New DL

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY LIEUTENANT

Mrs Alison Millar, Lord-Lieutenant of County Londonderry, has been pleased to appoint:-

Miss Paula McIntyre MBE
Portstewart
County Londonderry

To be a Deputy Lieutenant of the County, her Commission bearing date, the 22nd day of August 2022.

Edith, Marchioness of Londonderry

Lord Belmont in Northern Ireland © 2011

THE MOST HONOURABLE EDITH HELEN MARCHIONESS OF LONDONDERRY DBE (1878-1959)

Lady Londonderry, whose husband was the 7th Marquess, was the daughter of Henry, 1st Viscount Chaplin.

In the image above she wears the famed Londonderry Jewels, many of which are now on display in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The insignia of a Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is worn. 

The photograph was taken in the drawing-room of Londonderry House, with, it is believed, the large portrait of Castlereagh behind her.

Lady Londonderry was preparing to leave for the 1948 State Opening of Parliament, the first full dress State Opening since the end of the 2nd World War. 

This was to be the last State Opening for Edith Londonderry, since her husband, the 7th Marquess, died several months later.

First published in November, 2011.  Charles Villiers, a grandson of the late Lady Mairi Bury and great-grandson of the 7th Marquess and Marchioness of Londonderry, has kindly provided this information from his archives.

Thomastown Park

THE BENNETTS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN THE KING'S COUNTY, WITH 5,480 ACRES

NICHOLAS BENNETT married Mabel O’Kelly, of County Roscommon, and had issue,

Nicholas, died unmarried;
FRANCIS, his heir;
Mabel, m to John Ball;
Anne, died unmarried.

The eldest surviving son, 

FRANCIS BENNETT, of Thomastown, wedded Elizabeth Laffin, of County Kilkenny, and had issue,

Thomas, died unmarried;
VALENTINE;
Mary Catherine, m to Lt-Col L'Estrange;
Elizabeth Emily, m to John Farrell.

The younger son,

VALENTINE BENNETT JP DL, of Thomastown, High Sheriff of King's County (Offaly), 1830, married, in 1894, Elizabeth Helen, daughter of George Ryan, of Inch House, County Tipperary, and had issue,

FRANCIS VALENTINE, his heir;
George Henry;
Thomas Joseph;
Henry Grey;
Valentine;
FREDERICK PHILIP, succeeded his brother;
Albert;
Elizabeth Marian.

Mr Bennett died in 1839, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

FRANCIS VALENTINE BENNETT JP DL (1826-90), of Thomastown Park, High Sheriff of King's County, 1854, who died without issue, and was succeeded by his brother,

FREDERICK PHILIP BENNETT JP DL (1830-1905), High Sheriff of King's County, 1895, who died at Monaco.

Mr Bennett left his estate to Mr Valentine Ryan, on condition that he adopt the name of BENNETT.

THOMASTOWN PARK HOUSE, Frankford, near Birr, County Offaly, was built in the mid-18th century.

There is said to be an old castle within the demesne.

The house, built during the mid-18th century for the Leggat family, and in the ownership of the Bennett family during the 19th century, was once a large and important demesne within County Offaly.

The house even had a private chapel.

Though the country house itself is no longer extant, the associated structures of the demesne remain.

(Image: Country Life/Nicholas Kingsley)

Notable elements include the large walls which surround what once was a deer park; the finely tooled limestone entrance gates; the walled garden; and the outbuilding with ashlar bellcote.

The walled garden, outbuilding, deer park and former entrance gates and lodge to former Thomastown Park House, built ca 1750.

Main entrance gates (above) with square-profile, ashlar limestone gate piers with frieze and capping stones with wrought-iron gates flanked by pedestrian entrances with tooled limestone surrounds flanked by quadrant walls; large, walled deer park to north of former demesne with random coursed stone walls.

Walled garden to west of former house site with random coursed stone walls and red brick internal wall to north.

Outbuilding to farmyard complex with rough-cast rendered walls, corrugated roof and ashlar limestone bell-cote to south-east elevation.

Segmental and square-headed carriage arch openings with corrugated doors.

The estate was sold by Group Captain Richard Stephen Ryan CBE RAF in 1951.

There are more images of the house here.

First published in January, 2013.

Anketell Grove

THE ANCKETILLS WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY MONAGHAN, WITH 7,754 ACRES

This family was of high station in Dorset at a very remote period (its name appearing in the Domesday Book). As early as the reign of EDWARD I, several of its members represented the borough of Shaftesbury in Parliament.

The pedigree and history, as anciently of Ancketill's Place, near Shaftesbury, and east Aimer, near Sturminster Marshall, and more anciently of Lye, near Wimborne, and represented by Ancketill, of Ancketill's Grove, are given in the 3rd edition of Hutchins' History of Dorset, and there carried down to 1868; the pedigree extends to twenty-three generations, and shows intermarriages with the most distinguished of the old Dorset families.

The history shows the active part which this family took as Royalists in the time of CHARLES I in Dorset, and that its descendants and representatives in Ireland, when called upon, were not found wanting in devotion to what they considered the right cause.

The first ancestor of this line, 

CAPTAIN OLIVER ANCKETILL JP (1609-66), of County Monaghan, High Sheriff of County Monaghan, 1662, son of William Ancketill, of Shaftesbury, Dorset, married Rebecca, probably of the family of Bullingbrooke, of Galway, and and issue,

MATTHEW, his heir;
William;
Richard;
Sarah, m 1660, James Corry, ancestor of the Earls of Belmore;
Elizabeth.

Captain Ancketill was succeeded by his eldest son,

MATTHEW ANCKETILL (1651-88), of Ancketill's Grove, County Monaghan, to whom that estate was confirmed, by patent, in the reign of CHARLES II.

He was High Sheriff of County Monaghan, 1682, but was attainted by JAMES II.

Mr Ancketill wedded Matilda, daughter of Robert Moore, of Ravella and Garvey, County Tyrone, and had (with other issue),

WILLIAM, his heir;
OLIVER, succeeded his brother;
Robert;
Catherine.

Mr Ancketill was killed at the battle of Drumbanagher Hill, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM ANCKETILL (1677-1709), of Ancketill's Grove, High Sheriff of County Monaghan, 1707, who dsp 1709, and was succeeded by his next brother,

OLIVER ANKETELL (1676-1760), of Ancketill's Grove, MP for Monaghan Borough, 1753-60, High Sheriff of County Monaghan, 1703, who married firstly, in 1716, Sarah Caulfeild, second daughter of William, 2nd Viscount Charlemont, by Anne Margetson, his wife, only daughter of the Most Rev James Margetson, Lord Archbishop of Armagh, and had issue (with three daughters),

WILLIAM (1724-56), father of CHARLES;

Mr Ancketill espoused secondly, when about 80 years of age, Anne Stephens (née Tuton), but died immediately thereafter, and was succeeded by his grandson,

CHARLES ANKETELL (1754-1828), of Anketell Grove, who died unmarried, and was succeeded by his nephew,

WILLIAM ANKETELL JP DL (1790-1851), of Anketell Grove, High Sheriff of County Monaghan, 1830, who married, in 1809, Sarah, second daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel John Charles Frederick Waring Maxwell, of Finnebrogue, County Down, and had issue,

MATTHEW JOHN, his heir;
William Robert, of Quintin Castle, Portaferry;
Oliver Charles;
Fitz Ameline Maxwell, of Killyfaddy, Clogher;
Maxwell;
Moutray;
Anne Dorothea; Maria; Matilda Jane.

Mr Anketell was succeeded by his eldest son,

MATTHEW JOHN ANKETELL JP DL (1812-70), of Anketell Grove, High Sheriff of County Monaghan, 1834, Major, Monaghan Militia, who married, in 1840, Catherine Frances Anne, eldest daughter of David Ker MP, of Portavo and Montalto, County Down, by the Lady Selina his wife, daughter of the 1st Marquess of Londonderry, and had issue,

MATTHEW DAVID, his heir;
Oliver Frederick (1850-72);
WILLIAM, succeeded his brother;
Henry;
Robert Waring Maxwell;
Selina Sarah; Ada; Frances Emmeline; Gertrude Madelina;
Bertha Grace Phœbe; Octavia Mary; Augusta.

Major Anketell was succeeded by his eldest son,

MATTHEW DAVID ANKETELL (1841-72), of Anketell Grove, who was killed by a fall from horseback, died unmarried, and was succeeded by his next surviving brother,

WILLIAM ANCKETILL DL (1851-1931), of Ancketill's Grove, Lieutenant, Royal Tyrone Fusiliers, who married, in 1875, Jean Laing, daughter of Robert Falkner, of Broughton Park, Lancashire, and had issue, an only child,

OLIVE MAUD ANCKETILL (1876-1909), who wedded firstly, in 1901, Reginald George Petre Wymer, only son of Reginald Augustus Wymer, and grandson of Sir Henry George Petre Wymer KCB, and had issue, a daughter, Lovice Vivian Petre.

She espoused secondly, in 1907, Michael Linning Henry Melville, Egyptian Civil Service, and had issue, a daughter,

Monica Agnes Ancketill, born in 1908.

ANKETELL GROVE, near Emyvale, County Monaghan, was originally built by Captain Oliver Ancketill about 1640, on low ground.

His grandson Oliver rebuilt the house on higher ground at the head of the copper beech avenue.

This house was demolished in 1781, when a third dwelling was erected on another site: A two-storey, five-bay, gable-ended main block with a small pediment, joined by curved sweeps to single-storey, two-bay wings.

There are Georgian-Gothic windows in the wings.

The house was extensively remodelled about 1840, boasting an central Italianate attic tower at the centre, which rises from ground level.

The estate was mortgaged by William Anketell, early in 1884, to the Scottish Provident Insurance Association. Mr Anketell had been, by that stage, in financial difficulties.

Scottish Provident began evictions almost at once: The estate was put up for sale in the Encumbered Estates Court in 1886 and the Scottish Provident became absolute owners of the whole estate, with the exception of Anketell Grove House, demesne and three townlands.

In 1899, Scottish Provident received £4,800 in advances from the Government for sales to sixty two tenants.

In 1901, William Anketell received £3,820 for sales to thirty-three tenants (Dublin Gazette, 26th July, 1901, pps 1045-6).

Some time thereafter the Anketells removed to Killyfaddy, near Clogher, County Tyrone. 

Anketell Grove was purchased from the Irish Land Commission in 1922 by Patrick McKenna, of Derryhee, nearby.

In 1970, Anketell Grove and ninety acres of land were purchased by Mr Laurence Clerkin, the present owner.

 I AM GRATEFUL TO HENRY SKEATH FOR HIS INVALUABLE ASSISTANCE IN THE COMPOSITION OF THIS ARTICLE.

First published in April, 2013.

Gibb's Island Day

Gibb's Island (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

I was awake shortly before 6am this morning, so without further ado I slid out of bed, put on the swimming trunks, a pair of shorts, a polo shirt, and the supremely comfortable Birkenstock Gizeh flip-flops, and motored the shortish distance to my health club for the constitutional one-mile swim.

Tim Ferres, August 10th, 2022

Matej, one of our resident National Trust rangers, is leaving our shores for South America soon, so we arranged to have a celebratory farewell lunch and presentation for him today at the Dufferin Arms in Killyleagh, County Down.

Gibb's Island (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

The "Duff" isn't far from Gibb's Island, a Trust property beside Delamont country park in County Down.

Of course we were blessed with absolutely glorious weather today.

Yellow Rattle on Gibb's (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

The task was to scythe a wild flower called Yellow Rattle on Gibb's, or as much as possible, in order to collect the seeds.

Several of us - including self - scythed; while others came along behind us gathering the Yellow Rattle into a large container.

Yellow Rattle seeds (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

Thereafter the seeds are separated from their pods.

Several others painted a metal kissing gate.

When we had finished the job, we all drove into Killyleagh and made a bee-line for the Dufferin Arms.

There were about nineteen of us.

Dufferin Arms scampi (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

I opted for Walter Ewing's scampi, battered, with garlic chunky chips, mushy peas, dressed salad, and tartare sauce; which was very enjoyable.

There was no natural daylight in our dining-room, because it was in the basement.

Matej was presented with gifts, including a metal Thermos flask and half-bottle of Old Bushmills whiskey.

All in all, a terrific day out.

Gormanston Castle

THE VISCOUNTS GORMANSTON WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY MEATH, WITH 9,657 ACRES

The first member of this very ancient and distinguished family which is found upon record in Ireland is PHILIP DE PRESTON, whose grandson, ROGER DE PRESTON, was justice of the court of Common Pleas in the first year of EDWARD III; and in 1331, one of the justices of the Court of King's Bench.

The son and heir of this learned person, 

SIR ROBERT PRESTON, who was knighted in the field, in 1361, by Lionel, Duke of Clarence, and obtained a grant forever of the manor of Gormanston, in counties Dublin and Meath, was Lord Preston in Lancashire, and filled the office of LORD CHANCELLOR OF IRELAND.

Being possessed of Carbury in County Kildare, he made that the chief place of his residence.

This gentleman was elevated to the peerage some time between 1365-70 as Baron Gormanston.

His lordship married Margaret, daughter and heir of Walter de Bermingham, and dying in 1396, was succeeded by his only son,

CHRISTOPHER (c1354-1422), 2nd Baron, who was imprisoned in the castle of Trim for corresponding with the prior of Kilmainham.

He wedded Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of William de Londres, feudal baron of Naas in right of his mother, Emma, daughter of William FitzMaurice, 1st Baron of Naas (so created by HENRY II), and his wife, Helen, sister of Richard, Earl of Pembroke (by which marriage the Prestons obtained the barony of Naas).

His lordship was succeeded by his only son,

CHRISTOPHER, 3rd Baron, who espoused Jane, daughter of Sir Jenico d'Artois, Knight, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

ROBERT (1435-1503), 4th Baron,

Who was appointed deputy to Sir John Dynham, Lord Chancellor of Ireland; and Richard, Duke of York, youngest son of EDWARD IV, being constituted Lord Deputy of Ireland, in 1478, Sir Robert was appointed that prince's deputy (he being a minor), with power to elect a deputy to himself.

In 1478, his lordship was advanced to a viscountcy, by the title of VISCOUNT GORMANSTON.

His lordship sat in the parliament of 1490, and in that of 1493.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM, 2nd Viscount, who filled the office of deputy to Sir James Ormonde, Lord Treasurer of Ireland in 1493.

In 1504, his lordship attended the Earl of Kildare, the Lord Deputy, to the famous battle of Knocktough, in the province of Connaught, where, with Lord Killeen, he led the wings of the bowmen; and in 1525, he was appointed Lord Justice of Ireland.

His lordship died in 1532, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

JENICO, 3rd Viscount (1502-69), who was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHRISTOPHER, 4th Viscount (1546-99), who left, with several daughters, three sons, namely,

JENICO, his heir;
Thomas, created Viscount Tara;
William.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

JENICO, 5th Viscount (1584-1630), who left (with a daughter) a son and successor,

NICHOLAS, 6th Viscount (1608-43), who wedded Mary, daughter of Nicholas, 1st Viscount Kingsland, and had issue,

JENICO, his successor;
Nicholas, father of 8th and 9th Viscounts.

This nobleman sided with the rebel Irish Roman Catholics, 1641-42, and acted as their General-in-Chief; for this he was outlawed after his death and posthumously exempted from Cromwell's pardon, 1652.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

JENICO, 7th Viscount, who having adhered to his legitimate sovereign, JAMES II, was indicted for high treason, and outlawed upon that indictment in 1691.

His lordship dying, however, in 1691, without male issue, was succeeded by his nephew,

JENICO, de jure 8th Viscount (1640-1700); but the title was not acknowledged, although borne by his lordship and his three immediate successors.

He was succeeded by his brother,

ANTHONY, de jure 9th Viscount, who espoused, in 1700, Mary, only child of his uncle, Jenico, 7th Viscount, and was succeeded by his only son,

JENICO, de jure 10th Viscount (1707-57), who wedded, in 1729, Thomasine, eldest daughter of John, 11th Baron Trimlestown, and had, with other issue,

ANTHONY, his successor;
James;
Jenico;
John;
Catherine; Frances; Bridget; Elizabeth Margaret.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

ANTHONY, de jure 11th Viscount, who espoused Henrietta, daughter of John Robinson, of Denston Hall, Suffolk; and dying in 1786, left issue by her,

JENICO, 12th Viscount (1775-1860), who, in 1800, obtained the removal of the outlawry of his predecessors and had a writ of summons to take his seat in the Irish House of Lords, but owing to the final prorogation of that House he did not have the opportunity to do so, took an active part in the cause of Catholic Emancipation.

His lordship wedded, in 1794, Margaret, eldest daughter of Thomas, 2nd Viscount Southwell, by whom he had issue,

EDWARD ANTHONY JOHN, his successor;
Arthur Anthony;
Jenico Charles;
Robert;
Charles;
Edmund;
Matilda.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

EDWARD ANTHONY JOHN, 13th Viscount (1796-1876), High Sheriff of County Meath, 1831, High Sheriff of County Dublin, 1845, who married, in 1836, Lucretia, daughter of William Charles Jerningham, and had issue,

JENICO WILLIAM JOSEPH, his successor;
Edward Francis John;
Margaret Frances Agnes; Lucretia Pauline Mary; Charlotte Agnes Mary.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

JENICO WILLIAM JOSEPH, 14th Viscount (1837-1907), GCMG JP DL, High Sheriff of County Dublin, 1865, who espoused firstly, in 1861, Ismay Louise Ursula, daughter of Patrick, 1st Baron Bellew, though the marriage was without issue.

He married secondly, in 1878, Georgina Jane, daughter of Peter Connelan, and had issue,

JENICO EDWARD JOSEPH, his successor;
Richard Martin Peter;
Hubert Anthony John;
Ismay Lucretia Mary.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

JENICO EDWARD JOSEPH, 15th Viscount (1879-1925), JP DL, who wedded, in 1911, Eileen, daughter of Lieutenant-General the Rt Hon Sir William Butler, of Bansha Castle, County Tipperary, and had issue,

JENICO WILLIAM RICHARD, his successor;
Robert Francis Hubert;
Stephen Edward Thomas;
Eileen Antionette Mary.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

JENICO WILLIAM RICHARD, 16th Viscount (1914-40), 2nd Lieutenant, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, who espoused, in 1939, Pamela, daughter of Captain Edward Dudley Hanly, and had issue, an only child,

JENICO NICHOLAS DUDLEY, his successor.

His lordship was killed in action, aged 25, in France.

He was succeeded by his only son,

JENICO NICHOLAS DUDLEY, 17th Viscount (1939-), who is married with issue and lives in London.

The Viscounts Gormanston are the premier viscounts of Ireland.

GORMANSTON CASTLE, Balbriggan, County Meath, is situated near Drogheda, about sixteen miles north of Dublin.

Mark Bence-Jones states that the old Manor at Gormanston was low and gabled, adjoined to a chapel where Mass was said all through the Penal times.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the 12th Viscount rebuilt the house in the Gothic-Revival style.

Gormanston Castle is an impressive castellated building with a quadrangular plan with a tower at each corner except the north-west corner. The main building is three storeys.

The central part of the frontage is flanked by two narrow castellated towers on either side of the entrance.

The 12th Viscount intended the Castle to be much larger, though building work ceased when his wife died in 1820.

Gormanston is renowned for the foxes which are said to collect at the Castle when the head of the family is dying or has died; indeed the family crest is a fox.

Foxes are claimed to have gathered followed the deaths of the 12th and 14th Viscounts.

The author Evelyn Waugh was interested in purchasing the estate in 1946 and even bid for it.

He described it as "A fine, solid, grim, square, half-finished block with tower and turrets."

On learning that Butlins were opening a holiday camp in the vicinity, he promptly changed his mind.

The castle grounds were developed in the 1950s with the building of a boys' secondary school adjacent to the Castle.

The Franciscans have been in Gormanston since 1947, when they purchased Gormanston Castle, the ancestral home of the Preston Family since ca 1300.

In 1954 a Preparatory School for the College in Multyfarnham was opened in the Castle.

New plans resulted in the building of a new college and the transfer of the Multyfarnham College to this new location.

Gormanston College today is a thriving secondary school, with 500 students.

Gormanston arms courtesy of European Heraldry.   First published in January, 2012.

Rathlin Journey

Flora at Craigmacagan (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

Something keeps drawing me back to Rathlin, Northern Ireland's only inhabited off-shore island.

The slow ferry - the larger one which can take vehicles and passengers - left at 10am on Monday morning, so I parked my car at the ferry terminus in Ballycastle, County Antrim, and made my way the hundred yards or so down to the pier.

The trip to the island takes about 45 minutes, twice as long as the fast, non-vehicle ferry.

I stayed at the Manor House for the duration of my three days on the island.

The manor house hotel is a mere hop, skip, and jump from the harbour, which is literally opposite it.

Having checked in, I immediately had a stroll around Church Bay, from St Thomas's parish church to the old Kelp Store.

I had a drink in the legendary McCuaig's Bar, where a lady from Scotland with her two little terriers was staying at the nearby glamping pods; and one of the staff, Rauri Morgan, recounted the time at his cottage where he encountered a film crew with none other than Ben Fogle for New Lives in the Wild.

Kelp Store (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

There used to be resident parish priests and rectors on the island, though this has not been the case for many years.

Kelp Store ca 1890 (Image: Rathlin Community)

The Gages, former landlords, now live at the Glebe House (former rectory) when they are on Rathlin.

Having enjoyed a good cooked breakfast at the Manor House on Tuesday morning, I donned the hiking gear and made my way to Rue Lighthouse, which is located at the southernmost point on the island.

En route there are several points of interest, including one ruinous cottage in a field near Ushet Lough, reputedly the home of William McKinley's ancestors.

Ruinous Cottage near Ushet Lough (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

McKinley, of Ulster-Scots heritage, was the 25th President of the United States.

Moving on, passing Ushet Lough, up and over undulating hilly countryside, I arrived at Ushet Port, which today comprises two derelict, roofless buildings adjacent to a small natural harbour.

Seals at Ushet Port (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

These buildings were once used as stores for imports and exports of grain, spirits, rope; and most certainly contraband!

Old steel tying post at Ushet Port)

I've read that the coastguards on the island at that time were more concerned about smuggling than saving lives.

The Rue Lighthouse is the most recent of the three lighthouses on Rathlin, having been completed about 1920.

ON Tuesday afternoon I ambled the short distance from the manor house to Craigmacagan Walking Trail, a brand new track created by the RSPB in 2022.

Undeterred by a dog warning notice and small herd of young, docile cattle, I trekked over gentle slopes, along a narrow path surrounded by heather, and was rewarded by a splendid view of the Mull of Kintyre and Scottish mainland. 

I'm glad I found this really beautiful trail.

HAVING donned the old nose-bag at eight-thirty on Wednesday morning for another big breakfast, it was time to travel westwards.

Bert's Puffin Bus was waiting at the harbour, so I paid the fare and jumped aboard for the four-mile journey to West Lighthouse and RSPB's bird centre.

Inside the centre I chatted to the wardens and enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate.

Having already been to the West Lighthouse a few years ago, on this occasion I decided to start walking towards the Kinramer Permissive Path, a short trek of about one and a half miles.

Despite abiding by the directions, unfortunately I couldn't find the signposts!

Seemingly wooden signposts can be vulnerable to passing cattle.

Still, I traversed the route which I judged it to be, towards the cliff, though ended up somewhere in the middle of rough terrain, beside a gully of some sort.

Peacock Butterfly at Kinramer (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

Whilst making my way through long, thick, and very wet vegetation I was looking down at the ground and something strikingly colourful caught my eye: a Peacock Butterfly.

I'd never seen one of these before, so it was quite a surprise for me.

It had started to rain quite steadily since my walk back to Church Bay, so I was glad that I had the hiking gear, fairly new Goretex hiking boots, and so on.

Back at the manor house I peeled off the gear to let it all dry off, and had a good old beaker of "Rosie Lea."

That afternoon, suitably replenished and refreshed, it was time to revisit the East Lighthouse, the oldest of the lighthouse trio.

This building dates from about 1850; and, as I was standing outside the lengthy wall surrounding it I watched two men on one of those suspended electric platforms painting a section of the lighthouse matt black with rollers.

I gather the Rathlin's community has ambitious plans for the keepers' accommodation beside the lighthouse, which includes at least two quite substantial residences.

There were once six keepers living here with their families (and if they had large families there could easily have been fifty or sixty souls).

My stay on glorious Rathlin ended on Thursday morning, embarking upon the ten o'clock fast ferry back to Ballycastle.

Creagh House

THE KNOXES WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY MAYO, WITH 24,374 ACRES

ALEXANDER KNOX (son of William Knox, who died intestate, son of Alexander Knox), said to have sold Silvyland, Renfrewshire, settled in County Donegal, and is said to have had issue, two sons,

William, of Ashmoyne;
ALEXANDER, of Ballybofey.

The younger son,

ALEXANDER KNOX, of Ballybofey, County Donegal, whose will was proved in 1742, left issue by Mary his wife,

WILLIAM, of Cloghan;
Alexander, of Ballybofey;
Oliver;
a daughter; Margaret; Mary.

The eldest son,

WILLIAM KNOX, of Cloghan, County Donegal, died ca 1760, and left issue, by Margaret his wife, a son,

JAMES KNOX, of Kilcaddan, County Donegal, who left, by Martha his wife,

WILLIAM, of Kilcaddan;
Carncross, of Ballybofey;
Robert;
Margaret; Elizabeth; Martha.

The eldest son,

WILLIAM KNOX, of Kilcaddan, County Donegal, High Sheriff of County Donegal, 1776, married, in 1778, Elizabeth, only child of Charles Nesbitt, of Scurmore, County Sligo, and had issue, a son,

COLONEL CHARLES NESBITT KNOX (-1860), of Scurmore, County Sligo, and Castle Lacken, County Mayo, High Sheriff of County Sligo, 1810, Mayo, 1831, who married, in 1810, Jane Cuff, testamentary heiress of James, Lord Tyrawley, and had issue,

CHARLES, his heir;
Sarah.

The only son,

CHARLES KNOX (1817-67), of Cranmore, Ballinrobe, County Mayo, High Sheriff of County Mayo, 1860, Colonel, North Mayo Militia, wedded, in 1839, the Lady Louisa Catherine Browne, daughter of Howe Peter, 2nd Marquess of Sligo, and had issue,

CHARLES HOWE CUFF, his heir;
Howe James, Lieutenant-Colonel;
Hubert;
Philippa.

Colonel Knox was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHARLES HOWE CUFF KNOX JP DL (1840-1921), of Creagh, High Sheriff of County Mayo, 1873, Honorary Colonel, Connaught Rangers, who married, in 1869, Henrietta Elizabeth, daughter of the Rt Hon Sir William Gibson Craig Bt.

There is a stained-glass window "In memory of Charles Howe Cuff Knox who died 27th Dec. 1921 aged 81 years" in the parish church (now the Library) in County Mayo.

Colonel Knox had issue,

Charles William Cuffe, dvp 1910;
HENRY HOWE, his heir;
Gerald Vivian Cuffe, Commander RN;
Louisa Gertrude.

The eldest surviving son,

HENRY HOWE KNOX (1871-1954), of Creagh House, wedded, in 1906, Ada, only child of Sidney Bryan, of Kenilworth, Port Elizabeth, and had issue, a daughter.

CREAGH HOUSE, near Ballinrobe, County Mayo, was built in 1875 for Captain Charles Howe Cuff Knox, to the design of S U Roberts.

Sadly diminished drastically in size in the 1930s by fire (it appears to have been halved), there still remains today a sizeable period house of around 6,000 square feet.

It is located in beautiful and secluded surroundings, habitable, and indeed inhabited, but needing further restoration.

The property today occupies grounds of just under two acres, looking toward Lough Mask.

The grounds are partially wooded with lawned areas around the house.

The front of the house has magnificent views over the Tourmakeady mountains and from some aspects, to the lake.

First published in January, 2013.