Clonmoyle House was a

country house An English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a town house. This allowed them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these peopl ...

in the

townland A townland ( ga, baile fearainn; Ulster-Scots: ''toonlann'') is a small geographical division of land, historically and currently used in Ireland and in the Western Isles in Scotland, typically covering . The townland system is of Gaelic origi ...

of Clonmoyle East, situated south-east of

Aghabullogue Aghabullogue or Aghabulloge () is a village and parish in the barony of Muskerry East in northwest County Cork, Ireland. It lies around west of Cork City, south of the Boggeragh Mountains and north of the River Lee. The parish of Aghabullogue ...

village and north-east of Coachford village. The house and demesne was one of several eighteenth and nineteenth century estates built in mid-Cork along the valley of the River Lee and its tributaries. The ''Archaeological Inventory of County Cork'' (1997) describes Clonmoyle House as an abandoned two-storey country house, depicted as rectangular on the 1841 surveyed OS map, but later remodelled and enlarged by the addition of bows to side elevations and rear hipped-roof projections. An entrance front existed of three bays, with side-lights and sash windows. A roofless farm building was located to the north-west. Clonmoyle House was once a Colthurst family residence. In ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland'' (Lewis, 1837) the parish of Aghabologue is described as containing numerous "large and elegant houses", including "Clonmoyle, the seat of C. Colthurst, Esq". Agriculture was said to have locally improved by the exertions of Colthurst and other proprietors, who introduced a system of irrigation, drainage, and a culture of green crops. The tithe applotment book for the townland of Clonmoyle East records "Charles Colthurst, Esq." as occupying 36 acres. Colthurst was the son of John Colthurst and Jane Bowen. The Ordnance Survey name book of refers to a demesne on the southern side of Clonmoyle East, containing "Clonmoyle House and Cottage, interspersed with trees, some plantation and ornamental ground". It is described as a fine house with good "offices", being the residence of Chas. Colthurst Esq., and with the

River Dripsey A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wate ...

bounding the property to the east and south. Clonmoyle House and its demesne are depicted on the 1841 surveyed OS Map, including a fish pond, weir, waterfall and wooden bridge. By the mid-nineteenth century, the Primary Valuation of Ireland (

Griffith's Valuation Griffith's Valuation was a boundary and land valuation survey of Ireland completed in 1868. Griffith's background Richard John Griffith started to value land in Scotland, where he spent two years in 1806-1807 valuing terrain through the examinati ...

) records Jonathan Bruce as occupier of Clonmoyle, comprising acres and described as a "house, offices, gate lodge and land", with the lessor being Charles Colthurst. During the second half of the nineteenth century, the house was occupied by Henry Leader, builder of nearby

Leader's Aqueduct Leader's Aqueduct is situated east of Aghabullogue village, and north of Coachford village. It is located at the meeting point of the townlands of Clonmoyle East (which lies within the Civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish and Catholic pari ...

, and whose businesses were said to include a local furze mill for the fattening of pigs. Leader possessed approximately 2418 acres in County Cork during the 1870s. The 1901 surveyed OS Map depicts a remodelled Clonmoyle House and surrounding demesne, to include a gate lodge, pond and boat house. The Irish Tourist Association survey of 1944 confirms Clonmoyle House as the residence of a Mrs Young, who "also owned nearby Clonmoyle Flour Mill". The house was thought to have been erected some 150 years previously. It was described as having an "excellently constructed interior, wide staircase and with the moulding of its doors and window shutters" being a noticeable feature. Today, the house is in a ruinous condition and its surroundings neglected. The former fish pond and features appear infilled and the southern end is occupied by now vacant industrial premises and surrounds.

References

{{Reflist Country houses in Ireland

See also

References