Landed Estates
University of Galway

St. George (Headford)

The St Georges were a Cambridgeshire family who were granted lands in the Headford area by the Cromwellian Commissioners, much of it formerly held by the Skerrett family. Their ownership of lands in counties Galway, Roscommon, Limerick and Queen's county (county Laois) was confirmed by a patent dated 26 Oct 1666. A member of the Mansergh family from county Cork inherited the estate in the late 18th century and changed his name to St George. Richard Mansergh St George employed Charles Frizell to survey his estate in the 1770s and was murdered in county Cork in 1797. By the mid 19th century the St Georges had an extensive estate in the parishes of Kilkilvery, Killursa, Cargin, Killeany and Donaghpatrick in the barony of Clare, county Galway, including the town of Headford. John O'Hara of Galway was their agent. Charles Mansergh St George also held land in the parish of Donaghmore, barony of Iffa and Offa East, county Tipperary. In the early 1870s Richard St. George's estate in county Galway amounted to over 7000 acres. It was advertised for sale in the Landed Estates' Court in 1876, some of it was sold but it was not until the 1890s that the final parts of the estate were sold to the Land Commission. Thomas McDonagh bought Headford Castle, the demesne and most of the town. After the Castle was burnt down in 1906 the McDonaghs went to live at Moyne Hill. The rent roll of Sir Richard St George Mansergh St George's estates in counties Cork, Tipperary and Kilkenny show him holding the townlands of Curraghpoor, parish of Rathlynin, barony of Clanwilliam and Ballyhasty, parish of Modreeny, barony of Lower Ormond, Co. Tipperary; Ballybur, Co. Kilkenny; Gortnaskehy East and West, Macroney, Curragh More East and West, 'Curraghnafeddy East and West,' Clashganniv, Kilbeg, Shanacloon, 'Belerogh' alias Lisseenkirkey', 'Lyregilikeen', 'Lyrebarry', 'Luresolevan', Co. Cork. In 1851 he was also among the principal lessors in the parish of Ardmore, county Waterford.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Headford Castle Balrickard Cargin Tuam Headford 203 Clare Galway OSI Ref: M270 468
OS Sheet: 42
Discovery map: 45 		Photo of Headford Castle
Lodge (Headford) Lodge Kilkilvery Tuam Clare Galway OSI Ref: M282476
OS Sheet: 42
Discovery map: 46

Archival sources

  • Legal papers re case St George v St George, including rentals, accounts, correspondence re the property of Oliver St George in Cos Roscommon, Leitrim, Galway, Limerick and Laois, 17th-18th centuries. C.110, Box 46, Chancery Masters' Exhibits ; National Archives, UK
  • Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), St George, 3 Mar 1876, Vol 123, MRGS 39/055 & 39/056, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
  • Copies of legal papers re case St George v St George in the National Archives, London. Microfilm P4406 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Copies of maps of the Headford estate of Richard St. George Mansergh St. George in Galway County Library. Microfilm P5483; National Library of Ireland
  • Pedigree of St George family of Carrickdrumrusk, Co Leitrim, of Dunmore and Headford, Co Galway, of Hatley St George, Co Roscommon and of Co Kilkenny, c 1100-1817. GO MS 170; 111-124; National Library of Ireland
  • Mortgage of lands in Cos Cork, Louth and Limerick involving Ussher St George of Headford and Arthur French of Tyrone, 14 Sept 1743. D18,681; National Library of Ireland
  • Account of state of affairs in Headford by R.St George Mansergh St George c 1790 with letter re his murder in 1798. Ms.1749; Trinity College Dublin
  • Landed Estates' Court Rentals, St George estate barony of Clare, 1876 & 1892. 999/626/4-5; National Archives of Ireland
  • Volume of maps of the Headford estate of Richard St. George Mansergh St. George in Co Galway in 1775 by Charles Frizell, Junior, with rent roll and description of farm, 1832 & 1853. GSO1/5; Galway County Council Archives
  • Draft deed of settlement of Headford estate, Mary Mansergh St George, widow, on her son Richard St George Mansergh St George, 4 May 1774. Included in D 16,899-16,932; National Library of Ireland
  • Headford Castle photos. 030/051; Irish Architectural Archive
  • Villiers Stuart Papers, include accounts, papers & correspondence of Sir William Homan re estates in Cos Galway, Cork, Tipperary & Kilkenny of Richard J.M. St George of Headford Castle, a minor, 1804-1816. MS 24,651-24,657; National Library of Ireland
  • W.B. Scott, solicitor's collection, includes lease of the house & demesne of Lisdonagh & parts of Donagh Patrick, Richard J.Mansergh to John O'Flaherty, Lisdonagh, 1830. Small Accs. Index 76, D.10,034; National Archives of Ireland
  • Volume of maps and rent rolls of the estates of Sir Richard St George in Cos Cork, Tipperary & Kilkenny by Charles Frizell, 1775. MS133 ; University of London, Senate House Library
  • Volume of maps and rent rolls of the estates of Sir Richard St George in Cos Cork, Tipperary & Kilkenny by Charles Frizell, 1775, [Ms 133]. MIC469/1 & T3384/2; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • 22 volumes of rentals & accounts of the estates of Charles M. St George in Cos Leitrim, Roscommon, Waterford, Tipperary & Offaly, 1842-1846, 1850-1855, 1861-1871. MSS 4001-4022; National Library of Ireland
  • Lodge (George) attorney, appellant versus James Mansergh, Robert Laurenson, Dean St. George, Richard St. George and Lettice Lodge re estate of General Richard St. George, including lands of Killashulan in co. Kilkenny, barony of Cranagh. Irish Chancery appeal. Appellant's case and respondents' case. Jan., 1770. House of Lords Appeals: Vol. 4a ; King's Inn Library
  • Blake Deeds include records re Mansergh St George estate at Headford, 18th century. D. 16,899-16,932; National Library of Ireland

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources