Estate: Kirwan (Carnaun & Dalgin)

Associated Families

• D'Arcy ( Houndswood)
• Birmingham (Dalgin & Millbrook)
• Kirwan (Carnaun & Dalgin)

Description

Denis Kirwan was a land agent resident at Carnaun, near Tuam, county Galway. At the time of Griffith's Valuation Mary Anne Kirwan held the 58 acres of Carnaun in the parish of Tuam, barony of Dunmore, county Galway from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. Denis J. Kirwan of Churchfield, Tuam and Carnaun, married Louisa Birmingham in 1866, having previously purchased the Dalgin estate from her brother Michael in 1863. In 1884 Denis J. Kirwan inherited the Millbrook part of the Dalgin estate from John Birmingham and the Kirwans lived at Dalgin until the mid 20th century. In June 1927 the ''Tuam Herald'' reported that the Land Commission had acquired named townlands, part of the estate of Denis Birmingham Kirwan. Denis J. Kirwan and his son Denis B. Kirwan acted as agents for many landlords in the Tuam and surrounding locality. Their records, now in the National Library of Ireland, date from the 1850s to the mid 20th century.

Houses

House Name / Description	Townland	Civil Parish	PLU	DED	Barony	County	Map Ref
Dalgin (H526) In 1786 Wilson refers to "Dalygan" as the seat of Mr. Birmingham. It was held in fee by Michael Bermingham at the time of Griffith's Valuation when it was valued at £17. Inhabited by the Birminghams and later the Kirwans until 1954, subsequently demolished. Out buildings still remain at the site beside a modern bungalow, the home of Mr John Curran.	Dalgin	Addergoole	Tuam	Milltown 198	Dunmore	Galway	Lat/Lon: 53.62799 -8.87526 OSI Ref: M421 646 Discovery map #39. OS Sheet #4.
Millbrook (H1040) Millbrook House was held in fee by John Bermingham at the time of Griffith's Valuation when the house was valued at £11 and the nearby mill (M412635) at £12. Both buildings are now in ruins.	Lack	Addergoole	Tuam	Milltown 198	Dunmore	Galway	Lat/Lon: 53.62246 -8.89479 OSI Ref: M408640 Discovery map #39. OS Sheet #16.
Carnaun/Carnane (H1041) Carnaun was occupied by the Kirwan family in the mid 19th century when Mary Anne Kirwan was leasing from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The property was valued at £12. A house is still extant at the site.	Carnaun	Tuam	Tuam	Killeen 220	Dunmore	Galway	Lat/Lon: 53.56163 -8.85729 OSI Ref: M432 572 Discovery map #39. OS Sheet #29.

Archival sources

• James Hardiman Library, National University of Ireland, Galway: Kirwan Papers, marriage settlement of Denis Kirwan of Tuam & Celia Burke of Athenry. 27 Dec 1837. LE8/7
• National Library of Ireland: Records of Denis J. Kirwan and Sons, land agents, mid 19th - mid 20th centuries. Kirwan of Tuam & Dalgin, Collection List 142

Contemporary printed sources

Many of these resources are now available online. For a list with Web links please see the Online Printed Sources Links

• GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : 180 (Carnaun)
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion..., HC 1906, c, 177: 341
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland. HC 1876, LXXX: 297

Modern printed sources

• Tuam Herald: Local Land Purchase. 11 June 1927
• MOHR, Paul. John Birmingham Esq. Tuam and Ireland's New Star. Co Galway: Millbrook Nova Press, 2002: 101-105
• MOLLOY, Christy. Milltown Sketches. [The author], 1995: 15-16