Clogher House
Carra , Co. Mayo
Clogher House in Co. Mayo was built in the 1770’s and
existed for nearly 200 years until it was destroyed by fire in 1970. This house
and estate were once part of a community of 'Big Houses' that existed in the
Ballyglass area which included the Moores
of nearby Moore Hall and the Blakes of Towerhill House. These land owning
families were Catholic and in the 1860's the
tenantry of Moore Hall, Clogher and Tower Hill would meet at mass in the nearby chapel
at Carnacun. George Moore recalled that 'they all collected around the gateway
of the chapel to admire the carriages of their landlords'. The Moore family pew was the first seat on the
right hand side of the church with the Clogher pew behind it. However the landed families sat on the upper level of the church while the tenants sat in the main body of the church below them. Moore
would also recall that the Clogher 'girls' Helena, Livy, Lizy and May used to
sit there. He also fondly remembered going to Clogher to gather cherries and
how his father George Henry Moore was impressed by the inventiveness of the Clogher 'girls' when they made a hearth rug for their dolls house from the
skin of a dead mouse. In 1914, George Moore
said that 'a last Lynch lives his lonely life in Clogher' and also suggested
that Clogher would make a fine home for the Franciscans. He thought this course
of action was a good idea as 'Lynch is
a Roman Catholic: he has no children, what better could he do.' The 'last
Lynch' as referred to by George Moore was James Fitzgerald-Kenney, who in
1913 stated that his ancestors, the Lynch Blosses, came to Clogher in 1720 from
Castle Carra, a junior branch of the Lynch Blosse family baronets. They obtained
leases of the Clogher estate, in the parishes of Burriscarra , Drum, Carra,
Tagheen, barony of Clanmorris in the County of Mayo, for 999 years from Sir Henry Lynch
Blosse, 8th Baronet in 1788. James Fitzgerald-Kenney, in 1913, also referred to
the old house of Clogher, inhabited by his ancestors up to 1780. He
said that the Penal Laws at the time only allowed Catholics to live in houses of no more than one storey high so the laying of the foundations of the present
Clogher House coincided with the relaxation of the these laws. The Lynch family
of Clogher House had the rare privilege of having Papal authority to celebrate
the ceremony of Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament in their house, it
was said at the time to be a privilege enjoyed by very few.
A photo of the house possibly taken in the 1960's from the Facebook page of Lost Buildings of Ireland who received it from William Fitzgerald Kenney |
Originally a smaller
house when first built, a storm in January 1839 resulted in a number of changes being made to the structure. The roof of the
mansion was torn off in the storm known as ‘The Big Wind’ despite it being covered in heavy stone slates. As Clogher was left
roofless, the opportunity was taken to remodel the house, add another story
while replacing the roof. In 1844 Samuel Nicholson described Clogher House as
"amongst the largest and the best in the Country, and appears to be kept
in excellent order". Clogher sat in a demesne of 640 acres, the structure was three-storey over part raised basement, with six bays on the entrance front incorporating a two bay
break-front with tripartite pediment and fan lighted door-case. Internally, the
house comprised of twenty-eight rooms incorporating a drawing room, library and chapel. The
main reception rooms had ceilings of fine Adamesque plaster work and the front
hall featuring an elaborate curved ceiling, which can be seen in some photographs below.
Some surviving photos of the entrance hall of the house where the circular ceiling can be seen
Copyright: The Architectural Archive
Another family involved with the history of Clogher House was the O'Crean family, who were said to be of great antiquity. They possessed large estates in Co. Sligo but lost them during the time of religious persecution. The O'Creans formed alliances with many families and Henry Crean born in 1670, married in 1703, Catherine, daughter of Thomas Blake of Bolebeg, Co. Mayo. This union produced Andrew Crean, who in 1751 married Mary, daughter and heiress of Dominick Lynch, Newborough, Galway . Andrew assumed the additional name of Lynch. His only surviving son, Dominick Crean-Lynch married in 1784, Julia, the daughter of Martin Brown of Cloonfad, Co. Roscommon. Their eldest son, Andrew Crean-Lynch of Hollybrook married in 1811 Elizabeth , the eldest daughter of Patrick Lynch of Clogher House and in 1818, Clogher House is referred to as the house of the 'late' Patrick Lynch. It is also recorded that Andrew Crean-Lynch bought the Clogher estate from his brother-in-law Patrick Lynch. Andrew and Elizabeth 's union produced five children, Dominick born 1812 but died young, Patrick born 1814, Joseph born 1828 together with two daughters Mary and Ann. Patrick Crean-Lynch succeeded and lived at Clogher House. In 1828, an Edward Lynch of Clogher House is recorded as having died followed in 1844 by Joseph Crean-Lynch who died aged only 17 years of age. His remains were interred at Thagheen Chapel near Hollybrook, Claremorris. During the Famine in 1847, it was said that no tenant of the estate died of hunger, however many did die of fever which then raged through the country. By the 1860's ,Patrick Crean-Lynch was in financial difficulties and advertised for sale both his Hollybrook and Clogher estates. Part of the Hollybrook estate was in the parishes of Kilbennan and Kilconla, barony of Dunmore, county Galway . The Irish Times reported details of the purchasers of some lots in this sale though other lots were adjourned. Patrick Crean-Lynch was a Justice of the Peace, District Lieutenant, High Sheriff and a Major in the South Mayo Militia. He married in 1845, Marcella, the daughter of Sir Michael Dillion Bellew, this marriage produced four daughters but no male heir.
The tripartite pediment and fan lighted door-case Copyright: The Architectural Archive |
In August 1870, one of Patrick's daughters,
Helena Mary, married James Charles Fitzgerald-Kenney of Kilclogher, County Galway .
so it was necessary that a marriage alliance was arranged between the Crean
Lynchs and the Fitzgerald-Kenney's. This marriage produced a number of children
beginning in June 1871, when Marcella Jane Antonia Mary de Kenne was born
in Number 2 Merrion Square .
She was followed by William, born in November 1872, who was baptised William
Lionel Crean Nicholas De Kenne in December of the year of his birth. In February 1875,
at No. 2 Merrion Square ,it was reported that a daughter, Helena Julia Olivia was born to James C. Fitzgerald-Kenney and his
wife. She was baptised Helena Julia Olivia Anna De Kenne at St. Andrews Church
on Westland Row. On Sunday, September 24th 1876 at Merrion Square , the wife of James
Fitzgerald-Kenney Esq. of Kilclogher, Co. Galway
and Clogher House, Co. Mayo gave birth to a son. However tragedy struck when James Christopher
Fitzgerald-Kenney, the husband of Helena Mary, died on the 31st October 1877 at
Clogher House. He left an estate valued under £14,000 and it is noted that he
is late of Clogher House, Co. Mayo, Kilclogher, Co. Galway
and No. 2 Merrion Square, South
Dublin . He was aged 58 at the
time of his death. In November 1877, a newspaper notice was published which advertised an auction at Clogher House to include the extensive sale of 183
head of cattle sheep and horses together with carriages, hay
and farming implements. Also offered for sale was the entire furniture of the
house noted as formerly being the residence of Major Crean-Lynch. The auctioneers also noted that they have been
favoured with instructions from the representatives of the late J.C. Fitzgerald-Kenny. The man who go on to have a successful legal and political career in
20th century Ireland
, was actually born after the death of his father. In April 1878, James
Fitzgerald-Kenney was born in No. 2 Merrion Square and it is noted on his birth
cert that his father was deceased. He was baptised James Christopher de Kenne
Fitzgerald-Kenney on the 9th May 1878 in St. Andrew's Church Westland Row.
The breakfront and steps to the house Copyright ICHC |
On June 14th, 1894, Harry James Christopher Kenney died aged
20 as the result of an accident. He was the second son of the late J.C.
Fitzgerald Kenny of Kilclogher Co. Galway and Merrion Square Dublin .
He was described as popular young gentleman and was returning from the
Ballinrobe Racces when the accident occurred. He had attended the races and had
won two events but his lifeless body was found the following morning on the
roadside near Clogher House. His horse standing on the roadside with its reins
still in the hands of the deceased. After mass was celebrated in Clogher House,
the cortege left the house at 3pm for interment in the family vault at Drum, a
graveyard found within a mile of Clogher. It was reported that the house was'
literally besieged during the days of mourning , and was a telling proof of the
affectionate regard in which this old Catholic family is held, the room in
which the remains were laid, was constantly thronged with the old and young of
the neighbourhood'. As the coffin was borne out of Clogher House ' the vast
multitude around gave expression to their feeling in a loud burst of sorrow.
The large cortege of carriages, cars and the numerous peasantry that followed
the remains, filled the avenue from the house to the entrance gate'. The coffin
was carried all the way to the graveyard on the shoulders of the tenantry who
wore white scarves. Present at the funeral was the Archbishop of Tuam, a number
of clergy from surrounding parishes and the Monks of Errew Monastery. Later in
the month, a letter appeared in 'The Western People' owing to the false rumours
regarding the death of Harry and stated that his death was as a result of a fall from his horse. It was also stated that the victim had a weak heart
from childhood and was prone to sudden faintness or dizziness which may have
caused the fatal fall. However the rumour that abounded at the time
was that Captain Blake of nearby Towerhill and Harry had been drinking at the
local pub in Carnacon. Captain Blake stated that he wished to marry Harry's
older sister, Harry let it be known that the Blake family were not thought of
as being suitable to marry into his family. A number of hours later Harry was
found dead on the side of the road near his home.
The Rear Facade of Clogher House Copyright ICHC |
Prior to 1894, there appeared to be good relations between
the Fitzgerald-Kenney's and their tenants. However one year later in
1895, there were a number of hearings for ejectments to carried out on the
estate for the recovery of rent arrears due to Mrs. Fitzgerald-Kenney of
Clogher House. In the 1901 census the house is listed as being owned by Helena
Fitzgerald-Kenney and that it extended to 28 rooms. Residing in the house at this time is Helena,
a widow aged 53, her daughter also named Helena aged 24, son James aged 22, a
practicing barrister together two servants. It is noted that all Helena 's children were born in Dublin . In May 1903, Helena Fitzgerald-Kenney
late of Clogher House died and the
probate of her will was granted to James Fitzgerald Kenney B.L. in the amount
of £ 1,335 16s 2d. Clogher House and its lands passed
to her son James. By 1911, James Fitzgerald-Kenney is still living in Clogher
House with another sister Marcella who is a Local Government Board Inspector. In
1920, a long running dispute between the tenants of the estate and James Kenney
came to sad conclusion. From 1913 there had been constant trouble around the
Clogher estate and the RIC had to provide protection to the Fitzgerald-Kenney
family members. James Fitzgerald-Kenney had refused to sell any of his lands to local tenants after which, the locals resorted to a boycott of the
estate. The manager of the estate Michael
O'Toole had nine children and could not afford to stop working for the
Fitzgerald-Kenneys and received a warning from the tenants of the estate.
As a result O'Toole and another man named Michael Ferrangher were
attacked and beaten. O'Toole died of his injuries but Ferrangher survived for a
short period before he succumbed. Michael Ferragher had worked on the estate
for 26 years prior to his death as a coachman. The suspects who were thought to
have carried out the beating were eventually released without charge. The
families of the deceased men received compensation for their loss, yet the
murders remained unsolved to this day.
Mourners
arriving at
Future Minister for Justice James Fitzgerald-Kenney of Clogher House, Co. Mayo is on the far left.
|
In 1918, James Fitzgerald-Kenney proved counsel for Mr.
Edward Martyn of Tulira Castle , Galway in an
injunction that he took against a local farmer that was trespassing on this demesne.
In 1934, it was reported that Miss Helena Fitzgerald-Kenney had placed her
beautiful and ancient residence at the disposal of the Mayo Branch of the
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children for the branch's
annual general meeting. Helena J. Fitzgerald-Kenney was a member of the Mayo
Executive of the I.S.P.C.C. and was a council member of the N.S.P.C.C. During
Christmas 1949, an invitation was extended from Miss Helena Fitzgerald-Kenny
for Midnight Mass to be celebrated at Clogher House. The mass was held in the
drawing room which was transformed into an oratory for the occasion. The
congregation was made up of staff and people from the area surrounding Clogher.
After his mother's death Clogher was
home to James Fitzgerald-Kenney, Cumann na nGaedheal TD for South Mayo
1927-1944 and Minister for Justice 1927-1932. He had inherited Clogher through
his mother’s family and made it his home until his death in 1956 together with
his siblings. He was educated in Clongowes
Wood College
and University College Dublin were he graduated with a BA in 1898 and was
called to the Irish Bar in 1899. He built up an extensive practice in Dublin and on the
Connaught Circuit and was called to the Inner Bar in 1925. He joined the Irish
National Volunteers in 1914 and was for a time an Inspecting Officer for South
Mayo. In 1927, he was elected to the Dail, and shortly afterwards, following the
shooting of the first minister for Justice, Kevin O'Higgins, he was appointed
Secretary to the Minister for Justice. After the elections of September 1927, James was re-elected for South Mayo and became Minister for Justice. After his retirement in 1944 from politics, he resumed his legal practice and eventually retired to his farm at Clogher. James Fitzgerald- Kenney
died aged 78 in 1956 in a Dublin hospital and his
remains were removed from Dublin to Carnacon Church near Clogher with burial taking place in Drum graveyard near the house. James was predeceased by his brother, in August 1954, the death occurred of William Lionel Fitzgerald-Kenney at Clogher House. After his father's death and being the eldest son, while still a minor, he inherited his father's property at Kilclogher and Keelogues near Glenamaddy, Co. Galway . In 1900, he sold all his property having previously married in 1896, Josephine Delmas, the daughter of one of the foremost and best known lawyers, Delphin M. Delmas of San Francisco . William emigrated to California in 1902 to be near his wife's relatives and lived there until he returned to Clogher House in 1949 where he lived until his death. James surviving sisters continued
to live at Clogher House after his death. In October 1957, James's sister
Helena died , the chief mourners at her funeral were her sister Miss Marcella
Fitzgerald-Kenney and Mrs. John Sweetman from Kells. The Kenney-Fitzgerald
family association with Clogher came to an end with the death of Marcella
Fitzgerald-Kenney, who died in 1965 at the County Hospital
in Castlebar. All the family members are buried at the nearby Drum graveyard.
James Fitzgerald Kenney |
As a result of the death of the last Kenney-Fitzgerald
sibling to live in the house, two years later in 1967, the contents of the Clogher were offered
for sale at auction. This included the contents of the library that extended to
over 3,000 books together with both Celestial and Terrestrial globes. The
contents of the house was obviously extensive as it took four days to conduct
the sale. In the auction catalogue from 1967, the
following rooms and area's in the house are mentioned,
the Library, the back drawing room, entrance hall, inner hall and staircase, four bedrooms and the top floor which had a full size billiard
table. The house had an extensive library as the sale of its contents accounted
for one full day of the four day auction. The books amounted to 3,000 copies
that covered topics such as history, law, architecture, medicine, agriculture, forestry, gardening, travel, trade and religion. There were books written by George and Maurice
Moore who had lived on the neighbouring estate together with books by Douglas
Hyde and Yeats. There was a copy of ' The Trials of George R. Fitzgerald and
others held at Castlebar , taken from the notes of a Gentleman' dating from 1786. The architecture books
appeared to contain a number of volumes regarding designs for ornamental cottages,
rural cottages, small villas, labourers
cottages and farm cottages. Some of the medical books dated from the mid 1600's
and a large number of books dated from the 1700's featured in the sale, which
means they predated the house. As the books were so numerous, a large quantity
were not listed, with some being sold by the shelf. The library also had a
collection of maps which included an Atlas with geographical and historical
accounts of the empires printed for Daniel Brown in London in 1721. There were also fifty sheets
of maps of the maritime aspect of County
Mayo . After the auction the
house was sold to a timber merchant but unfortunately having survived the turbulent 1920's in Ireland, in January 1970, Clogher
House was destroyed in a fire. At the time the house stood on 200 acres having
once been surrounded by a demesne of 640 acres. Despite the efforts of fire
brigades from Claremorris and Ballinrobe the house was reduced to ruins. It was
said that strong gales on the night of the fire hampered efforts to save the
house. Clogher was unoccupied at the time and was looked after by a caretaker
who lived nearby. Today the house languishes in ruins and is slowly being reclaimed by nature.
Clogher House after it was destroyed by fire in 1970 |