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Newhall House and Estate

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Newhall House and Estate
Newhall House, a Queen Anne-style mansion
Newhall House and Estate is located in Ireland
Newhall House and Estate
Location within Ireland
General information
StatusCountry House
Architectural style
Georgian
Locationnear Ennis, Ireland
Coordinates52°48′32″N 9°00′43″W / 52.8088°N 9.0119°W / 52.8088; -9.0119
Groundbreaking1650
OwnerCommane family
AffiliationParish of Killone
Design and construction
ArchitectFrancis Bindon[1] or Isaac Rothery
DeveloperLord Clare
O'Brien family (1650)
Charles MacDonnell (1764)
Website
http://www.newhall.ie

Newhall is a 17th century country estate near Ennis in County Clare in Ireland, historically held by members of the Irish landed gentry.[2][3] The front section of the house was added during the Georgian period, creating a T-shaped design with an elongated older rear section which was used partially as servants quarters.[4][5]

History

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Early period: Lord Clare and O'Brien Dynasty

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In 1544 King Henry VIII of England granted Kilone Abbey and the parish of Killone, including Newhall, and much other property in County Clare, to Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond. This occurred after Murrough offered the kingdom of Thomond to the King of England, and received his lands and titles back as a feudal subject (a process known as surrender and regrant).

The historic core of Newhall is said to have been constructed using stones from Killone Castle.[6] In 1580, Killone Castle was the property of the Baron of Inchiquin. There is now no trace of the castle beyond Newhall House.[7]

Elongated back section 1650 house T-shape design with 1765 Georgian front added. Photo, circa 2000s, predates later restoration

In 1708, Colonel John O'Brien left Newhall and Killone to his wife, Honora O'Brien, in his will.[8]

Honora O'Brien had a relationship with Richard Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde.[9] Their illegitimate son, also named Richard Burke, had a daughter (Marcella Burke) who married Donough O'Callaghan of Kilgorey in 1747.[9][10]

Georgian expansion: MacDonnell

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Charles MacDonnell purchased the property from the O'Briens in 1764.[3] MacDonnell and his wife Catherine substantially enlarged the existing house, adding a new front, possibly to designs by Francis Bindon.[11]

The resulting country house, dating to about 1765, became a seven-bay, two-storey red-brick residence, with a canted central projection, bow windows and a large rear wing. The new Georgian house may have incorporated fabric from an earlier 17-century building.[11]

20th and 21st centuries: Joyce and Commane

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Gatehouses at Newhall (prior to restoration)

In 1912, Charles R.A. MacDonnell transferred 3,485 acres of tenanted land and 256 acres of untenanted land to the Congested Districts' Board for a sum exceeding £26,000.[3] It was a home of the Joyce family of County Galway in the 20th century, from the 1920s to 2016.[12]

As a gentry seat,[2] Newhall hosted fox hunts and balls[5] and was (and remains) a working farm.

In 2016, the estate was purchased by the Commane family, a family from the locality, who are restoring it to its original form.[13]

Killone Abbey

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Killone Abbey graveyard

Located on the grounds of Newhall, Killone Abbey is a ruined Augustinian nunnery, possibly founded by Domnall Mór O’Brien in the late 12th century and traditionally associated with the O'Brien dynasty of Thomond.[14]

See also

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Further reading

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References

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  1. ↑ "Works - Co. Clare, Newhall". dia.ie. Dictionary of Irish Architects. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  2. 1 2 BURKE, Sir Bernard. A genealogical and heraldic history of the Landed Gentry of Ireland. London: Harrison & Sons, 1904.
  3. 1 2 3 "MacDonnell (Newhall) | Landed Estates | University of Galway". landedestates.ie. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  4. ↑ theirishaesthete (25 August 2014). "New Blood for New Hall". The Irish Aesthete. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  5. 1 2 "The Times - Co Clare Mansion once hosted dazzling balls and fox hunts". 15 May 2016. Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  6. ↑ "Clare Places - Clarecastle: Places of Interest". www.clarelibrary.ie. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "Frost, James (1897). "Ui Cormaic, Killone Parish"". 4 April 2014. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  8. ↑ Parliament, lords (13 December 2015). Case Of Lucius, Lord Inchiquin, On His Claiming The Right To Vote At The Election Of Representative Peers For Ireland. Minutes Of Evidence. Palala Press. ISBN 978-1348041122.
  9. 1 2 "NEWHALL a Commane family seat - Timeline".
  10. ↑ "Newhall House". Clarecastle Ballyea Heritage. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  11. 1 2 "Newhall House, NEWHALL, CLARE". Buildings of Ireland. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  12. ↑ "Landed Estates Ireland". 23 February 2024. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  13. ↑ "Newhall website". 23 February 2024. Archived from the original on 29 November 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  14. ↑ Westropp, Thomas Johnson. "The Augustinian Houses of the County Clare: Clare, Killone, and Inchicronan". Retrieved 10 August 2026 – via clarelibraries.ie.
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