Clonyn Castle

THE EARLS OF WESTMEATH WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY WESTMEATH, WITH 9,783 ACRES

The noble family of NUGENT was settled in Ireland since the subjugation of that country by HENRY II. Its founder, SIR GILBERT DE NUGENT, originally from the Nogent-le-Rotrou district in France, was one of the knights who, in 1171, accompanied Hugh de Lacy in the expedition to Ireland, having married Rosa, the sister of the said Hugh, obtained thereby the barony of Delvin; 

But, his sons predeceasing him, he was succeeded at his decease by his brother, RICHARD NUGENT, whose only daughter and heiress carried the barony of Delvin into the family of Johns, or Jones, into which she married, and it so remained until brought back by the intermarriage of

SIR WILLIAM FITZRICHARD NUGENT, 1ST BARON DELVIN, of Balrath (descended from Christopher Nugent, third brother of  Sir Gilbert), with Catherine, daughter and heiress of John FitzJones, Baron Delvin.

Sir William was elected Sheriff of Meath, 1401, in which office he was confirmed by the King for one year, and again in 1402.

He was succeeded at his decease, ca 1414, by his eldest son,

RICHARD, 2nd Baron; who, in consequence of his services and expenses in the King's wars, to the impoverishment of his fortune, had an order, dated at Trim, 1428, to receive twenty marks out of the exchequer.

He wedded Catherine, daughter of Thomas Drake, sister and heiress of Nicholas Drake, of Drakerath, County Meath.

His lordship died in 1475, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

CHRISTOPHER, 3rd Baron, who died ca 1483, and was succeeded by his son and heir,

RICHARD, 4th Baron, who had summonses to Parliament in 1486, 1490, and 1493, and was constituted by the Lords Justices and Council, in 1496, commander and leader-in-chief of all the forces destined for the defence of counties Dublin, Meath, Kildare, and Louth.

His lordship was subsequently summoned to parliament in 1498, but failing to appear, he was fined forty shillings for non-attendance.

In 1504, Lord Delvin accompanied the Earl of Kildare to the famous battle of Knockdoe, in Connaught, and was the first to throw a spear into the ranks of the Irish, by which he chanced to kill one of the Burkes.

In 1527, he was nominated Lord Deputy of Ireland, and conducted the public affairs with integrity and honour, until treacherously taken prisoner by O'Connor Faly.

That native chieftain having made inroads upon the confines of the Pale, in 1528, Lord Delvin ordered the detention of a yearly rent due to him out of certain carucates of lands in County Meath; which procedure led to a conference at Rathyn Castle, belonging to Sir William Darcy, when by stratagem the Lord Deputy was seized and detained prisoner, many of his attendants being slain, wounded, and taken.

Walter Wellesley, of Dangan Castle, and Sir Walter Delahyde, of Moyclare, were subsequently deputed to expostulate with O'Connor Faly, and to procure his lordship's liberation, but ineffectually, when another Lord Deputy was appointed to administer the government, and Lord Delvin remained in confinement until O'Connor's pension was restored.

His lordship wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Lord Howth, and had two sons,

CHRISTOPHER;
THOMAS, of Carlanstown, ancestor of the EARLS NUGENT.

His lordship died in 1538, and was succeeded by his son,

RICHARD, 5th Baron (1523-59), father of

CHRISTOPHER, 6th Baron (1544-1602), was sent prisoner to London, 1580, and committed to the Tower, on suspicion of holding correspondence with the rebels of Leinster; but his innocence being soon afterwards fully established, he returned to Ireland, and was present in Sir John Perrot's parliament, in 1585.

In 1588, he obtained a grant of Fore Abbey, County Westmeath; and being, in 1593, appointed by commission leader of the forces raised in County Westmeath at the general hosting on the Hill of Tara, he brought, with the Nugents, his kinsmen, twenty horsemen there; and so acceptable were his services to ELIZABETH I that, by privy seal, 1597, Her Majesty ordered him a grant in fee farm of so many manors and forfeited lands in counties Cavan and Longford at his election as should amount to the crown rent of £100 per annum.

But this grant not having been executed during his life, on account of the troubles in Ireland, JAMES I, in 1603, ordered £60 in lands, per annum, to be granted to his widow and son.

His lordship espoused Mary, daughter of Gerald, 11th Earl of Kildare, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

RICHARD, 7th Baron (1583-1642), who was arrested in 1607, and committed by the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Sir Arthur Chichester, to Dublin Castle, upon a charge of high treason, being concerned in a conspiracy with the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnell, and others, to surprise Dublin Castle, cut off the Lord Deputy and Council, dissolve the state, and set up a government of their own.

His lordship effected, however, his escape, by the assistance of his servant, and was subsequently proclaimed a traitor.

Surrendering in the following year, he obtained a pardon under the Great Seal (1608), and so entirely re-established himself in a few years in royal favour; that he was created, in 1621, EARL OF WESTMEATH.

He wedded Jenet, daughter of Christopher, 9th Baron Killeen; and dying in 1642, was succeeded by his grandson,

RICHARD, 2nd Earl (1621-84), only son of Christopher, Lord Delvin, who pre-deceased his father, by Anne, eldest daughter of Randal, 1st Earl of Antrim.

His lordship espoused Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Nugent Bt, of Moyrath, and had, with junior issue,

CHRISTOPHER, father of RICHARD, 3rd Earl;
Thomas, 1st Baron Nugent of Riverston;
Anne; Mary.

His lordship was succeeded by his grandson,

RICHARD, 3rd Earl, who, adopting a religious life, became a friar of the Order of Capuchins; and dying in 1714, at Wassey, in a convent of his order, the honours devolved upon his brother,

THOMAS, 4th Earl (1669-1752); who had a colonel's command in the army of JAMES II, and was outlawed in consequence in 1691; but being one of the hostages exchanged for the observance of the articles of Limerick, the outlawry was reversed, and he was restored to his estates and honours.

His lordship wedded Margaret, only daughter of John, 1st Baron Bellew of Duleek, by whom he had issue,

Christopher, Lord Delvin, dsp;
John, dsp;
Katherine; Mary.

His lordship died at the advanced age of 96, and was succeeded by his brother,

JOHN, 5th Earl (1671-1754), a major-general in the army, who married Marguerite Jeanne, daughter of Count Charles Molza, of Modena, Italy, and had issue,

THOMAS, his successor;
James;
John;
Richard;
Edward;
Marie Charlotte; Francois Christine.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS, 6th Earl (1714-92), who conformed to the established church, and wedded firstly, in 1742, Mary, only daughter and heiress of Walter Durand Stapleton, by whom he had an only son, Richard, Lord Delvin, who fell in a duel in 1761.

He espoused secondly, in 1756, Catherine, daughter and co-heiress of Henry White, of Pichfordstown, County Kildare, and had further issue,

Thomas, Lord Delvin, died young;
GEORGE FREDERICK, his successor;
Henry;
Catharine.

His lordship, a founder Knight of the Order of St Patrick, 1783, was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

GEORGE FREDERICK, 7th Earl (1760-1814), who wedded firstly, in 1784, Maryanne, eldest daughter of Major James St John Jeffries, of Blarney Castle, County Cork, and niece of John, 1st Earl of Clare, LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR OF IRELAND, and had issue, and had issue,

GEORGE THOMAS JOHN, his successor.

His lordship espoused secondly, in 1797, the Lady Elizabeth Emily Moore, daughter of Charles, 1st Marquess of Drogheda, and had further issue,

Robert Seymour;
Thomas Hugh;
Elizabeth Emily; Catherine Anne; Mary Frances.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

GEORGE THOMAS JOHN, 8th Earl (1785-1871), who wedded, in 1812, the Lady Emily Anne Bennet Elizabeth Cecil, second daughter of James, 1st Marquess of Salisbury, and had issue,

William Henry Wellington Brydges (1818-19);
Rosa Emily Mary Anne.

His lordship, Lord-Lieutenant of County Westmeath, Colonel, Westmeath Militia, was advanced to the dignity of a marquessate, in 1822, as MARQUESS OF WESTMEATH.

He died without surviving male issue, when the marquessate expired.

The Earldom, however, reverted to his kinsman,

ANTHONY FRANCIS NUGENT, as 9th Earl.

• Anthony Francis Nugent, 9th Earl (1805–1879);

• William St George Nugent, 10th Earl (1832–83);

• Anthony Francis Nugent, 11th Earl (1870–1933);

• Gilbert Charles Nugent, 12th Earl (1880–1971);

• William Anthony Nugent, 13th Earl (b 1928).

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, Sean Charles Weston Nugent, styled Lord Delvin.

Clonyn Castle (Image: The Times)

CLONYN CASTLE, also known as Delvin Castle, is situated in Delvin, County Westmeath.

The first castle (now in ruins) is believed to have been built in 1181 by Hugh de Lacy the Norman, Lord of Meath for his brother-in-law, Sir Gilbert de Nugent.

Sir Gilbert, originally from the Nogent-le-Rotrou area in France, came to Ireland with Hugh de Lacy in 1171 and settled on some land in Delvin and was granted the title Baron of Delvin.

The ruins of Nugent Castle, burnt when Cromwell's army approached, remain near the centre of the city.

Clonyn Castle is a square, symmetrical, two-storey, 19th century castle of cut limestone.

It has four tall, round corner towers.

The interior has a large two-storey hall with gallery and enormous arcading.

In 1639 Richard Nugent, 1st Earl of Westmeath, build another more recent castle, situated on the dominating ground, and now overlooking Delvin urbanised area today, may be referred to as either Delvin or Clonyn Castle.

Following the death of the 8th Earl and 1st and last Marquess of Westmeath in 1871, Clonyn passed to his only surviving child Lady Rosa, wife of the 1st Lord Greville.

After the 2nd World War, the castle served briefly as a home for 97 Jewish children, most of them orphans of the Holocaust.

A public golf course lies behind the more recent castle, 500 yards from Delvin centre.

First published in July, 2012. 

D'Arcy of Dunmoe

THE D'ARCY-IRVINES OWNED 6,187 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY FERMANAGH

NORMAN DE ARECI, who held thirty-three Lordships in Lincolnshire at the date of the Domesday Book, was a benefactor of St Mary's Abbey, York. His son, ROBERT D'ARCY, of Nocton, Lincolnshire, was founder of the Priory there.

JOHN D'ARCY, 1ST BARON D'ARCY DE KNAYTH (c1290-1347), governed Ireland as Judiciar, 1323-7, 1328-31, and 1332-37.

He fought against Scotland on many occasions, with distinction especially at the battle of Halidon Hill (1333).

He was Constable of the Tower of London during the preparations for the war with France (1346), and was one of the principal bannerets at Crećy, flying the banner of the D'Arcys of Nocton.

He left the siege of Calais to take charge of David Bruce, King of Scots.

John D'Arcy married firstly, Emmeline, daughter and heir of Walter Heron, and by her had issue,

JOHN, whose heirs have been Barons D'Arcy de Knayth.

He wedded secondly, in 1329, Joan, widow of Thomas FitzGerald, Earl of Kildare, daughter of Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster, by whom he had further issue (with three sons, who all dsp),

WILLIAM, of whom we treat;

Elizabeth, m James Butler, Earl of Ormonde.

Lord D'Arcy's son,

SIR WILLIAM D'ARCY, was present at Crećy, and was the founder of the house of D'ARCY OF PLATTEN, County Meath.

He inherited lands granted by EDWARD III to his father and mother and to their heirs male for the good services rendered by his father to EDWARD II.

Hyde Park, County Westmeath, is a part of the land comprised in the grant.

He was born at Maynooth, 1330; espoused Catherine, daughter of Robert FitzGerald, of Allen, County Kildare, and had issue,

SIR JOHN D'ARCY, of Platten, a minor and heir to his grandmother in the Manor of Martyr, County Kildare, 1362.

He was Sheriff of Meath, 1404 and 1415, and married Jane Pettit, by whom he had issue,

WILLIAM D'ARCY, of Platten, who wedded Anne Barnewall, of Crickstown, County Westmeath, and by her had issue,

JOHN D'ARCY, of Platten, who espoused Margaret Fleming, daughter of Lord Slane, by whom he had issue,

WILLIAM, of whom presently;

Nicholas.

The elder son,

SIR WILLIAM D'ARCY, of Platten, who was living in 1477, married Isabel (or Elizabeth), daughter of Christopher Plunkett, of Killeen, and had issue,

SIR WILLIAM D'ARCY, of Platten, Vice-Treasurer of Ireland, seized of the manors of Rathwire and Lynn, County Westmeath; who wedded Margaret, daughter of Nicholas St Lawrence, Baron Howth, and died in 1540, having had issue,

GEORGE D'ARCY, of Platten, who married Jane, daughter and heir of Tuite McRiccard , of Sonna, and had issue,

William, of Platten;

THOMAS, of whom we treat.

The younger son,

THOMAS D'ARCY, of Dunmoe, Navan, County Meath, wedded Margaret, daughter of Richard Kiltole, and was father of JOHN D'ARCY, of Dunmoe, whose son and heir, WILLIAM D'ARCY, of Dunmoe, espoused Margaret Brandon, niece of Thomas Brandon, of Dundalk, THOMAS D'ARCY, of Dunmoe, aged 28 in 1630.

This Thomas D'Arcy's lineal descendant,

JOHN D'ARCY, of Dunmoe, married, in 1727, Elizabeth, daughter and co-heiress of Thomas Judge, of Grange Beg, County Westmeath, and had issue,

JUDGE, of whom we treat;

James, of Hyde Park; great-grandfather of Most Rev C D'Arcy;

The elder son,

JUDGE D'ARCY, of Dunmoe and Grange Beg, died in 1766, leaving by Elizabeth Nugent his wife, an only daughter and heiress,

D'Arcy arms at Necarne Castle, Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh

ELIZA or ELIZABETH, who married, in 1788, Major Gorges Marcus Irvine, of Castle Irvine, County Fermanagh, by whom she had issue, five sons and five daughters.

Moydrum Castle

THE VISCOUNTS CASTLEMAINE WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY WESTMEATH, WITH 11,444 ACRES

WILLIAM HANDCOCK (c1631-1707), of Twyford, County Westmeath, descended from a family of considerable antiquity in Lancashire, MP for that county in the first parliament after the restoration of CHARLES II, was nominated one of the Council of Connaught, and obtained a patent, 1680, to erect his estates into a manor, under the designation of the Manor of Twyford, with ample privileges.

Mr Handcock married, in 1652, Abigail, sister of Sir Thomas Stanley, by whom he had, with other issue,

THOMAS, his heir;
William (Sir), Recorder of Dublin;
Stephen (Very Rev), Dean of Clonmacnoise;
Matthew (Ven), Archdeacon of Kilmore;
Stanley, drowned;
Hannah; Sarah; Elizabeth.

The eldest son,

THOMAS HANDCOCK (1654-1726), of Twyford, MP for Lanesborough, 1692-5, espoused, in 1677, Dorothy Green, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;
Eliah;
Thomas;
Samuel;
Sarah; Abigail; Mary; Dorothy.

Mr Handcock was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM HANDCOCK (1676-1723), MP for Athlone, 1703-14, County Westmeath, 1721-23, who wedded Sarah, daughter of Richard Warburton, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;
George;
Thomas;
RICHARD, of whom hereafter;
Robert;
John Gustavus;
Abigail; Susan; Dorothy; Susanna.

Mr Handcock was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM HANDCOCK (1704-41), MP for Fore, 1727-41, who espoused Elizabeth, second daughter of the Rt Rev Sir Thomas Vesey Bt, Lord Bishop of Ossory, though the marriage was without issue, and he was succeeded by his brother, 

THE VERY REV RICHARD HANDCOCK (c1716-91), of Twyford, Dean of Achonry, who married Sarah, only daughter and heiress of Richard Toler, of Ballintore, County Kildare, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;
Richard;
Sarah; Susanna; Dorothy; Mary; Elizabeth; Anne.

The Dean was succeeded by his eldest son,

THE RT HON WILLIAM HANDCOCK MP (1761-1839), MP for Athlone, 1783-1800, who was elevated to the peerage, in 1812, in the dignity of Baron Castlemaine.

His lordship was advanced to a viscountcy, in 1822, as VISCOUNT CASTLEMAINE.

On his lordship's death the viscountcy expired, though the barony passed to his brother.

• William Handcock, 1st Viscount Castlemaine, 1st Baron Castlemaine (1761–1839)
• Richard Handcock, 2nd Baron (1767–1840)
• Richard Handcock, 3rd Baron (1791–1869)
• Richard Handcock, 4th Baron (1826–92)
• Albert Edward Handcock, 5th Baron (1863–1937)
• Robert Arthur Handcock, 6th Baron (1864–1954)
• John Michael Schomberg Staveley Handcock, 7th Baron (1904–73)
• Roland Thomas John Handcock, 8th Baron (b 1943)

The heir apparent is the present holder's only son, the Hon Ronan Michael Handcock. 

The 5th Baron was the last Lord-Lieutenant of County Westmeath, from 1899 until 1922.

Roland Thomas John [Handcock], 8th and present Lord Castlemaine, MBE, lives at Salisbury, Wiltshire.

The heir is the present holder's son, the Hon Ronan Michael Handcock (b 1989).

MOYDRUM CASTLE, near Athlone, County Westmeath, was a seven-bay, two-storey over basement castellated country house, rebuilt ca 1812 (incorporating the fabric of an earlier house built c1750), having an advanced three-storey breakfront/gate tower (offset) to the west side of centre.

There were turrets on an octagonal plan to the corners of an advanced tower and to the west end of the front façade (north); a turret on square plan to the east end.

The house is now out of use, derelict and partially collapsed to the west side.

There were rough-cast, cement-rendered walls, now failing and exposing limestone rubble construction below, with cut stone plinth to base.

Clasping buttresses between bays to the east side of tower; extensive decoration to walls with incised cross loop motifs, cut stone quatrefoils and cut stone hood mouldings over window openings.

The walls are now largely overgrown with ivy.

Square-headed openings to main body of structure, originally having cut stone surrounds and cut-stone tracery.

Tudor Gothic-arched doorcase to front face of tower, inset within a Tudor-Gothic arched recess and originally with cut stone surrounds (now gone).

Pointed-arched window over doorcase to first storey, originally with Geometric tracery.

Set back from road in extensive mature grounds with remains of a walled garden and ancillary structures to the rear.

These remain impressive and picturesque ruins of a large-scale, Gothic-Revival, castellated country house.

The scale and the attention to detail are still apparent, despite its ruinous condition; and fragments of the early cut stone detailing are still evident to a number of openings from behind the extensive ivy growth.

This important Gothic-Revival essay was built to designs by Sir Richard Morrison (1767-1849), who was commissioned by William Handcock to rebuild an existing house befitting of his new status as Lord Castlemaine, ca 1812.

The house was burnt by the IRA in 1921 and has remained a ruin ever since.

Moydrum Castle, given its status as the seat of HM Lord-Lieutenant of County Westmeath and a member of the House of Lords, was chosen as a suitably symbolic target for Irish republican reprisals: On the night of July 3rd, 1921, an assembly of IRA members marched on the castle.

The 5th Baron was out of Ireland at the time, but Lady Castlemaine and their daughter, together with several servants, were in residence and were woken from their sleep by knocking at the door.

They were given time to gather together a few valuable belongings before the building was set alight. The blaze completely destroyed the castle.

Following the establishment of the Irish Free State, much of the land belonging to Lord Castlemaine was acquired by the Irish Land Commission.

The Castlemaines were never to return to Moydrum.

These impressive and romantic ruins have been much photographed since and a picture of the remains featured on the cover of the U2 album 'The Unforgettable Fire'.

These ruins have now become almost a place of pilgrimage for U2 fans and the interior walls are now covered with graffiti relating to the band, giving this site a new cultural significance.

Former residence ~ Rathmore House, Fiddown, County Kilkenny.

Castlemaine arms courtesy of European Heraldry.  First published in May, 2012.

Magan of Killyon

THE MAGANS OWNED 5,604 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY WESTMEATH

The family of MAGAN claims descent from the ancient Irish sept of MacCEAN or MacGEAN, latterly written MacGAN and MAGAN, a collateral branch of the sept of MacDermot Roe. Six successive generations of the MAGANS resided in the townland of Umma More or Emoe, about two and a half miles in distance from Ballymore, County Westmeath.

MORGAN MAGAN, of Clonearl, County Westmeath, brother of Richard Magan, of Emoe, had issue,

THOMAS, his heir;
MORGAN, successor to his brother;
Susannah.

The elder son,

THOMAS MAGAN, of Togherstown, County Westmeath, a commissioner in the years 1695, 1697 and 1698 for raising a supply in County Westmeath for WILLIAM III, married Sarah Morgan, and dsp 1710, when he was succeeded by his brother,

MORGAN MAGAN, of Togherstown, who wedded Elizabeth ________, and had issue,

Thomas, dsp;
Hubert, dsp;
William, dsp;
Edward, dsp;
Morgan, dsp;
ARTHUR, his heir;
Eliza; Sarah; Ann; Frances.

The sixth son,

ARTHUR MAGAN (1721-77), of Clonearl, Philipstown, King's County (Offaly), High Sheriff of County Westmeath, 1759, MP for Newtown Limavady, 1765, espoused, in 1754, Anne, daughter of Hugh Henry, of Straffan, County Kildare, and had issue,

Edward, dsp 1779;
Hugh Henry;
ARTHUR, who carried on the line;
Anne; Harriet.

The youngest son,

ARTHUR MAGAN (1756-1808), of Clonearl and Togherstown, married Hannah Georgina, daughter and co-heir (with her sister, Elizabeth Anne, wife of Charles, 2nd Baron Castle Coote) of the Rev Dr Henry Tilson, of Eagle Hill, County Kildare, and had issue,

Edward, died young;
WILLIAM HENRY, his heir;
Arthur, Captain RN;
Thomas Tilson, Captain in the army;
GEORGE PERCY, ancestor of GEORGE, cr BARON MAGAN OF CASTLETOWN;
Henry (Rev), dsp;
Charlotte; Eliza; Harriett; Louisa; Emily; Henrietta.

Mr Magan was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

WILLIAM HENRY MAGAN (1790-1840), of Clonearl, High Sheriff of County Westmeath, 1827, who wedded, in 1817, Elizabeth Georgina, widow of Colonel Thomas Lowther Allen, and second daughter and co-heir of Dudley Loftus, of Killyon, head of the ancient and distinguished house of LOFTUS, and had issue,

WILLIAM HENRY, his heir;
Dudley, died unmarried;
AUGUSTA ELIZABETH, of whom hereafter.

The elder son,

WILLIAM HENRY MAGAN (1819-60), of Clonearl, Captain, 4th Light Dragoons, MP for Westmeath, 1847-57, espoused, in 1849, the Lady Georgiana Charlotte Keppel, youngest daughter of WILLIAM CHARLES, 4TH EARL OF ALBEMARLE; though dsp 1860, and was succeeded eventually by his sister,

MISS AUGUSTA ELIZABETH MAGAN (1825-1905), of Clonearl, King's County, and Killyon, County Meath, who died unmarried.

Her estates included 5,604 acres in County Westmeath, 4,418 acres in County Meath, 2,374 in County Kildare, 1,023 in the King's County, and 165 acres of land in County Dublin.

Miss Magan's paternal uncle,

GEORGE PERCY MAGAN (1799-1857), of County Carlow,  married, in 1824, Ellen, daughter of Valentine O'Connor, and had issue,

PERCY TILSON, his heir;
Thomas Tilson;
Henry;
Henry Augusta;
Edward William;
Hugh Tilson;
Albert Edward;
Valentine John;
Arthur;
Georgina; Mary Monica; Ellen; Charlotte Elizabeth;
Henrietta; Flora Emily; Harriet Honoria.

Mr Magan was succeeded by his eldest son,

PERCY TILSON MAGAN JP (1828-1903), of Correal, County Roscommon, Marlfield House, County Wexford, and Kilcleagh Park, County Meath, who wedded, in 1865, Anne Catherine, daughter of the Rev Edward Richards, and had issue,

Percy Tilson (1867-1947);
ARTHUR TILSON SHAEN, of whom we treat;
Emily Georgina; Muriel Rozel; Rachel Evelyn; Violet Augusta.

The younger son,

ARTHUR TILSON SHAEN MAGAN CMG (1880-1965), of Killyon Manor, Hill of Down, County Meath, Lieutenant-Colonel, Royal Army Service Corps, married, in 1906, Kathleen Jane, daughter of Assheton Biddulph, and had issue,

WILLIAM MORGAN TILSON, his heir;
Francis Shaen;
Annie Sheelagh; Violet Mary; Maureen.

Colonel Magan was succeeded by his eldest son,

BRIGADIER WILLIAM MORGAN TILSON MAGAN CBE (1908-2010), of Killyon Manor, and St Michael's House, Tonbridge, Kent, who wedded, in 1940, Maxine, daughter of  Sir Kenneth Grant Mitchell KCIE, and had issue,

Thomas Kenneth Shaen Biddulph (1941-3);
GEORGE MORGAN, of whom hereafter;
Hugh William;
James Henry.

The eldest surviving son,

GEORGE MORGAN MAGAN (1945-), married, in 1972, Wendy Anne, daughter of Major Chilton, and has issue,

Patrick G B;
Edward William Morgan.

Mr Magan, formerly of CASTLETOWN COX, County Kilkenny, was created a life peer, in 2011, as BARON MAGAN OF CASTLETOWN, of Kensington in the Royal Borough of Chelsea.

In 1876, Mrs Elizabeth Georgina Loftus Magan, of Killyon Manor (above), owned 4,418 acres in County Meath, 5,604 acres in County Westmeath, 2,374 acres in County Kildare, 1,023 acres in County Offaly, and 165 acres in County Dublin, totalling 13,584 acres.

Mrs Magan managed the estates until she died, in 1880, designating her only surviving child Elizabeth Augusta Magan as her heir.

When the Magan family's main residence, Clonearl, was destroyed by fire in 1846, Killyon Manor became their seat.

Killyon was sold about 1970 to Sir Rivers Verain Carew Bt, who lived there for a time until it was purchased by the Purcell family, who have restored the house and gardens.

First published in April, 2018.

Ballinlough Castle

THE NUGENT BARONETS, OF BALLINLOUGH, OWNED 4,697 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY WESTMEATH

HUGH O'REILLY, of Ballinlough Castle, County Westmeath, married Katherine, daughter of Christopher Plunkett, of Clonabreany, County Meath, and was succeeded by his son,

JAMES O'REILLY, of Ballinlough Castle, who wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Walter White, of Pitchfordstown, County Kildare, by Mabel his wife, daughter of George Aylmer, of Lyons, in the same county, and was succeeded by his son,

HUGH O'REILLY, of Ballinlough Castle, who espoused Eleanor, daughter of Sir Daniel O'Neill, 3rd Baronet, of Killeleagh, County Antrim, and granddaughter of Sir Henry O'Neill, 1st Baronet, of Killeleagh, by Eleanor his wife, daughter of Sir William Talbot, 1st Baronet, of Carton, and sister of Richard, Duke of Tyrconnell, by whom he had a son,

JAMES O'REILLY, of Ballinlough Castle, who married Barbara, daughter of Andrew Nugent, of Desart, County Westmeath, by Lady Katherine, his wife, daughter and co-heir of 4th Earl of Westmeath, and had issue,

HUGH, 1st Baronet;

James;

Andrew, General in the Austrian Army;

Margaret; Barbara.

Mr O'Reilly was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR HUGH O'REILLY, afterwards NUGENT (1741-1821), Lieutenant-Colonel, Westmeath Militia, who wedded, in 1781, Catherine Marianne, only daughter and heiress of Charles Mathew, of Thurles, County Tipperary, uncle of 1st Earl Landaff, and had issue,

JAMES, his successor;
JOHN, 3rd Baronet;
Lavelin;
Eliza; Barbara; Isabella.

Mr O'Reilly was created a baronet in 1795, designated of Ballinlough, County Westmeath.

Sir Hugh O'Reilly, on the death of his uncle, John Nugent, of Tullaghan, assumed, 1812, his maternal surname of NUGENT solely. 

His eldest son,

SIR JAMES NUGENT, 2nd Baronet, who espoused, in 1811, Susan Victoria Regina Mary, only daughter of Baron D'Arabet, of the Holy Roman Empire, and dying sp, 1843, was succeeded by his next brother,

SIR JOHN NUGENT, 3rd Baronet (1800-59), a Count of the Holy Roman Empire, Chamberlain to the Emperor of Austria,  and an officer of rank in the Austrian Service, who married, in 1842, Letitia Maria, daughter of Charles Whyte Roche, of County Limerick, and had issue,

HUGH JOSEPH, his successor;
CHARLES, 5th Baronet;
John Nicholas;
James O'Reilly;
Andrew Greville;
Letitia Mary; Kathleen Mary Georgina; Helena Mary.

Sir John was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR HIGH JOSEPH NUGENT, 4th Baronet (1845-63), who was accidentally killed while shooting, and was succeeded by his next brother,

SIR CHARLES NUGENT, 5th Baronet (1847-1927), 2nd Count, Lieutenant, 17th Lancers, who wedded, in 1871, Emily Ruth Eades, daughter of Thomas Walker, and had issue, an only child,

SIR HUGH CHARLES NUGENT, 6th Baronet (1904-83), 3rd Count, who espoused, in 1931, Margaret Mary Lavallin, daughter of the Rev Herbert Lavallin Puxley, and had issue,

JOHN EDWIN LAVALLIN, his successor;
David Hugh Lavallin.

Sir Hugh was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR JOHN EDWIN LAVALLIN NUGENT, 7th Baronet (1933-2009), JP, 4th Count, High Sheriff of Berkshire, 1981, Lieutenant, Irish Guards, who married, in 1959, Penelope Anne, daughter of Brigadier Richard Nigel Hanbury. and had issue,

NICHOLAS MYLES JOHN, his successor;
Grania Clare.

Sir John was succeeded by his son,

SIR NICHOLAS MYLES JOHN NUGENT, 8th and present Baronet (1967-), 5th Count of the Holy Roman Empire, of Ballinlough Castle, Director, Goff’s Bloodstock Sales, who married, in 1999, Alice Mary, daughter of Captain Peter Dane Player, of Whatton Manor, Nottinghamshire, and has issue,

Lucy Rose, b 2001;
Katie Violet (2003-10).

BALLINLOUGH CASTLE, Clonmellon, County Westmeath, was reconstructed in the 1730s.

The main part of the castle, however, was built in the early 17th century: "1614" is the date on the O'Reilly coat-of-arms above the front door, although this may be inaccurate by several decades.

The newer wing at Ballinlough was added by Sir Hugh O'Reilly, afterwards Nugent, 1st Baronet, ca 1790, and is probably attributable to the amateur architect Thomas Wogan Browne, also responsible for Malahide Castle, County Dublin, the home of Sir Hugh O'Reilly's sister Margaret, Baroness Talbot of Malahide.

The ground floor contains a large drawing-room and dining-room, with four first-floor bedrooms approached by a vaulted corridor above.

The spacious interiors have what may be the tallest windows in a private house of this period, overlooking the woods and lake.

The chimneypiece in the drawing-room is identical to a Wyatt chimneypiece at Curraghmore, County Waterford.

The Nugents of Ballinlough are almost unique in being a Catholic Celtic-Irish family who still live in their family castle.

First published in September, 2018

Baronston House

THE MALONES WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY WESTMEATH, WITH 13,715 ACRES 

EDMOND MALONE, of Ballynahown, married, in 1569, Margaret, daughter of Richard Dalton, of Milltown, by whom he had issue, one son,

EDMOND MALONE, of Ballynahown, who wedded firstly, in 1599, Rose, daughter of John Coghlan (The Maw); and secondly, Catherine Pettyt.

By the latter he had a son, John, who was settled at Cartrons, County Westmeath, in the neighbourhood of his father, and a daughter, Mary; and by the former he was father of a son and heir,

EDMOND MALONE, of Ballynahown, who espoused, in 1617, a daughter of Garrett Byrne, and left a son and successor,

EDMOND MALONE, of Ballynahown, who married, in 1644, Mary, daughter of Brazel Fox, of Kilcoursy, and had two sons,

EDMOND, his heir;
ANTHONY, ancestor of BARON SUNDERLIN.

The younger son,

ANTHONY MALONE, of Baronston, married, in 1673, Mary, daughter of John Reilly, of Lismore, County Cavan, and granddaughter of the Earl of Roscommon, and was father of

RICHARD MALONE (1674-), of Baronston, the celebrated lawyer and orator, who wedded, in 1698, Marcella, daughter of Richard Molady, by Mary his wife, daughter of John Malone, of Cartrons, and had issue,

ANTHONY (Rt Hon), MP;
Edmond, MP; father of RICHARD, 1st BARON SUNDERLIN;
Richard, MP;
Anne Jane Frances; Mary; Margaret; Marcella.

The elder son of Edmond Malone and Mary Fox his wife,

EDMOND MALONE, of Ballynahown, High Sheriff of County Westmeath, 1756-7, wedded, in 1674, Anne, daughter of Henry L'Estrange, of Moystown, King's County, and had (with a daughter) three sons,

RICHARD, of Ballynahown;
Henry;
Anthony (1700-76).

The eldest son,

RICHARD MALONE (1706-59), of Ballynahown, espoused, in 1717, Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Crosbie, of Ballyheigue, County Kerry, and had issue,

Edmond, MP for Ardfert; dsp 1759;
HENRY, his heir;
Anthony (Rev);
Elizabeth.

The second son,

HENRY MALONE, of Ballynahown, married Anne, daughter of Henry Morres Jones, of Moneyglass, County Antrim, and had a son,

EDMOND MALONE, of Ballynahown, who wedded, in 1774, his cousin Mary, eldest daughter of John O'Connor, of Mount Pleasant, King's County, and had issue,

EDMOND, of whom presently;
John;
Henry;
Maria; Anne.

His eldest son,

EDMOND MALONE, of Ballynahown, Captain, Black Horse Regiment, espoused, in 1813, Henrietta, daughter of John Chomley, of Belcamp, County Dublin.

He died in 1818, and left issue,

Edmond, died unmarried, 1836;
JOHN RICHARD, of whom hereafter;
Harriette.

The only surviving son,

JOHN RICHARD MALONE JP DL (1817-94), of Baronston, High Sheriff of County Westmeath, 1852, married firstly, in 1844, Elizabeth, daughter of Colonel Henry Peisley L'Estrange, of Moystown, King's County, and by her had issue,

JOHN RICHARD, his successor;
Henry L'Estrange.

He wedded secondly, in 1868, Anna Jane, youngest daughter of Robert William Lowry DL, of Pomeroy, County Tyrone, and Belmore, County Westmeath.

His eldest son,

JOHN RICHARD MALONE JP DL (1846-), High Sheriff of County Westmeath, 1896, Colonel Commanding 6th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, espoused firstly, in 1872, Charlotte Mildred, daughter of the Hon John Yarde Buller, and sister of John, 2nd Baron Churston, and had issue,

JOHN RICHARD MORDRED HENRY L'ESTRANGE;
Roderick O'Connor Vivian Henry Vere;
Victor Mildred Charles.

Colonel Malone wedded secondly, in 1893, Catherine Cecil, daughter of Major J W Percy, and had further issue,

Henry Anthony Percy;
Richard Maurice Fitzgerald;
Barbara Grace Maria Patricia.

BARONSTON HOUSE, Ballynacargy, County Westmeath, was a late 18th century house consisting of a three-storey centre block joined to two-storey wings by curved sweeps.

The centre block had a seven-bay front with a pedimented breakfront; a three-bay projecting porch; wings of five bays.

Having suffered a series of fires, the centre block was replaced, in 1903, by a large, gabled, Edwardian villa, with the sweeps and wings remaining on either side.

Baronston was sold in 1929 and subsequently demolished.

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

Tullynally Castle

THE EARLS OF LONGFORD WERE THE SECOND LARGEST LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY WESTMEATH, WITH 15,014 ACRES

The pedigree registered at the College of Arms shows that this family was holding the Manor of Netherhall in Pakenham, Suffolk, by the end of the 11th century, as vassals of the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds. About the year 1100 the church at Pakenham was founded by WALTER, who had with various other children an eldest son named PETER.

The latter left no legal issue, but on his death his illegitimate son, ANSELM, seized the manor to the exclusion of his father's sisters, and succeeded un passing it on to his eldest son, MASTER ROBERT DE PAKYNHAM - the first bearer of this surname. Master Robert, who granted lands in Kirtling, Cambridgeshire, to hissons in 1252, was father of MASTER JOHN DE PAKENHAM, known as "le Clerk."

JOHN LE CLERK married Muriel ________, and by her had issue,

John (Sir);

WILLIAM (Sir), Justice of the King in Eyre.

The second son,

SIR WILLIAM DE PAKENHAM, the Judge, added largely to his estates in Norfolk and Suffolk.

The eighth in descent from him was

HUGH PAKENHAM, High Sheriff of Wiltshire, 1459, who died in the reign of HENRY VII, leaving issue,

John (Sir), his successor;
Nicholas, grandfather of SIR EDWARD PAKENHAM;
Anne, mother of Sir Henry Sidney KG, Lord Deputy of Ireland.

The first member of the family who settled in Ireland,

EDMUND PAKENHAM, born ca 1547, wedded Frances, daughter of Francis Seckford of Seckford Hall, Suffolk.

For many years he was secretary to his first cousin, Sir Henry Sidney, Lord Deputy of Ireland, but in 1595 was appointed Clerk Comptolller of the Revels to ELIZABETH I. 

He died in 1605, having had with other issue,

Sir Philip;

Edmund;

ROBERT.

The third son,

ROBERT PAKENHAM, born in 1592, was father of

HENRY PAKENHAM (1618-91), seated at Pakenham Hall, County Westmeath, in the reign of CHARLES I, having obtained a grant of the lands of Tullynally, in that county, which he so designated.

Mr Pakenham represented the borough of Navan in the Irish parliament after the Restoration.

He married firstly, Mary, daughter of Robert Lill, of Trim, County Meath, by whom he had four sons and three daughters; and secondly, Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Pigot, by whom he had one son.

Mr Pakenham was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR THOMAS PAKENHAM (1649-1703), Knight, MP for Augher, 1695-9, a lawyer of eminence, and prime sergeant-at-law in Ireland, who wedded firstly, in 1673, Mary, daughter of Richard Nelmes, and had issue,

EDWARD, his heir;
Thomas;
Frances.

He espoused secondly, in 1696, Mary, daughter of Sir Daniel Bellingham Bt.

Sir Thomas was succeeded by his eldest son,

EDWARD PAKENHAM (c1680-1721), MP for County Westmeath, 1713-21, who was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS PAKENHAM (1713-66), High Sheriff of County Westmeath, 1741, who married, in 1739, Elizabeth, daughter and sole heir of Michael Cuffe (and niece of Ambrose Aungier, 2nd and last Earl of Longford (1st creation) of that family, to whom her father was heir), and had issue,

EDWARD MICHAEL, his successor;
Thomas, an admiral of the red;
Elizabeth; Frances; Helena.

Mr Pakenham was elevated to the peerage, in 1756, in the dignity of Baron Longford; and his lady, in 1785, COUNTESS OF LONGFORD.

His lordship was succeeded in the barony of Longford by his elder son,

EDWARD MICHAEL (1743-92), 2nd Baron, Captain RN, MP for County Longford, 1765-6, who married, in 1768, Catharine, second daughter of the Rt Hon Hercules Langford Rowley, and Elizabeth, Viscountess Langford, and had issue,

THOMAS, his heir;
Edward Michael (Sir), GCB, major-general;
Hercules Robert (Sir), CB;
William, Captain RN;
Henry (Ven), Archdeacon of Emly;
Elizabeth; Helen; Catherine; Helen; Caroline Penelope.

Edward, 2nd Baron Longford

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

THOMAS, 3rd Baron (1774-1835), who inherited the EARLDOM OF LONGFORD at the decease of his grandmother, Elizabeth, Countess of Longford, in 1794.

His lordship espoused, in 1817, the Lady Georgiana Emma Charlotte Lygon, daughter of William, 1st Earl Beauchamp, and had issue,

EDWARD MICHAEL, his successor;
William Lygon;
Thomas Alexander;
Charles Reginald;
Henry Robert;
Frederick Beauchamp;
Francis John;
Catherine Felicia; Georgiana Sophia; Louisa Elizabeth.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

EDWARD MICHAEL (1817-60), 3rd Earl,

• Edward Michael Pakenham, 3rd Earl (1817–60);
• William Lygon Pakenham, 4th Earl (1819–87);
  • William Pakenham, Lord Silchester (1864–76);
• Thomas Pakenham, 5th Earl (1864–1915);
• Edward Arthur Henry Pakenham, 6th Earl (1902–61);
• Francis Aungier "Frank" Pakenham, 7th Earl (1905–2001);
• Thomas Francis Dermot Pakenham, 8th Earl (b 1933).

The heir apparent is the present holder's eldest son Edward Melchior Pakenham, styled Lord Silchester.

TULLYNALLY CASTLE, otherwise Pakenham Hall, near Castlepollard, County Westmeath, has been the home of the Pakenhams for over 350 years.

The original 17th century fortified house was remodelled first as a comfortable Georgian mansion, then as a huge rambling gothic revival castle in the early 1800s, by the 2nd Earl.

Mark Bence-Jones describes it as having

A long, picturesque sky-line of towers, turrets, battlements and gateways stretching among the trees of its rolling park. Tullynally covers a greater area than than any other castellated country house in Ireland; it looks not so much like a castle as a small fortified town; a Camelot of the Gothic Revival.

It inhabited in as the family home, now probably one of the largest in Ireland to survive in private hands.

The interiors, part Georgian, part Gothic revival, have a fine collection of furniture and pictures.

Guided tours also take in the splendid Victorian kitchens and laundries, complete with all their equipment.


THE GARDENS, like the castle are on a magnificent scale, taking in nearly 12 acres.

Terraced lawns around the castle overlook superb 18th century parkland.

The adjoining woodland gardens and walled gardens date largely from the early 19th century and encompass a grotto of eroded limestone from nearby Lough Derravaragh and two ornamental lakes.

The present owners have added a Chinese garden, complete with pagoda and a Tibetan garden of waterfalls and streams; and a local sculptor has made fantastic woodcarvings in existing roots and trees.

The walled gardens have extensive flower borders and an avenue of magnificent 200 year old Irish yews.

For children, there is also an Adventure Trail leading to the lower lake, and for those who wish to take the gardens more slowly, there is an assortment of delightful, ornamental summer houses and seats, each offering a different view.

First published in November, 2011.   Longford arms courtesy of European Heraldry.