Landed Estates
University of Galway

Bellew (Mountbellew)

The Bellew family of Williamstown, county Louth, were granted lands in the parish of Moylough, baronies of Tiquin and Killian, county Galway, under the Acts of Settlement, patents dated 26 Nov 1677 and 21 Mar 1678. They founded the town of Mountbellew and built a large house. The Bellews remained Catholic and although they owned a large amount of land they were not adverse to engaging in business enterprises, such as flour milling. They intermarried with the Dillons, Nugents and Grattans, assuming the additional surname of Grattan in 1859. In 1838 the head of the family, Michael Bellew, was created a Baronet. In the 1870s the Bellews owned over 10,000 acres in county Galway and almost 1,895 acres in county Roscommon (parish of Cloontuskert, barony of Ballintober South and Cloonfinlough, barony of Roscommon). In the 1880s Bateman notes that the family also held substantial property in Queen's County [Laois]. The Bellews retained these acreages in Galway and Roscommon until the early 20th century. By March 1916 the Bellews had accepted an offer from the Congested Districts' Board for over 1,000 acres of their estate. The estate was taken over by the Land Commission in 1937. Karen Harvey has written a book on the Bellews, based on the collection of Bellew estate papers in the National Library of Ireland.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Greenville Greenville Killosolan Mountbellew Castleblakeney 145 Tiaquin Galway OSI Ref: M692 442
OS Sheet: 60
Discovery map: 46 		Photo of Greenville
Mountbellew Mountbellew Demesne Moylough Mountbellew Mount Bellew 155 Killian Galway OSI Ref: M662 465
OS Sheet: 46
Discovery map: 46 		Photo of Mountbellew
Castle Bellew Castle Bellew Moylough Mountbellew Mount Bellew 155 Tiaquin Galway OSI Ref: M626 465
OS Sheet: 45
Discovery map: 46
Bellew's Grove Treanrevagh Moylough Mountbellew Mount Bellew 155 Killian Galway OSI Ref: M670467
OS Sheet: 46
Discovery map: 39

Archival sources

  • Map of Bovinion, [parish of Moylough, barony of Killian] by F. Plunkett, July 1723. 21.F.76(16); National Library of Ireland
  • Map of Lisnagree, [parish of Killosolan, barony of Tiaquin] by F. Plunkett, 1732. 21.F.76(20); National Library of Ireland
  • Bellew Papers - Account Books MS 9200-9208, 9266, 9269-9270; National Library of Ireland
  • Catalogues of the library at Mount Bellew, 1813, c 1812, c 1820 & c 1825. MS 5514, MS 9202, MS 9367 & MS 9268; National Library of Ireland
  • Bellew Estate account & memorandum book, 1775-1784, 1813-1825. MS 9577 & MS 9578; National Library of Ireland
  • Bellew Estate, farm account of C. D. Bellew, 1819-1823. MS 9970; National Library of Ireland
  • Bellew Estate rent book, 1812-1825. MS 9978; National Library of Ireland
  • Bellew Estate cash book of Michael Bellew, 1819-1822. MS 9980; National Library of Ireland
  • Bellew Estate labour accounts, 1816 & 1820. MS 13,538; National Library of Ireland
  • Bellew Estate Maps 21.F.76(16,17,18,19,21,22,23,24,25); National Library of Ireland
  • Pedigree of Bellew of Mount Bellew, c 1700-c 1820. GO MS 178: 248; National Library of Ireland
  • Copy of royal licence to Thomas Arthur Bellew to take the name of Grattan, 19 Mar 1859. GO MS 152: 305-309; National Library of Ireland
  • Copy of grant of arms to T.A. Bellew and his wife Pauline nee Grattan on their assuming the name and arms of Grattan Bellew, 29 Mar 1859. GO MS 108: 253-254; National Library of Ireland
  • Pedigree of Bellew of Barmouth Bts, of Springfield Lawn, Co Galway with Higgin descendants, c 1660-1871. GO MS 179: 403-405; National Library of Ireland
  • Bellew Estate Papers, Collection List 33; National Library of Ireland
  • Bellew of Mount Bellew Papers, Collection List 33; National Library of Ireland

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources