Estate: Arthur (Glenomera)

Associated Families

• Arthur (Glenomera)
• Smith (Cahermoyle)
• Arthur (Limerick)

Description

A family who moved from county Limerick to Ballyquin, county Clare when they purchased land from the Earl of Thomond at the end of the 17th century. They married with members of the O'Brien family of Dromoland and the Smith family of Cahirmoyle, county Limerick. Griffith's Valuation shows the main part of the Arthur estate was in the parishes of Killokennedy and O'Briensbridge, barony of Tulla Lower and in the parishes of Ruan and Killinaboy, barony of Inchiquin, but they also held land in other parishes Clondagad, Killone, Killaloe, Kiltenanlea and Feakle. In the 1860s and early 1870s John Brown and his son Robert L. Brown, acted as receivers for the estate of Thomas Arthur, "a lunatic". This estate was in the baronies of Tulla Upper and Lower and included the mansion house and demesne of Glenomera. In the 1870s Colonel Thomas Arthur of Manor House, Desborough, Market Harborough, Leicestershire owned 2,622 acres in county Clare and Francis Arthur of Dublin owned 10,534 acres in the same county.

Houses

House Name / Description	Townland	Civil Parish	PLU	DED	Barony	County	Map Ref
Millbrook (H2027) A 19th century house occupied by the families that ran the mill. At the time of Griffith's Valuation the occupier was Peter Macmillan who held the property from Thomas Arthur. The buildings were valued at £40. A house is still extant in the area but on an adjacent site.	Ballycorney	Killaloe	Limerick	Lackareagh 110	Tulla Lower	Clare	Lat/Lon: 52.78548 -8.48768 OSI Ref: R671 706 Discovery map #58. OS Sheet #45.
Glenomera (H2028) Glenomera was the seat of the Arthur family from the mid 17th century until the early 20th century. In 1786, Wilson refers to Ballyquin as "the fine seat of Mr. Arthur". It is labelled Ballyquin House on the 1st edtion Ordnance Survey map but as Glenomera on the later 25-inch edition. Lewis wrote in 1837 that Glenomera was "celebrated as a shooting station for grouse and pheasant". It was held in fee by Thomas Arthur at the time of Griffith's Valuation and valued at £35. The house is now demolished.	Ballyquinmore	Killokennedy	Limerick	Fahymore 106	Tulla Lower	Clare	Lat/Lon: 52.77706 -8.56168 OSI Ref: R621 697 Discovery map #58. OS Sheet #44.
Paradise (H2125) This was originally a 17th century house situated almost on the shore of the Shannon. In 1786 Wilson refers to it as "Paradise, the delightful seat of Mr. Henn, finely situated on the side of a high hill". It was altered in the 19th century. Many members of the Henn family were involved in the legal profession and lived in Dublin so the family did not inhabit the house much until the second half of the 19th century. In 1814 John Scott was residing in the house and Thomas Arthur in 1837. In the mid 1850s the house was unoccupied and Augustus Arthur was the immediate lessor. It was valued at over £17. The Henns began to reside soon afterwards. IN 1894 Slater refers to Paradise as the seat of Judge Henn. The Irish Tourist Association Survey File of the 1940s refers to rumours of the Colonel's intention to sell Paradise. Destroyed by fire in 1970.	Ballynagard	Kilchreest	Killadysert	Ballynacally 65	Clonderalaw	Clare	Lat/Lon: 52.70616 -9.06977 OSI Ref: R277 622 Discovery map #57. OS Sheet #50.

Archival sources

• Limerick City Museum: Ledger book containing history of the Arthur Family (Co. Clare), compiled by Charles William Augustus Arthur, includes pedigree of Arthur family of Glenomera and Morelands, Co Clare; history of Arthur family & personalities, circa 12th century onwards; newspaper cuttings 1870-1888 & other miscellaneour items, circa 1902-1913. LM0000.3543
• National Archives of Ireland: Certified copy of petition in Chancery of Lunatics in matter of Thomas Arthur, lunatic, re lands of Annabeg, Co Clare, 15 Feb 1861. 999/321/12
• National Library of Ireland: Map of the plowland of Ross & Kilcredane and of Killeagy Ryan on the estate of Thomas Arthur, surveyed for Thomas Westropp by Patrick Flinn, 1823. 21 F. 75(3-4)
• National Library of Ireland: Map of the boundary line between Coumnagun and Feenlea, the estates of Marcus Paterson & Thomas Arthur, 1854. 21 F. 75(5)
• National Library of Ireland: Rental, 1842. MS 5486
• National Library of Ireland: Arthur Papers, accounts and receipts re estate Thomas Arthur of Glenomera, 19th century. MSS 13,779-13,880
• National Library of Ireland: Genealogical notes on Arthur of Glanomera by Charles French Blake Foster, c 1865. MS 13,560
• National Library of Ireland: Rental of Robert L. Brown, [of Clonboy] agent for estates in Cos Clare, Limerick & Tipperary, including Thomas Arthur, 1866-1877. MS 5587

Contemporary printed sources

• GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND, 1850-1858. : Limerick Union, 40 (Ballycorney), 42 (Ballyquinmore); Killadysert Union, 2 (Paradise)
• LEET, Ambrose. A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 200 (Glenomara)
• LEWIS, Samuel. A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: II, 151 (Glenomera)
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. 15th Annual Report of the Commissioners of Public Records Ireland, 1825. Vol XVI, Appendix I, Grants under Acts of Settlement: 247
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland. HC 1876, LXXX: 107
• TAYLOR, George & SKINNER, Andrew. Maps of the Roads of Ireland, surveyed in 1777 and corrected down to 1783. Facsimile of 2nd edition. Shannon: Irish University Press, 1969: 101 (Ballyquin)
• WILSON, William. The Post-Chaise Companion or Travellers Directory Through Ireland. The author: Dublin, 1786 : 171 (Ballyquin)

Modern printed sources

• Jnl. of the East Clare Heritage Group: Sliabh Aughty: O’BRIEN, Pat. Desmond Arthur ‘The Montrose Ghost’. IV (1993), 12-14
• The Old Limerick Journal: BENNIS, E.H. Arthur's Quay. IV (1980), 6-7
• The Old Limerick Journal: HANNAN, Kevin. Dr Thomas Arthur. XII (1982), 30-32
• BURKE, Sir Bernard. A genealogical and heraldic history of the Landed Gentry of Ireland. London: Harrison & Sons, 1904: 13
• KIERSE, Sean. The Famine Years in the Parish of Killaloe 1845-1851. Killaloe: Boru Books, 1984: 2 & Sources
• WEIR, Hugh W. L. Historical, Genealogical and Architectural notes on some Houses of Clare. Whitegate, county Clare: Ballinakella Press, 1999. : 137, 190

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