Dromoland Castle

THE BARONS INCHIQUIN WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY CLARE, WITH 20,321 ACRES

This very ancient family claims royal descent, and deduces its pedigree from the celebrated Irish monarch, Brian Boru, who ascended the throne in 1002, and fell at the memorable battle of Clontarf, in 1014.

From this prince descended the Kings of Thomond; of which TURLOGH, King of Munster and principal High King of Ireland, had, with other issue, Dermot, King of Munster, from whom descended, in 1528, 

CONOR O'BRIEN, King of Thomond, eldest son of TORLOGH DONN, King of Thomond, who died in 1528,  who married firstly, Annabella, youngest daughter of Ulick De Burgh, 1st Earl of Clanricarde, by whom he had a son,

1. DONOGH, Earl of Thomond, in succession to his uncle, Morrogh, BARON OF IBRACHAN, by creation, 1543, and EARL OF THOMOND, 1551.

His male issue became extinct on the death, in 1774, of CHARLES O'BRIEN, the last heir male of his line, and, who, but for the attainder, would have been 9th Earl of Thomond. 

Conor O'Brien wedded secondly, Ellice, daughter of 10th Earl of Desmond, and by her had issue five sons, of whom,

2. Donald.

3. Teige.

4. Morrough.

Conor O'Brien died in 1539, and was succeeded in his principality, according to the laws of Tanistry, by his brother, the Tanist of Thomond,

MURROUGH O'BRIEN, who, repairing to England by the advice of the Lord Deputy of Ireland, in 1543, surrendered his royalty to HENRY VIII, and was, in recompense, created Earl of Thomond for life, and BARON INCHIQUIN to his own heirs male.

His lordship wedded Eleanor, daughter of Sir Thomas FitzGerald, Knight of Glyn, and dying in 1551, left issue,

DERMOD, his successor;
Teige;

DONOGH;

Torlogh.

His lordship died in 1551, when the Earldom of Thomond devolved upon his nephew Donogh, and the Barony of Inchiquin was inherited by his son and heir,

DERMOD, 2nd Baron, to whom his father devised the castle and lands of Inchiquin, and other extensive territorial possessions.

His lordship espoused, before 1550, his cousin, Margaret, eldest daughter of Donogh, Earl of Thomond; and died in 1557, when he was succeeded by his only son,

MORROGH McDERMOT, 3rd Baron (c1550-73), who wedded Margaret, daughter of Sir Thomas Cusack, Lord Chancellor and Lord Justice of Ireland,

MORROUGH, his successor;
Slaney.

His lordship was slain by Dermot Reagh O'Shaughnessy in 1574, and was succeeded by his son,

MORROGH, 4th Baron (1562-97), who wedded Mabel, sister of 1st Earl of Westmeath.

His lordship fell from his horse and drowned, in 1597, when fording the River Erne, near Sligo, during the Nine Years War.

He was succeeded by his son,

DERMOD, 5th Baron (1594-1624), who wedded Ellen, eldest daughter of Sir Edmund FitzJohn FitzGerald, and had issue,

Henry;
Christopher;
MURROUGH, of whom we treat;
Honora; Mary; Ann.

His lordship was succeeded by his youngest son,

MURROUGH (1618-74), 6th Baron, who was created, in 1654, EARL OF INCHIQUN.

Murrough, 1st Earl of Inchiquin (Image: Manchester Art Gallery)

MURROUGH (1726-1808), 10th Baron, was created, in 1808, MARQUESS OF THOMOND.

• Murrough O'Brien, 1st Marquess and 10th Baron (1726–1808)
• William O'Brien, 2nd Marquess and 11th Baron (1765–1846)
• James O'Brien, 3rd Marquess and 12th Baron (1768–1855)

Barons Inchiquin (1543; Reverted)

• Lucius O'Brien, 13th Baron (1800–72)
• Edward Donough O'Brien, 14th Baron (1839–1900)
• Lucius William O'Brien, 15th Baron (1864–1929)
• Donough Edward Foster O'Brien, 16th Baron (1897–1968)
• Pádraig Lucius Ambrose O'Brien, 17th Baron (1900–82)
• Conor Myles John O'Brien, 18th Baron (1943-2023) 

The 18th Baron's second cousin, Conor John Anthony O'Brien (born 1952), is the present 19th Baron.

DROMOLAND CASTLE, Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare, is considered one of the finest examples of a baronial style castle in Ireland.

According to history, the original castle on the site is said to have dated back to the 11th century, and was more rustic in nature than the existing castle of today, similar in style to Bunratty castle.

Like other castles of the times, it served as a defensive stronghold.

From the time of Morrough O’Brien (the original owner of Dromoland) until the 16th Baron Inchiquin - who still owned the castle in the 1960s - the Inchiquins lived at Dromoland for more than 500 years.

In 1736, a second castle was built in the design of the Queen Anne period with a wing enclosing a central courtyard.

This wing of the castle remains today and is almost a century older than the other sections of the castle.

The present castle was completed in 1826 by the 4th O'Brien Baronet in Gothic style, with four large towers made of a dark blue limestone that was cut from a nearby quarry, and built at great expense for the times.

The Castle is dominated by a tall, round corner tower and a square tower, both of heavily crenellated. There are also smaller towers and a turreted porch.

The windows on the main fronts are rectangular with Gothic tracery.

Inside, a square entrance hall opens into a long, inner hall similar to a gallery, the staircase being at one end; while the main reception rooms are at one side of it.

The rooms have quite austere ceilings with Gothic Tudor-Revival cornices.

The drawing-room was formerly called the Keightley Room since it contained many of the 17th century portraits which were acquired by the O'Brien family through the marriage of Lucius O'Brien MP to Catherine Keightley (whose grandfather was the Earl of Clarendon).

Part of the 18th century garden layout survives, including a gazebo and Doric rotunda.

During the latter portion of the 19th century, the Inchiquin family wealth dwindled due to a series of Land Acts, until Ireland seceded from the United Kingdom in 1921.

Landlords during this time were forced to sell their farmlands, and so the Inchiquins lost their main source of income.

However, they were able to still hold onto Dromoland.

Although the loss of income suffered by the Inchiquins made the Castle difficult to keep, they managed to do so, and the castle was maintained by the personal wealth of the 15th Baron's wife, and afterwards her son, the 16th Baron, until 1948, when they began to take in tourists as paying guests.

Finally, in 1962, the Castle was sold to an American industrialist, Bernard McDonough, whose family were of Irish descent.

Over a period of six months, the castle underwent major renovations and was eventually re-opened as a luxury hotel.

The original style and atmosphere of the castle are said to have been preserved, and the rooms including its stately, baronial country house atmosphere “look very much today, like they did when the Inchiquin family lived there... "

The original wing is very elegant inside: Guests enter into a two-storey stone lobby (made from the dark blue limestone) that is complete with suits of armour, a large dark wood carved table, elegant rose tapestry covered chairs, and dark red drapes.

On one side, a stone passage and hallway lead to the large, main drawing room of the castle.

The hallway and drawing-room have a high ceiling, deep red and gold wallpapered walls, and is lined with baronial portraits of the barons and former members of the Inchiquin family.

It is said that O'Brien family portraits (on loan) remain on display at the Castle today.

Former London residence ~ 9, Avery Row, Brook Street.

First published in April, 2011. 

Florence Court: My Irish Home

My dear mother gave me a wonderful hardback book when we were in County Fermanagh in 1979.

It is entitled Florence Court: My Irish Home, and written lovingly by Nancy, Countess of Enniskillen.

The book was published in 1972 by R & S Printers, The Diamond, Monaghan.

Lady Enniskillen wrote:

On the highest level of The Pleasure Grounds, there used to stand a little "summer house." Here on a warm sunny day ideally without wind and wrinkled only by the wings of birds and insects, on such a day at Florence Court, the Cole family would adjourn to drink their tea and enjoy the tonic view of the valley and the mountain.

On Thursday, the 14th August, 2014, this charming little thatched gazebo was burnt to the ground.

The National Trust has, I'm delighted to say, rebuilt it to the original specifications.

Florence Court: Parterre

THE EARLS OF ENNISKILLEN WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY FERMANAGH, WITH 29,635 ACRES 

The five largest landowners in Fermanagh were the Marquess of Ely, the Earl of Erne, the Earl of Enniskillen, the Viscount Brookeborough (Brooke Baronets), and the Archdales. They all owned circa 30,000 acres.

Nancy, Countess of Enniskillen (1917-98) wrote her chronicles of life at Florence Court, County Fermanagh, in 1972.

My mother bought me the hardback book as a gift while we were staying at Castle Archdale in 1979.

It's entitled Florence Court, My Irish Home.

If my memory serves me correctly, it was purchased in Hall's bookshop, Enniskillen, at the far end of Darling Street, not far from Castle Street.

On page forty-five, Lady Enniskillen describes how the dining-room and drawing-room looked through their western windows to a terrace planted by her husband David, the 6th Earl, with flowering cherry trees around an old parterre.

The Crescent Lawn was (and remains) about seven feet above the back drive and about the same distance below the house.

A reader informs us that the Crescent Lawn

"Actually dated from Victorian times with Cherry trees later planted at the sides by David Enniskillen to replace original large Chestnut trees. These Cherry trees are also now removed. The Parterre was removed by the National Trust for maintenance reasons and the argument that it blocked the view out across the park which of course it didn't as the lawn is much lower than the windows of the Drawing and Dining rooms."

The Register Parks, Gardens, and Demesne of Special Historic Interest in Northern Ireland remarks:-

"Fraser was probably also responsible at this time for some alterations to the west side of the park and for designing a square elaborate flower parterre (now removed) for the raised Crescent Lawn at the back of the house, which was originally flanked each side by chestnut trees."

Sadly the curvilinear row of staff rooms which surrounded the Crescent Lawn were all demolished: including the Boot House, Cook's Larder, Game Larder, Bottles, Hamper House, Hens, Store, and two water closets.

Only the foundations of these outbuildings (which overlooked the Laundry Court) remain.

Each room had its own fireplace.

Nancy Enniskillen tells us in her book that the National Trust removed the rooms and rebuilt the wall without them.

The Laundry Yard was at one side of the Crescent Lawn; while the stable-yard was at the other.

First published in April, 2016.

Virginia Park

THE MARQUESSES OF HEADFORT WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY MEATH, WITH 7,544 ACRES

THEY OWNED 14,220 ACRES IN COUNTY CAVAN AND 12,851 ACRES IN WESTMORLAND

THOMAS TAYLOR, of Ringmer, Sussex, died in 1629, and was succeeded by his son,

JOHN TAYLOR, of Battle, Sussex, who died in 1638, leaving an only son,

THOMAS TAYLOR,

Who removed to Ireland, in 1653, in the train of Sir William Petty, in order to undertake the Down Survey, in which kingdom, he purchased lands in 1660, of which the town and townlands of Kells formed a portion, having disposed of his estates in England. 

After the Restoration, he was appointed one of the sub-commissioners of the court of claims. In 1669-70, he was deputy receiver-general under Sir George Carteret, and immediately before his death he officiated as vice-treasurer and treasurer-at-war.

Mr Taylor married, in 1658, Anne, daughter of William Axtell, of Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, and had one surviving son, THOMAS, his heir, and one daughter, Anne, married to Sir Nicholas Acheson Bt.

He died in 1682, and was succeeded by his son,

THE RT HON THOMAS TAYLOR (1662-1736), who was created a baronet, 1704, designated of Kells, County Meath, and sworn of the Privy Council in 1726.

Sir Thomas wedded Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Cotton Bt, of Combermere, and had issue,

THOMAS, his heir;
Robert (Very Rev), Dean of Clonfert;
Henry;
James;
Henrietta; Salisbury; Anne.

Sir Thomas was succeeded by his eldest son,

THE RT HON SIR THOMAS TAYLOR (1657-96), 2nd Baronet, MP for Maidstone, 1689-96, Privy Counsellor, who married Mary, daughter of John Graham, of Platten, County Meath, and left, with a daughter, Henrietta, an only son, 

THE RT HON SIR THOMAS TAYLOR, 3rd Baronet (1724-95), KP, MP for Kells, 1747-60, who wedded, in 1754, Jane, eldest daughter of the Rt Hon Hercules Langford Rowley, by Elizabeth, Viscountess Langford, and had issue,

THOMAS, his successor;
Robert, a general in the army;
Clotworthy, created Baron Langford;
Henry Edward, in holy orders;
Henrietta.

Sir Thomas was elevated to the peerage, in 1760, in the dignity of Baron Headfort; and advanced to a viscountcy, in 1762, as Viscount Headfort.

His lordship was further advanced, in 1766, to the dignity of an earldom, as Earl of Bective.

In 1783 he was installed as a Founder Knight of St Patrick (KP), and sworn of the Privy Council of Ireland.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS, 2nd Earl (1757-1829), who espoused, in 1778, Mary, only daughter and heir of George Quin, of Quinsborough, County Clare, and had issue,

THOMAS, his successor;
George;
Mary; Elizabeth Jane.

His lordship was created, in 1800, MARQUESS OF HEADFORT.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS, 2nd Marquess (1787-1870), KP, MP for County Meath, 1812-29, Lord Lieutenant of County Cavan, 1831-70, who wedded firstly, in 1822, Olivia, daughter of Sir John Stevenson, and had issue,

THOMAS, his successor;
Robert;
John Henry;
Olivia; Mary Juliana; Virginia Frances Zerlina.

His lordship espoused secondly, in 1853, Frances, daughter of John Livingstone Martyn.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS, 3rd Marquess, KP PC (1822-94), High Sheriff of County Meath, 1844, Cavan, 1846, who espoused firstly, in 1842, Amelia, only child of William Thompson MP, and had issue,

Thomas;
Evelyn Amelia; Madeline Olivia Susan; Adelaide Louisa Jane; Isabel Frances; Florence Jane.

He married secondly, in 1875, Emily Constantia, daughter of the Hon Eustace John Wilson-Patten, and had further issue,

GEOFFREY THOMAS, his successor;
Beatrix.

His lordship was succeeded by his surviving son,

GEOFFREY THOMAS, 4th Marquess (1878-1943), a Senator of the Irish Free State, 1922-28, who wedded, in 1901, Rose, daughter of Charles Boote, and had issue,

TERENCE GEOFFREY THOMAS, his successor;
William Desmond;
Millicent Olivia Mary.

His lordship was succeeded by his elder son,

TERENCE GEOFFREY THOMAS, 5th Marquess (1902-60),

• Geoffrey Thomas Taylour, 4th Marquess (1878–1943);
• Terence Geoffrey Thomas Taylour, 5th Marquess (1902–60);
• Thomas Geoffrey Charles Michael Taylour, 6th Marquess (1932–2005);
• Thomas Michael Ronald Christopher Taylour, 7th Marquess (b 1959).

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, Thomas Rupert Charles Christopher Taylour, styled Earl of Bective (b 1989).

The Taylour family became very much involved in the political life of the locality, and several members of the family served as MPs for Kells and the county of Meath.


They were also a "Patrick Family", the 1st Earl, and 1st, 2nd and 3rd Marquesses all having been appointed Knights of St Patrick.

His seat, Headfort House, in County Meath, was the only Adam house in Ireland.

In 1901 the 4th Marquess, an eminent horticulturist, caused a sensation when he converted to Rome to marry a showgirl called Rosie Boote.

A figure of great dignity, she remained the dominant personality in the family during young Michael's youth and early adult life.

Virginia, in the county of Cavan, was named after ELIZABETH I, "the Virgin Queen".

It owes its origin to the plantation of Ulster in 1609.

The lands eventually passed into the possession of Lucas Plunkett, Earl of Bective, a Roman Catholic, who was later created Earl of Fingall.

It can also be said that Lucas Plunkett, along with his son Christopher, frustrated the plans of the Government to proceed with the development of the town and its incorporation during his tenure.

He was sympathetic to the rebel Irish and sided with them against the planters during the 1641 Rebellion and the Williamite Wars of 1688-91, earning him the label of 'traitor'.

Consequently it fell to Thomas, 1st Marquess of Headfort, and his successors, to fulfil the patent in relation to the development of the town in the second half of the 18th century and 19th century - the patent which was originally granted to Captain Ridgeway in 1612.

Lord Headfort maintained a beautiful park beside Lough Ramor, where he had a hunting lodge (above) in plain, rambling, Picturesque cottage style; a two-storey house with a three-bay centre and single-storey, three-bay wings.

The family often stayed here during the summer or autumn months, between 1750 and 1939.

The former hunting lodge, located on the shore of Lough Ramor, is now a hotel, Virginia Park Lodge.

First published in July, 2011. 

Elphin Palace

THE diocese of Elphin is said to have been established by St Patrick, who places over it St Assicus, an austere monk, who soon filled the cathedral with members of his own order.

Several small surrounding sees appear to have been annexed to it at an early period, and a short time before the arrival of the English in Ireland it was enriched with many large estates by the annexation of the See of Roscommon.

Following the death of Bishop Hodson, in 1686, JAMES II kept the diocese vacant for several years and distributed the revenue among the Catholic clergy.

Elphin was one of the six Anglican dioceses which formed the ecclesiastical province of Tuam; though today it is united with the diocese of Kilmore.

Elphin comprises parts of the counties of Galway and Sligo, and the greater part of Roscommon, and is computed to contain 420,150 acres.

the see lands once comprised 42,843 acres, of which 29,235 were profitable.

Elphin Palace (Image: Landed Estates of County Roscommon)

The episcopal palace was "a good building in an extensive demesne near the town," and was erected by an accumulated fund of £500 bequeathed by Bishop Hodson in 1685.

The last prelate in the Church of Ireland to hold the bishopric of Elphin was the Rt Rev John Leslie (1772-1854). 

Image: Landed Estates of County Roscommon

THE PALACE, Elphin, County Roscommon, was commissioned by Bishop Synge (1691-1762), and erected between 1747-49.

It comprised a three-storey central block, facing east, featuring a first-floor Venetian window complementing the style and proportions of the main entrance below.

Its two-storey wings on either side were linked to the main building by quadrants and by underground passages.

In 1845, the Church of Ireland bishops' residence moved to Kilmore, and the old palace was let as a private residence thereafter.

It subsequently became known as Elphin House.

In 1911 the main block was destroyed by accidental fire; the wings and quadrants, still extant, became derelict thereafter.

The Cleggan Shoot

ALEX FLINT OF THE SHOOTING GAZETTE WROTE IN 2011 ABOUT A SHOOT AT CLEGGAN, LORD RATHCAVAN'S COUNTRY ESTATE NEAR BROUGHSHANE, COUNTY ANTRIM

"The main reason we go game shooting is because it is fun.

The thought of taking a day out to enjoy the countryside in the company of friends is reason enough for most of us to don our complicated tweeds, wrestle the shotgun from the cabinet and take on hours of driving to reach some far-flung corner of our islands.

Bad weather, however, tends to take the wind out of your sails.

Or sometimes firmly put the wind in your sails and the rain down your back.

When you find any game shooting which puts a smile on your face in spite of the conditions, you know you must have found something of a gem.

I was reliably informed that the week before my visit last October the guns had been taking on the impressive partridges of the Cleggan Shoot in their shirt sleeves.

This was cold comfort for the guns on this occasion, who found themselves bracing against the wind, and squinting through the rain in pursuit of their quarry.

In spite of this, you would be hard pressed to see a downcast face all day.

The Cleggan Shoot lies in the North Antrim hills above the Glens of Antrim, facing the Mull of Kintyre.

Partridge game shooting was started there in 2000, adding to the established pheasant game shooting.

The estate provides five partridge drives and nine main pheasant drives, with a further 10 drives used for smaller driven days and walked-up game shooting.

The attitude and atmosphere of the Cleggan Shoot is set by Lord Rathcavan, the estate owner, and shoot manager Joe Taylor.

Both men have a clear love of game shooting and of the countryside, and they have built up a team of like-minded people who give the game shooting its unique, welcoming feel.

Joe explains,

They’re a great bunch of lads, you won’t ever hear a cross word said between them. I think in 10 years I’ve only had two people leave - and you were probably better off without them. I think that says it all.

This is backed up by Adam Lucas, one of Cleggan’s dedicated pickers-up who has been with the estate for six years:

The game shooting is what brings you back, watching the game shooting and taking part by working the dogs. 

The teamwork here is great, it’s good fun and there’s never a bad word said. At lunchtime we get well fed and watered - it’s just an excellent day.

The guns on the day were more than happy to buy into the party spirit, it being a rare chance for a group of friends from all over Europe to get together.

One of the guns, Haiko Visser, explained to me what made the journey from Switzerland to Northern Ireland to shoot worth it:

“We came for the first time in 2009, and I’ve already booked up for next year. It’s a wonderful day out. For me it’s not just the game shooting which makes the day, it’s the whole weekend with the boys. 

We’re spread all over Europe, making it difficult to get together regularly. Game shooting is the perfect excuse and you certainly don’t get moaned at by your wife in the same way for going out to the pub.

“I live 20 miles south of Zurich, it’s a lovely part of the world - absolutely magnificent. Switzerland is a very outdoorsy sort of lifestyle. We’re all closeted up inside most of our lives when you think about it, so any chance to get outside - even on a day like this when it’s pouring with rain - is lovely. 

You’re outside with the amazing landscape all around you, the air is fresh and you’re not surrounded by people and being pushed off the pavement.

There is a balance to game shooting - why you do it, where you shoot, the quality of the game shooting and the people you do it with. I think this place has got the balance absolutely right.”

Each of the guns is put under the care of a specific picker-up who will watch and advise throughout the day.

This is particularly important due to the terrain of the estate, which once used to hold large numbers of grouse, and presents the partridges in a similar manner.

As such safety is paramount, which is reinforced in the briefing at the beginning of the day.

The nature of the terrain, being high on various hillsides and in deep valleys, offers a real variety of shooting.

Guns move onto the pegs quietly and are live immediately. 

The early birds do indeed burst off the hills like grouse, and the guns have to be ready to shoot them as such.

A long blast of a horn indicates the beaters are about to break the skyline, at which point the style of shooting changes and the drives become the more usual style of partridge shooting most guns will be used to.

In spite of the heavy rain the birds were extremely strong, flying hard and fast in consistent numbers interspersed with large coveys.

The birds are bought in as chicks from the first week of April, and sometimes even the last week of March, so by October they are already six months old.

This extra time obviously gives them time to adjust to the conditions on a Northern Ireland hillside, as it is most unusual to see birds flying so well in such tough conditions.

Both Joe Taylor and head-keeper Steven Baird have been working on the shoot for over 10 years, and deserve great credit for creating what is a very impressive shoot.

The main property on the 1,000 acres of the Cleggan Shoot, once a part of the vast O’Neill Estate, is an old shooting lodge.

It was built in 1822 on the edge of what were then very extensive grouse moors.

A love of shooting has been a feature of Lord Rathcavan’s family for several generations, as he explained:

I always shot as a boy - though I wasn’t much good at it. My grandfather was a tremendous shooting man all his life. He was the youngest son, and so bought Cleggan from his father in 1927. 

It remained part of the O’Neill estate in spite of the Land Act of the 1870s because shooting properties were exempt. All the shooting rights still belong to my cousin, who is the present Lord O’Neill.

A real highlight of the day, and one of the key criteria for judging any shoot, is the food on offer.

Lord Rathcavan was the proprietor of the Brasserie St Quentin on Knightsbridge, whose sign now hangs in the guns’ lunch room.

His son, the Hon Francois O’Neill, now owns and runs [ran] the award-winning Brompton Bar and Grill from the same site, so clearly a passion for food runs in the blood:-

“Shooting is about a lot more than just the shooting,” Lord Rathcavan explains. “The problem with being out here in Northern Ireland is we can’t hope to compete with the biggest shoots in England and Scotland, particularly the west country partridge shoots. As such we have to offer something different." 

"One of the ways we do that is the cultivation of the special atmosphere we have here, a big part of which is our lunches." 

“I buy the beef un-butchered from the local meat factory, making sure it’s all hung for 28 days. It’s so much better to see beef on the bone. I get the rib and stick it in the Aga at nine in the morning."

"After an hour or so I cut the skirt off, which then goes in the beater’s oven with the two big hunks of shoulder they have cooked in their oven in their shoot room."

“I take the meat out of the oven at 12 and let it rest on top for about an hour, which is the most important part." 

"Isabel is our lunch steward, the most wonderful girl who does all the other bits of cooking. The guns get a good wine, and the meal ends with a cheese board." 

“So many people come back here just because of our lunches - it’s all part of the camaraderie of the day." 

"You can always judge how good a day people are having at lunchtime as it’s their first opportunity to mull over the shooting. I think it’s all part of the experience."

Good though the food is, the quality of shooting on offer is not to be underestimated.

Thanks to the varied terrain there is a wide range of sport on offer, from driven partridge and pheasant days to smaller boundary days and walked-up woodcock shooting.

My old school pal Gavin Whittley pictured on the right in 2011

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.

Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.
Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.
Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Shoot manager Joe Taylor (left) & Gavin Whittley discuss the morning’s drives.
Read more at http://www.shootinggazette.co.uk/shootfeatures/527725/Game_shooting_at_the_Cleggan_shoot_County_Antrim.html#ljeDFR5RVMM2cQho.99

Unusually, the partridge shooting is charged on a fixed rate at £6,000 for a day on the basis of 300 birds.

Though most guns will be used to being charged on a per-bird basis, the flat fee actually works out as extremely good value, coming in at about £20 per bird.

Considering the quality of sport on offer, even in the rain, this seems like a bargain to me".

First published in July, 2011. 

Commercial Buildings, Belfast

Commercial Buildings: Engraved for Smyth's Belfast Directory (Hogg Collection/ NMNI)

"WHERE the Commercial Buildings now stand, there were, in the year 1800, a row of low cottages, thatched with straw. This has been affirmed by respectable persons who saw them. They have been mentioned the names of those who lived, or had their places of business, in them; these were Thomas McCabe, Valentine Joyce, Russell, and others."

Thus wrote George Benn, the Belfast historian, in 1880.

The United Irishman Samuel Neilson (1761-1803) is said to have occupied one of the cottages.

Commercial Buildings are located at the corner of Waring Street and Bridge Street in Belfast.

Construction of the Buildings began on St Patrick's Day, 1819, when the foundation stone was laid by GEORGE, 2ND MARQUESS OF DONEGALL KP.

Commercial Buildings from Donegall Street painted by W A Maguire ca 1830-30 (NMNI)

The designer was John McCutcheon, the architect who oversaw the erection of Royal Belfast Academical Institution five years previously, in 1814.

The building is said to have cost £20,000 to build, equivalent to about £2 million in 2021.

Commercial Buildings remain in splendid condition to this day, doubtless due to its construction with Dublin granite.

The ground-floor stonework is rusticated, with arched window apertures.

Decorative feature (Timothy Ferres. 2022)

There is a pair of Doric porches in the Waring Street elevation, which clearly terminates the vista from Donegall Street.

The most prominent features of this elevation are eight large Ionic columns, paired at each end.

Directly above these columns is a date stone inscribed with the Roman numerals "MDCCCXX."

(Timothy Ferres, 2022)

The Historic Buildings database of the Northern Ireland Department of Communities has already written a comprehensive document about Commercial Buildings, including the fact that the Northern Whig newspaper acquired the property and operated there from 1919 until 1963.

Marcus Patton, OBE, in his Historical Gazetteer of Belfast (1993), also includes the Commercial Buildings on pages 326-7.

Bridge Street façade in 1942 (Belfast Telegraph/NMNI

High Street and Bridge Street suffered catastrophic damage caused by bombing during the Blitz in 1941; and as a consequence of this the Bridge Street elevation of Commercial Buildings was virtually destroyed.

The Waring Street frontage, however, remained largely unscathed.

Prospect from Donegall Street in 2022 (Timothy Ferres)

The historic buildings database remarks:

"With the closure of the news-press in 1963, the former Northern Whig headquarters was reconverted into commercial office space; the structure was listed in 1975. Utilised as office space for over three decades the Northern Whig was purchased by the Botanic Inns in 1997 who converted the majority of the building into a licensed restaurant and bar called ‘The Northern Whig;’ a portion of the upper floor continues to be utilised as office space."

Castle Upton

THE VISCOUNTS TEMPLETOWN WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY ANTRIM, WITH 11,924 ACRES

The family of UPTON was seated at Upton, Cornwall, about the time of the Conquest.

ARTHUR UPTON, of L'Upton, or Lupton, Brixham, Devon, elder brother of the Chevalier John Upton, Knight of Malta, and grandson of John Upton, of Lupton, by Joan his wife, daughter and heir of Sir Wincomb Raleigh, Knight.

John Upton, of L'Upton, was fourth in descent from John Upton (and Agnes his wife, sister and heir of John Peniles, of L'Upton), younger son of John Upton, of Trelaske, Cornwall.

The aforesaid Arthur Upton married Gertrude, daughter of Hugh Fortescue, of Filleigh, Devon, and had, with other issue,

John, (1590-1641), of Lupton, MP for Dartmouth;
HENRY, of whom hereafter.

The younger son,

HENRY UPTON (1592-1642), a Captain in the army of the Earl of Essex, fixed his abode in County Antrim, and was returned to parliament for Carrickfergus in 1634.

Captain Upton married, in 1628, Mary, daughter of Sir Hugh Clotworthy, Knight, and sister 1st Viscount Massereene, by whom he had four sons and three daughters, and was succeeded by the eldest son,

ARTHUR UPTON (1633-1706), of Castle Upton, MP for Carrickfergus for a series of forty years, who wedded Dorothy, daughter of Michael Beresford, of Coleraine, and was succeeded by his fourth, but eldest surviving son,

CLOTWORTHY UPTON (1660-1725), of Castle Upton, MP for Newtownards, 1695-1703, Antrim County, 1703-16, who, raising a party of men, joined the standard of WILLIAM III at the siege of Limerick, and was taken prisoner there, after entering the breach sword in hand, and almost alone, his followers, nearly to a man, being cut to pieces.

Mr Upton married firstly, Mary, only daughter of Roger Boyle, Earl of Orrery, by whom he had no issue; and secondly, Margaret, daughter of William Stewart, of Killymoon, County Tyrone, who died also without issue; and thirdly, Jane, daughter of John Ormsby, of Athlacca (by whom he had an only daughter, ELZABETH, who wedded the Rt Hon Hercules Landford Rowley, and was created a peeress of the realm, as Baroness Langford).

Mr Upton was succeeded by his brother,

JOHN UPTON, of Castle Upton, MP for Antrim County, 1725-7, a military officer, who distinguished himself at the storming of the citadel of Liège, and at the battle of Almansa, under Lord Galway; where, for his spirited conduct, he obtained the command of a regiment, upon the fall of Colonel Killigrew.

Colonel Upton wedded, in 1711, Mary, only daughter of Dr Francis Upton, of London, by whom he had three sons and five daughters.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

ARTHUR UPTON, of Castle Upton, MP for Antrim Borough, 1692, Deputy Governor of County Antrim, who married firstly, Sophia, daughter of Michael Ward; and secondly, Sarah, daughter of Pole Cosby, of Stradbally; but dying without issue, in 1768, the estates devolved upon his brother,

FRANCIS UPTON, a naval officer; at whose decease, unmarried, they passed to a younger brother,

CLOTWORTHY UPTON (1721-85), who espoused, in 1769, Elizabeth, daughter of Shuckburgh Boughton, of Poston Court, Herefordshire, and had issue,

JOHN HENRY, his successor;
Fulke Greville;
Arthur Percy, CB, Lieutenant-General in the army;
Elizabeth Albinia, m 1st Marquess of Bristol.

Mr Upton was elevated to the peerage, in 1776, in the dignity of of Baron Templetown, of Templetown, County Antrim.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

JOHN HENRY, 2nd Baron (1771-1846), who married, in 1796, the Lady Mary Montagu, only daughter of John, 5th Earl of Sandwich, and had issue,

HENRY MONTAGU, his successor;
GEORGE FREDERICK, succeeded his brother;
Arthur;
Edward John, father of the 4th Viscount;
Mary Wilhelmina.

His lordship was created a viscount, in 1806, as VISCOUNT TEMPLETOWN, of County Antrim.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

HENRY MONTAGU, 2nd Viscount (1799-1863), who died unmarried, when the titles devolved upon his brother,

George, 3rd Viscount Templetown GCB (Defence Academy of the UK)

GEORGE FREDERICK, 3rd Viscount (1802-90), GCB, of Castle Upton, a General in the Army, MP for County Antrim, 1859-63, who married, in 1850, Susan, daughter of Field-Marshal Sir Alexander Woodford GCB; the marriage, however, was without issue, when the titles reverted to his lordship's nephew,

HENRY EDWARD MONTAGU DORINGTON CLOTWORTHY, 4th Viscount (1853-1939), GCB, who wedded, in 1883, the Lady Evelyn Georgina Finch-Hatton, daughter of George, 10th Earl of Winchilsea, and had issue,

Eric Edward Montagu, killed in action, 1915;

HENRY AUGUSTUS GEORGE MOUNTJOY HENEAGE, his successor;

Margaret Evelyn.

His lordship was succeeded by his surviving son,

HENRY AUGUSTUS GEORGE MOUNTJOY HENEAGE, 5th Viscount (1894-1981), who married firstly, in 1916, Alleyne, daughter of Captain Henry Lewes Conran RN, of Gordon Downs, Queensland, Australia, and had issue,

HENRY ERIC PATRICK MOUNJOY SPALDING (1917-57), dsp;
Alleyne Evelyn Maureen Louisa.

His lordship wedded secondly, in 1975, Margaret Violet Louisa, widow of Sir Lionel George Arthur Cust.

On the decease of the 5th Viscount the titles expired.

The ancestral seat of the Templetown family was Castle Upton, Templepatrick, County Antrim. 

CASTLE UPTON demesne, beside Templepatrick, County Antrim, is near the half-way point on the main road from Antrim to Belfast.

The demesne lies on the north side of the village; and the house contains numerous features which are of historical and architectural import.

The Anglo-Norman style flanker towers now form part of the main house of 1612; which, in turn, occupies the site of a 13th century priory of the Knights of St John (Hospitallers) - monks who joined the Last Crusade, sailing from Carrickfergus in County Antrim.

The said monks were expelled from Templepatrick during the Reformation; and the Knights' vaulted refectory was reconstructed, when the mansion was extended by Robert Adam in 1783 for the 1st Viscount Templetown.

Castle Upton House today is essentially a plantation castle built at the end of the 16th and beginning of the 17th centuries by Sir Robert and Sir Henry Norton Bt, who named it Castle Norton.

The castle was sold in 1625 to Captain Henry Upton, who promptly re-named it Castle Upton.

From 1783 Clotworthy Upton, 1st Baron Templetown, and his son (later 1st Viscount Templetown) employed Robert Adam to modernize the interior and give the exterior a "castle air".

Adam raised and machiolated the pair of round towers from the original castle and gave them high, conical roofs, adding a wing with another tower.

Adam also designed a Classical mausoleum in the church-yard and a splendid castellated stable range, in 1789.

In 1837 Edward Blore was employed by the 2nd Viscount to redesign the Castle, inserting mullioned windows and eradicating most of Adams' interiors; raising and panelling the hall; and refurbishing the main reception rooms in a restrained Elizabethan style, with fretted ceilings.

The Castle was sold by the Upton family early in the 20th century; and the subsequent owner re-roofed the main building, an act which ruined Adam's romantic skyline.

Adam's additional wing was allowed to fall into ruin.

In 1963, the 300-acre estate was purchased by Sir Robin Kinahan who, with Lady Kinahan, restored the Castle most sympathetically.

Their most notable achievement was the rebuilding of the ruined Adam wing, which now contains an elegant ballroom; and an Italian marble chimney-piece formerly at DOWNHILL CASTLE in County Londonderry.

The demesne itself is now diminished, with trees near the house, a small artificial lake and lawns where a 19th century formal garden was once laid out.

The walled garden is used as a field. Robert Adam’s stable block is approached via a contemporary gate lodge of 1820.

The impressive village entrance to the house is by Edward Blore (1837) and has a gate lodge hidden behind it.

Sir Robin and Lady Kinahan's son, Danny Kinahan, and his family, lived in the house until it was placed on the market in 2016.

I have met the late Sir Robin several times: When he was Lord-Lieutenant of Belfast at ceremonies in the Ulster Hall; and as chairman of the board of Belfast Cathedral. I recall him well. A true gentleman indeed.

Castle Upton was purchased in 2019 by Terry Hughes.

Other residence ~ The Holme, Balmaclennan, Castle Douglas.

First published in March, 2010.