Estate: O'Conor Donelan

Associated Families

• O'Conor Donelan

Description

The Sylaun estate in the parish of Belclare, barony of Clare, county Galway, belonged to a branch of the O'Conors of Sligo in the mid 18th century. Following the marriage in 1778 of Thomas Donelan of Peterswell, a member of a junior branch of the Donelans of Ballydonelan, near Loughrea, and Mabel O'Conor, sister and heiress of Thomas O'Conor, Bishop of Achonry, lands belonging to both families came into the possession of their descendants. The O'Conor Donelans were a Catholic landowning family and some later members were involved in the medical profession. Thomas O'Conor Donnellan owned several townlands in the parish of Kilthomas, barony of Loughrea, in 1855 and also held land in the parish and barony of Dunmore. In the 1870s the estate was almost 2,000 acres in size and was mainly located in the parishes of Belclare and Killower.

Houses

House Name / Description	Townland	Civil Parish	PLU	DED	Barony	County	Map Ref
Sylaun (H742) Descriptions indicate that Sylaun House, which was valued at £7 at the time of Griffith's Valuation, was a single storey, thatched structure. No trace now remains of the house though other estate architecture is visible.	Sylaun	Belclare	Tuam	Belclare 216	Clare	Galway	Lat/Lon: 53.52601 -8.93348 OSI Ref: M381 533 Discovery map #39. OS Sheet #29.
Ballydonnellan Castle (H807) At the time of Griffith's Valuation, Ballydonnellan Castle was occupied by John D. Mahon and was valued at £62. It was still extant in the 1890s but is described as "in ruins" on the 1933 edition of 6" map. These ruins are still visible.	Ballydonnellan East	Killalaghtan	Ballinasloe	Killoran 13	Kilconnell	Galway	Lat/Lon: 53.25036 -8.41503 OSI Ref: M723223 Discovery map #47. OS Sheet #98.
Woodquay Lodge (H5031) At the time of Griffith's Valuation James Joyner was leasing this property from the O'Conor Donelan estate when it was valued at £3. It is labelled as Woodquay Lodge on both the 1st and 25-inch edition Ordnance Survey Maps. Modern buildings occupy the site now.	Woodquay	Belclare	Tuam	Belclare	Clare	Galway	Lat/Lon: 53.52083 -8.90622 OSI Ref: M399527 Discovery map #39. OS Sheet #29.

Archival sources

• James Hardiman Library, National University of Ireland, Galway: O'Conor Donelan Papers. LE 10
• National Library of Ireland: Estate records of Denis J. Kirwan and Sons, land agents, Tuam, mid 19th - mid 20th centuries, including account book of rents received, O'Connor Henchy estate. Acc. No. 5124

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. : Tuam Union, 7
• HUSSEY DE BURGH, U. H. The Landowners of Ireland. An alphabetical list of the owners of estates of 500 acres or £500 valuation and upwards in Ireland. Dublin: Hodges, Foster and Figgis, 1878. [available online at www.askaboutireland.ie] : 133
• LEWIS, Samuel. A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: II, 155
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. Return of names of proprietors and area and valuation of properties in counties in Ireland, held in fee or perpetuity or long leases at chief rents, 1876. (412) LXXX. 395: 148.
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland. HC 1876, LXXX: 395

Modern printed sources

• Corofin News: CUNNINGHAM, Sean. The O'Connor Donellan family of Sylane. XIII (2000-2001), 26-28
• Corofin News: O MAINNIN, Liam. Another Corofin Bishop - from Sylane, Dr Thomas O'Connor, Bishop of Achonry. V (1992), 22-23
• The Irish Genealogist: CHAMNEY, Anne R. Extracts from Father Clare’s Annotations to the Conformity Rolls, include reference to this family. X (2001), 427-454
• Tuam Herald: The Donelans of Sylane. 27 Aug 1927
• Tuam Herald: Details relating to wills of the O'Connors of Sylane. 17 Sept 1927
• Tuam Herald: Old law suits. 1 Oct 1927
• BURKE, Sir Bernard. A genealogical and heraldic history of the Landed Gentry of Ireland. London: Harrison & Sons, 1904: 153-154
• BURKE, Sir Bernard. A genealogical and heraldic history of the Landed Gentry of Ireland. London: Harrison & Sons, 1904: 256-257 (O'Connor Henchy)