Newhall House

Newhall is a 17th century country estate near Ennis in County Clare in Ireland, historically held by members of the Irish landed gentry. The front section of Newhall House was added during the Georgian period, creating a T-shaped design with an elongated back section for servants' quarters.

The estate's demesne includes a holy well, gate lodges, woodlands, parklands, lakes, Killone Abbey, a national monument (founded 1190 by Donald Mor O’Brien King of Thomond, for nuns of the rule of St. Augustine) and has an associated folklore legend concerning a mermaid.

History

Early period: Lord Clare and O'Brien Dynasty

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). In 1580, Killone Castle was the property of the Baron of Inchiquin. There is now no trace of the castle beyond Newhall House.

The original back section of the house and stables were commenced in 1650. During this period Daniel O'Brien, 3rd Viscount Clare owned the estate.

In 1708 Colonel John O'Brien of Newhall (the son of the Earl of Inchiquin, who came from one of the most powerful families in Munster) left in his will Newhall and Killone to his wife Honora O'Brien.

Honora O'Brien had an affair with Richard Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde. Their illegitimate son, Richard Burke of Newhall, his daughter (Marcella Burke) married in 1747 as her second husband Donough O’Callaghan of Kilgorey. His previous wife was also of Newhall, Hannah O'Brien, daughter of Christopher O'Brien of Killone (Newhall), in 1742.

Georgian expansion: MacDonnell

During the late 17th century, the MacDonnell family purchased Newhall and established connections through multiple marriages with the O’Brien dynasty and the Viscount Clare.

James MacDonnell, Esq. of Kilkee, was a Jacobite who supported the Catholic king, James II, serving as a captain in Lord Clare's regiment of dragoons. After the Battle of the Boyne victory of the William III of Orange over James II, he shifted allegiance to secure his estates. In 1702, he became a joint purchaser of the confiscated estates of his cousin, the 3rd Viscount Clare, who forfeited his lands for high treason and later went into exile in France as part of the Flight of the Wild Geese. MacDonnell also served as a commissioner for the poll tax in County Clare in 1695. James MacDonnell married Elizabeth O'Brien, daughter of Christopher O'Brien of Ennistyman, brother-in-law to the ill-fated Lord Clare.

In 1764, their son, Charles MacDonnell purchased Newhall from his maternal uncle Sir Edward O'Brien, 2nd Baronet of Dromoland Castle and married Sir Edward's daughter Katherine O'Brien. MacDonnell was MP for County Clare until his death. Under Charles MacDonnell MP, the original house underwent significant expansion, including the addition of a new Georgian/ Queen-Anne Style front, possibly designed by Francis Bindon or Isaac Rothery. This renovation created a T-shaped layout with an elongated rear section becoming the servant's quarters.

Their son, Charles MacDonnell, also MP, born in 1761, was appointed lieutenant-colonel commandant of the Earl of Belvidere's regiment in 1794. During the American War, he raised and commanded a regiment of volunteers in Canada. He served as Member of Parliament for County Clare and later represented the borough of Yarmouth at the time of his death. In 1802, he was appointed a commissioner of accounts. Charles MacDonnell MP died in Bath, England, on 6 September 1803.

In 1821, John MacDonnell Esq, of Newhall, was magistrate, deputy lieutenant, and high-sheriff of Clare. He was a minor for several years after his father's death. He served as a volunteer in Spain during the peninuslar war. He died at Newhall in 1850.

By the 19th century, the Armstrongs of Mount Heaton, County Offaly had succeeded to the estate after William Henry Armstrong married Charles MacDonnell’s granddaughter in 1809. Their second son, William Edward Armstrong, inherited the estate from his uncle John MacDonnell in 1850 and assumed by royal license the additional name and arms of MacDonnell. In 1853 he became DL, high-sheriff of the county, and Colonel commanding the Clare Militia. In 1858 he married the Hon. Juliana-Cecilia O'Brien, eldest daughter of Lucius 13th Lord Inchiquin.

Bernard Burke in his book, ''A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland,'' describes the house as:

''The mansion is a convenient, and not unpicturesque edifice, built of red brick with cut limestone accents, and stands upon an eminence, commanding a magnificent view of the River Fergus and broad waters of the Shannon. The two lakes and romantic islands, contribute to the picturesque setting. One side is adorned with lush shrubs and trees, while the opposite shore is defined by precipitous limestone cliffs. The rich pasture lands, such as the people of Clare deem peculiar to their own county, and which, indeed, are remarkable for their exuberant beauty and verdure. In the distance are the noble mountains of Tipperary, completing the striking landscape.''

During the 1870s, the estate covered 6,670 acres. It was later occupied (and rented) by cousin Robert and Florence Vere O'Brien in the 1890s, although Slater's Directory notes it was a seat of a Charles R. A. MacDonnell in 1894.

Charles Randal Armstong MacDonnell inherited in 1883. His wife was Mary Stacpoole of Edenvale, a gentry neighbour who owned a grand mansion next to the Newhall estate. In the 1870s William Stacpoole of Eden Vale, MP for Clare owned 7,381 acres.

20th and 21st centuries: Joyce and Commane

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. It was a home of the Joyce family of County Galway in the 20th century, from the 1920s to 2016.

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

In 2016, the estate was purchased by the Commane family, a local family originating ancestrally from Newhall, who are restoring it to its original form.

File:Newhall House1.jpg, Newhall House circa 1995
File:Newhall Estate circa 1890.jpg, Newhall Estate circa 1890
File:Newhall House, Newhall, Ennis, Co. Clare (3) - geograph.org.uk - 4571960.jpg, Newhall front (prior to restoration)
File:Newhall House, Newhall, Ennis, Co. Clare (4) - geograph.org.uk - 4571964.jpg, Elongated back section 1650 house T-shape design with 1765 Georgian front added. Photo circa 2000s (prior to restoration by the Commane family)
File:Newhall House, Newhall, Ennis, Co. Clare (5) - geograph.org.uk - 4571967.jpg, Gatehouses, Newhall (prior to restoration)
File:Saint John the Baptist Holy Well, Newhall, James Feeney.jpg, Saint John the Baptist Holy Well, Newhall
File:Waterfall at Newhall to the Lake.png, Waterfall at Newhall to the Lake
File:Macdonnall Coat of Arms.jpg, MacDonnall Coat of Arms at Newhall

Killone Abbey

Located on the grounds of Newhall, Killone Abbey an Augustin nunnery and abbey of Canonesses Regular founded in 1190 by Donal Mor O'Brien, King of Thomond and Munster, is situated near the northern shore of Killone Lake, the abbey served as a spiritual centre for the region. The remains of the site include a church, notable for its architectural details, and an undercroft, which was later used as a crypt.

The abbey's history is marked by notable figures, such as Slaney O'Brien, daughter of King Donogh Carbreach of Thomond, who served as abbess until her death in 1259. Another significant abbess was Renalda O'Brien, whose 1510 will requested burial at Ennis Friary rather than Killone. The abbey was dissolved in 1543, with its lands granted to Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond. Despite its dissolution, the abbey remains a site of historical and architectural interest, reflecting its enduring legacy.

Adjacent to the abbey is St. John's Holy Well, a site of pilgrimage and local devotion.

Saint John the Baptist Holy Well

Also located on the grounds of Newhall, Saint John the Baptist Holy Well, known as ''Tobar Eoin'' in Irish, has long been a site of local religious significance. The well, which is believed to have healing properties, has been a place of pilgrimage since pagan times. Traditionally associated with Saint John the Baptist, the site includes remnants of historical stone structures and features a natural spring. Local folklore and records suggest that the well was visited for blessings and cures, particularly during the feast day of Saint John. The surrounding area remains a spiritual and reflective spot for visitors.

Lord Walter Fitzgerald (the fourth son of Charles, fourth Duke of Leinster) visited in 1899 and authored a book ''Inscriptions at St. John's Well, Killone Abbey, County Clare'' for the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland.

Folklore and the Mermaid Legend

Ireland's folklore is rich and varied, with many legends tied to Newhall and Killone. Among these is the story of a hidden cave, believed to lie somewhere between Ennis and Lisdoonvarna. This cave is said to conceal an underground river with the magical ability to make the old young again. However, the cave's location remains a mystery, as those who reportedly sought its rejuvenating powers were never seen again.

One of the most enduring legends associated with Newhall House and Killone Lake involves a mermaid believed to inhabit the lake's depths. According to local folklore, a member of the O'Brien family, residing near Killone Lake, noticed that wine from his cellar was mysteriously disappearing. Determined to uncover the thief, he stayed awake one night and discovered that a mermaid was swimming from the lake through an underground passage to steal the wine. In his attempt to stop her, he either shot her or, in another version, a servant scalded her with boiling water. Wounded and enraged, the mermaid fled back to the lake, cursing the O'Brien family with the words: ''"As the mermaid goes on the sea, so shall the race of O’Briens pass away, till they leave Killone in wild weeds."'' It is also said that every seven years, the lake's waters turn red, symbolising the mermaid's blood and foretelling a change in the estate's occupants.

Stories of encounters with the mermaid, including sightings by fishermen and tragic events connected to the lake, have been passed down through generations, becoming a significant part of County Clare's rich tapestry of folklore. The tale reflects the region's deep connection to its natural surroundings and the mystical narratives that have shaped its cultural heritage.

Mermaid's Curse

''"Fish without fish, meat without bones, hear the mermaid's curse on the plains of Killone. As the mermaid floats bloodless down the stream, so shall the O'Briens pass away from Killone."''

The Newhall Mermaid's Curse, Clare Folk Tales.

O'Brien (likely Christopher O'Brien), having been allegedly cursed by a mermaid, had seven daughters and no sons.

Heritage Group and School Children’s Revival

In recent years, local heritage groups and schoolchildren have played an active role in reviving the legend of the mermaid of Killone Lake. Through projects, storytelling sessions, and creative interpretations, the younger generation has been involved in keeping this piece of folklore alive.

One notable initiative saw schoolchildren from Clarecastle collaborating with the local heritage group. They created drawings, wrote stories, and participated in events aimed at reintroducing the legend to the community. This effort not only celebrated the rich cultural history of the area but also encouraged a deeper connection between local youth and the folklore of County Clare.

See also

*Mount Ievers Court

References

External links

{{Historic Irish houses, state=Munster
Buildings and structures in County Clare
O'Brien dynasty
Houses completed in the 18th century
Country houses in Ireland
Georgian architecture in Ireland
Houses in County Clare
Munster
Gentry