near Omagh, County Tyrone, is a two-storey, three-bay, 18th-century rendered house, built ca 1750, developed during the 19th century and largely remodelled in the early 20th century.

It is asymmetrical, with Georgian detailing that has an elaborate spatial arrangement indicative of the differing periods of ownership and occupation.

Clanabogan is well preserved in its various phases.

It remains a fine example of an evolved eighteenth century residence.

Alistair Rowan describes Clanabogan as

‘... a typical gentleman’s estate in mid Victorian Ulster, created by Samuel Galbraith Esquire, with house, family church for a specially created curacy , and a modern rectory ... large, plain double pile house... mid-18th century ... inherited by Samuel Galbraith from his uncle in 1819."

The main double-pile block has thick internal wall construction and its proportions are indicative of a mid-18th century date.

There is evidence of at least two distinct periods of remodelling.

The plasterwork in the parlour appears to be Victorian in character; while the oak staircase is of early 20th-century appearance.

It is thought that major remodelling occurred in the early 20th century.

The present owner, who purchased Clanabogan in 1994, believes that part of the house was occupied by evacuated families during the 2nd World War, hence the division of the house, with separate stairwells leading to the first floor.

Clanabogan was converted to bed & breakfast accommodation in 2002.

First published in August, 2017.