The Ulster Muse

Mountpottinger Old Church ca 2021 (Image: Rev Dr David Steers)

It has been a long time since I went to a concert.

The last occasion was probably a classical concert with the Ulster Orchestra at the Ulster Hall in Belfast.

A year ago I went to see Tchaikovsky's masterpiece, The Nutcracker, at the Grand Opera House.

When it was brought to my notice that Willie Drennan and Friends were performing at the Little Theatre in the former Mountpottinger Unitarian Presbyterian Church, Belfast, this was a show I didn't wish to miss.

Mountpottinger Old Church ca 2021 (Image: Rev Dr David Steers)

Mountpottinger Old Church is conspicuous from Albertbridge Road, though it's actually at 1a Castlereagh Street, which runs from 124 Albertbridge Road to 68 Beersbridge Road.

The former church is small. There's now a café in one of the rooms, and the little theatre is in the former nave.

Mountpottinger Unitarian Church pre-1899 (Image: Adrian Moir)

In 1862 a room at the site of a local felt works was lent by Francis Ritchie for the purpose of giving religious teaching to some uncared-for children in the Mountpottinger district.

The foundation stone for the church was laid on the 16th May, 1874, and the church was opened in the following year.

It has been described as being constructed in the "New Early English Gothic" style.

Willie Drennan and Friends (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

LAST NIGHT (Friday, October 21st, 2022) I parked the two-seater at The Mount, and walked the short distance to the Little Theatre, where I took an old wooden pew, so to speak.

Fear not, Readers, there are large cushions on the pews for the benefit of needy posteriors!

The stage was set with accordion, fiddle, trombone, fife, acoustic double bass, mandolin, guitars, tin whistles, drums; and a beautiful Celtic harp.

At about seven-forty Willie, raconteur extraordinaire, fiddler, tin whistler, mandolin player, and, of course, legendary Lambeg drummer, came on to the stage.

Willie has a rare talent for being so spontaneous on the stage that you feel as if you are in his sitting-room or barn.

He's a great spinner of yarns ~ the Ulster Muse!

Willie was supported by his fellow musicians and dancers, including John Trotter, a remarkable trombonist, not to omit accordionist.

Fiona Trotter sang dulcetly beside him.

There were fourteen performers in all, including the marvellous young Scottish dancer, Emma Miller; the acclaimed Irish dancer and Celtic harpist, Larissa Fleck; and of course the delightful twin sisters Lucinda and Susan McGuigan from Cullybackey in County Antrim (they're on YouTube with Little Drummer Boy).

The Celtic harp is considerably smaller than the orchestral harp, and its sound is truly mellifluous. 

Larissa played the Londonderry Air beautifully.

Willie Drennan (Image: Belfast Telegraph)

Willie joked that he called it the Londonderry-Derry-Derry-Londonderry Air.

It's also known as "Danny Boy."

 

Willie knew that I was coming along, so when he spotted me at my pew he beckoned me up on to the stage for a photograph with them all.

All in all a very enjoyable performance and I hope the Ulster Muse and his friends get the attention they deserve.

I am grateful to the Rev Dr David Steers and Adrian Moir for information and images relating to Mountpottinger Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church.

Ballinacor House

THE KEMMISES WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY WICKLOW, WITH 8,041 ACRES 

The family of KEMMIS or KEMEYS came originally from Monmouthshire, and settled in Ireland in 1731.

THOMAS KEMMIS (1753-1823), a solicitor, son of Thomas Kemmis, of Killeen, Queen's County, married Susanna, daughter of John Long, of Derrynaseera, Queen's County, and had issue, four sons,

Thomas, of Roebuck, County Dublin;
Henry (1776-1857), MP for Tralee, 1798-1800;
WILLIAM, of whom we treat;
James.

The third son,

WILLIAM KEMMIS (1777-1864), of Ballinacor, County Wicklow, and Killeen, Queen's County, Crown and Treasury Solicitor for Ireland (see KEMMIS of Shaen), espoused, in 1805, Ellen, second daughter of Nicholas Southcote Mansergh JP, of Greenane, County Tipperary, and had issue,

WILLIAM GILBERT;
Thomas;
George (Rev);
Richard;
James;
Elizabeth.

Mr Kemmis was succeeded by his son,

WILLIAM GILBERT KEMMIS JP DL (1806-81), of Ballinacor and Ballycarroll, High Sheriff of County Wicklow, 1835, who died unmarried, when he was succeeded by his nephew,

WILLIAM KEMMIS JP DL (1836-1900), of Ballinacor and Ballycarroll, Colonel, Royal Artillery, who wedded, in 1862, Ellen Gertrude de Horne Christy, eldest daughter of George Steinman Steinman, FSA, of Sundridge, Kent, and had issue,

WILLIAM HENRY OLPHERT, his heir;
Marcus Steinman (Rev);
Lewis George Nicholas;
Edward Bernhard;
Gilbert (Rev).

Colonel Kemmis was succeeded by his eldest son, 

WILLIAM HENRY OLPHERT KEMMIS JP DL (1864-1939), of Ballinacor, High Sheriff of County Wicklow, 1904, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding, Wicklow Royal Garrison Artillery, who espoused, in 1888, Francis Maude, second daughter of the Rev Charles Beauclerk, Chaplain of Holy Trinity Church, Boulogne, France, and had issue,

WILLIAM DARRYL OLPHERT;
Thomas Steinman;
Karolie Kathleen.

The eldest son,

WILLIAM DARRYL OLPHERT KEMMIS MC (1892-1965), Captain, Inniskilling Dragoons.

When Captain Kemmis died in 1965, Ballinacor was inherited by his maternal cousin, Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Lomer.

The Kemmises owned 4,706 acres of land in the Queen's County.  

BALLINACOR HOUSE, Rathdrum, County Wicklow, is a two-storey, late 18th century house, enlarged, re-faced and re-roofed in the 19th century.

It has a three-bay entrance front with an Ionic portico.

The end elevation has six bays, three of which are in a shallow, curved bow.

There is a gabled office wing with an adjacent conservatory; an Italianate campanile at the junction of the main block and wing.

The clock has been said to keep time for the surrounding countryside.

The entrance hall is stone-flagged, with a plasterwork Victorian cornice; a large, top-lit, two-storey hall with oval lantern; oval gallery with iron balustrade.

The demesne is said to be magnificent, with wooded hills topped by high mountains; a mile-long oak walk; and a mile-long avenue from the front gate to the house, bordered by rhododendrons and firs.

There is a deer-park and the River Avonbeg flows by with abundant cascades and gorges.

*****

THE PRESENT owners, Sir Robert and Lady Davis-Goff, bought Ballinacor Estate in 2001 as a working farm and shoot.

The house underwent an extensive renovation and modernisation project, which was completed in 2009.

This renovation was sympathetic to the time in which the house was built and is furnished appropriately.

The estate has a strong tradition of driven shooting and has game records going back well over a century.

Grouse were previously shot on the estate, and it is hoped to revive the moor in future years.

Lady Davis-Goff inherited Lissen Hall in County Dublin.

First published in May, 2013.

Kennedy of Cultra

This branch of the noble house of AILSA left Ayrshire in 1668, and settled in County Down, at Cultra, where they remained.

DR HUGH KENNEDY (c1628-c1685), of Ballycultra, County Down, married Mary, daughter of Arthur Upton.

Dr Kennedy, a distinguished medical practitioner in Belfast during the 17th century, was physician to the 1st Earl of Donegall, who bequeathed him "£50 sterling a year (about £10,500 today) for four years, to commence within a year of my death".

The youngest son,

JOHN KENNEDY, who purchased the estate of Cultra from the Earl of Clanbrassil in 1671.

Mr Kennedy wedded Martha, daughter of William Stewart, of Ballylawn, County Donegal, and aunt of Robert, 1st Earl of Londonderry, and was father of

HUGH KENNEDY (1711-63), of Cultra, who espoused, in 1741, Mabel, daughter of John Curtis, of Dublin, and  had issue,

JOHN, of whom presently;
Mary, m, 1774, J Crawford, of Crawfordsburn.

Hugh Kennedy (Image: Ulster Folk Museum)

Mr Kennedy was succeeded by his son, 

JOHN KENNEDY JP (1746-1801), of Cultra, High Sheriff of County Down, 1769, who wedded Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev Henry Cole (brother of 1st Lord Mount Florence) by Mary his wife, daughter of Sir Arthur Brooke Bt, and had issue,

HUGH, his heir;
Henry, died in India;
John, of Dunbrody;
Arthur, Lieutenant-Colonel;
Longford, East India Company;
William, Deputy Military Auditor-General of Bengal;
Alexander, Captain RN;
Charles Pratt, Political Agent at Simla;
Thomas;
Robert, Colonial Secretary of Bermuda;
Selina; another daughter.

John Kennedy (Image: Ulster Folk Museum)

Mr Kennedy, who, after the death of the 8th Earl of Cassilis, was a claimant for the title, was succeeded by his eldest son,

HUGH KENNEDY JP (1775-1852), of Cultra, High Sheriff of County Down, 1802, who married firstly, in 1800, Grace Dorothea, only child of Thomas Hughes, and granddaughter of Sir Edward Newenham MP, and had issue,

John Hughes, died 1839;
ROBERT STEWART, of whom presently;
Thomas Henry, d 1864;
Arthur Edward (Sir), GCMG CB;
William Hugh, Captain RN;
George Augustus;
Elizabeth Selina; Frances Matilda; Grace; Emily Jane; Dorothea.

Mr Kennedy wedded secondly, in 1824, Sophia, daughter of William Low, by Sophia his wife, daughter of Richard, 4th Viscount Boyne, and had further issue,

Frederick;
Hugh;
Sophia Jane; Georgina; Edith; Florence; Augusta.

He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

ROBERT STEWART KENNEDY (1807-54), of Cultra, who espoused, in 1849, Anne Catherine, only daughter of Michael Edward Ward, of Bangor Castle, County Down, by his wife, the Lady Matilda Stewart, daughter of Robert, 1st Marquess of Londonderry, and had issue,

ROBERT JOHN, his heir;
Edward Henry (1854-57);
Grace Emily (1850-1938), died unmarried.

Mr Kennedy was succeeded by his elder son and heir,

SIR ROBERT JOHN KENNEDY KCMG JP DL, of Cultra (1851-1936), who married, in 1883, Bertha Jane Ward, daughter of Henry William, 5th Viscount Bangor, and had issue,

Mary Grace Enid, b 1884;
Bertha Catherine Maud, b 1885;
Matilda Kathleen, b 1888;
Lucy Emily Harriette, 1893-1969.

Cultra Manor

First published in July, 2014.

Dunbrody Park

THE BARONS TEMPLEMORE WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY WEXFORD, WITH 11,327 ACRES

LORD SPENCER STANLEY CHICHESTER (1775-1819), of Dunbrody Park, County Wexford, MP for Carrickfergus, 1802-7, second surviving son of Arthur, 1st Marquess of Donegall, wedded, in 1795, the Lady Harriet Stewart, a younger daughter of John, 7th Earl of Galloway KT, and had issue,

ARTHUR, of whom hereafter;
George, d 1829;
Anne;
Elizabeth, m William, 1st Baron Bateman.

His lordship was succeeded by his elder son,

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ARTHUR CHICHESTER MP (1797-1837), of Dunbrody Park, and of 38 Portman Square, London, MP for Milborne Port, 1826-30, County Wexford, 1830-1.

Colonel Chichester was raised to the peerage, in 1831, in the dignity of BARON TEMPLEMORE, of Templemore, County Donegal.

He wedded, in 1820, the Lady Augusta Paget, fourth daughter of Henry, 1st Marquess of Anglesey, KG, and had issue,

HENRY SPENCER, his heir;
Augustus George Charles;
Frederick Arthur Henry;
Adolphus William;
Francis Algernon James;
another son, b 1833;
Caroline Georgiana; Augusta.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

HENRY SPENCER, 2nd Baron,

• Harry Spencer Chichester, 2nd Baron (1821–1906)
• Arthur Henry Chichester, 3rd Baron (1854–1924)
• Arthur Claud Spencer Chichester, 4th Baron (1880–1953)
• Dermot Richard Claud Chichester, 5th Baron (1916–2007) (succeeded as 7th Marquess of Donegall in 1975).

(ARTHUR) PATRICK, is the 8th and present Marquess of Donegall and 6th Baron Templemore.

Lord Donegall lives with his family within the grounds of Dunbrody Park.

DUNBRODY HOUSE, near Arthurstown, County Wexford, is described by Mark Bence-Jones as

a pleasant, comfortable, unassuming house of ca 1860 which from its appearance might be a 20th century house of vaguely Queen Anne flavour.

Dunbrody Park was acquired by the Chichester family through marriage of the 2nd Earl of Donegall to Jane, daughter and heiress of John Itchingham, of Dunbrody Park, ca 1660.

The Victorian mansion house comprises two storeys, with a five-bay centre.

The middle bay breaks forward.

There is a three-sided, single storey central bow, and two-bay projecting ends.

Dunbrody House has been a country house hotel since 2001.

Former town residence  ~ 11 Upper Grosvenor Street, London.

First published in November, 2012; revised in 2014. Templemore arms courtesy of European Heraldry.

Baronetcy Conferral

JAMES ANSELAN MAXWELL STRONGE (1946-), kinsman of the eighth and ninth baronets, has laid claim to and been conferred the Stronge Baronetcy.

Royal Visit

The Prince and Princess of Wales, Baron and Baroness Carrickfergus, have arrived in Northern Ireland.

Their Royal Highnesses visited Public Initiative for Prevention of Suicide and Self Harm (PIPS), 279 Antrim Road, Belfast, and were received by Dr Philip McGarry OBE (Deputy Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast).

Later TRH visited Trademarket, 14-16 Dublin Road, Belfast, and were received by the Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast (Dame Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle DBE).

The Prince and Princess of Wales, Baron and Baroness Carrickfergus, later visited Carrick Connect, 2 Castle Street, Carrickfergus, and were received by Mrs Miranda Gordon (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim).

Killua Castle

THE CHAPMAN BARONETS, OF KILLUA CASTLE, WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY WESTMEATH, WITH 9,516 ACRES

The parent stock of this family flourished through several generations, in and near the town of Hinckley, Leicestershire. The branch settled in Ireland was established there by  JOHN CHAPMAN and his brother WILLIAM, under the auspices of their first cousin, Sir Walter Raleigh; 

Through whose influence John obtained grants of land in County Kerry, which, on the fall of his great patron, he was obliged, from pecuniary difficulties, to dispose of to the 1st Earl of Cork, receiving the large sum, in those days, of £26,400 (about £7 million in 2016) from his lordship.

He lived eight years after this transaction, leaving at his decease, his brother,

WILLIAM CHAPMAN, surviving, who lived for several years afterwards, and left at his decease, an only son, 

BENJAMIN CHAPMAN, who entered as a cornet into a cavalry regiment, raised by the Earl of Inchiquin; and obtained, from Cromwell, when Captain Chapman, a grant of a considerable estate in County Westmeath, at Killua, otherwise St Lucy's, formerly a preceptory, or cell, of the knights hospitallers, where he resided during the remainder of his life.

Captain Chapman wedded Anne, daughter of Robert Parkinson, of Ardee, and had two sons, of whom the younger, Thomas, settled in America; and the elder,

WILLIAM CHAPMAN, succeeded his father at Killua.

He married Ismay, daughter of Thomas Nugent; and dying in 1734, was succeeded by his eldest son,

BENJAMIN CHAPMAN, who wedded Anne, daughter of Robert Tighe, by whom he had three sons and two daughters.

He died in 1779, and was succeeded by his eldest son, 

BENJAMIN CHAPMAN (c1745-1810), of Killua Castle, MP for Fore, 1772-6, County Westmeath, 1776-83, who was created a baronet in 1782, designated of Killua Castle, County Westmeath, with remainder in default of male issue, to the male descendants of his father.

Sir Benjamin married Miss Anne Lowther; but dying without an heir, in 1810, the title devolved upon his brother, 

SIR THOMAS CHAPMAN, 2nd Baronet (1756-1837), who had previously received the honour of Knighthood.

Sir Thomas married, in 1808, Margaret, daughter of James Fetherston, of Bracklin Castle, County Westmeath, and had issue,

MONTAGU LOWTHER, his heir;
Benjamin James;
William.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR MONTAGU LOWTHER CHAPMAN, 3rd Baronet (1808-1853), of Killua Castle, County Westmeath.

• Sir Benjamin James Chapman, 4th Baronet (1810–88);

• Sir Montagu Richard Chapman, 5th Baronet (1853–

  • Sir Benjamin Rupert Chapman, 6th Baronet (1865–1914);

  • Sir Thomas Robert Tighe Chapman, 7th Baronet (1846–1919); 

The 7th Baronet left his wife to live with his daughters' governess, Sarah Junner. The couple did not marry.

Sir Thomas and Sarah had five sons born out of wedlock, of whom Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence CB DSO, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, was the second eldest.

Caroline Margaret, wife of Sir Montagu, the 5th Baronet, was sister of the 7th Baronet, Lawrence's father. 

She was the last Chapman to live in Killua until her death in 1920. She wrote a fascinating little booklet with the history of the house.

Lawrence did visit Killua once, but it was a few weeks before his death when Killua was already a golf club owned by Mr Hackett.

There is a letter by Lawrence at the Imperial War Museum where he mentions his intention to buy the property back into the family.

Alas, it was never meant to be.

 KILLUA CASTLE is situated near Clonmellon, County Westmeath.

The present mansion was built ca 1780 by Sir Benjamin Chapman, 1st Baronet, consisting of a hall, dining room, oval drawing room, breakfast parlour and front and back stairs.

There was also a stable yard, barn and haggard.

From here, the Chapmans administered the surrounding farm lands in the 18th century.

The Castle and its surrounding lands were granted around 1667 to Benjamin Chapman.

On his death the estate passed to his elder son, William; and on William's death in 1734 to his son Benjamin.

Sir Benjamin demolished the original castle.

It passed from him in 1810, by special remainder, to his brother Thomas who, in the early 1820s, commissioned the addition of a large round tower and several other towers, including a library tower, staircase tower and back door tower.

He also completed the castellation and erected the Raleigh obelisk nearby.

When Sir Montagu, 5th Baronet, died childless in 1907, his widow, a cousin, divided the estate between the four legitimate daughters of her brother Sir Thomas, 7th Baronet.

The house and the remaining 1,200 acres of land were sold in 1949.

Until recently, the Castle had become an ivy-clad roofless ruin.

Since 2010, however, Killua Castle has been purchased by a private owner and is undergoing major restoration.

 

THE OBELISK, erected in 1810 by Sir Thomas Chapman, 2nd Baronet, marks the position where Sir Walter Raleigh planted some of the first potatoes that he imported to Ireland.

The inscription on the obelisk currently reads 'Sir Walter G Raleigh', but there is no other evidence that Raleigh had a middle name, and the 'G' appears to be vandalism added after the original inscription.

The obelisk has been recently restored through a grant from the Irish Georgian Society.

First published in May, 2013.