Landed Estates
University of Galway

Dillon (Johnstown)

The Dillons, originally from county Westmeath, were lease holders in the parish of Drum, barony of Athlone, county Roscommon, from the 1720s. In the mid 18th century James Dillon married a daughter of Thomas Hussey and Jane Moore and leased land from his father-in-law. Lieutenant Colonel John Dillon built Johnstown House in the early 1780s and was succeeded by his son, another John Dillon. In the mid 19th century the Dillon estate was comprised of two townlands in the parish of Drum, barony of Athlone, and lands at Kilbegley and Ardnaglug, barony of Moycarn, county Roscommon. In the 1830s and 1840s much of John Dillon's estate was leased to his brother-in-law, Denis Bernard Kelly, who had married his sister Susan. In June 1853 the Dillon estate amounting to 5,419 acres was advertised for sale in the Encumbered Estates' Court. Parts of the estate were sold. The Freeman's Journal reported in June 1855 that over 250 acres in the barony of Athlone ahd been purchased in trust by Mr. Perrin. John Dillon still owned 1,083 acres in county Roscommon in the early 1870s. Soon after his death in 1871 his estate was purchased by James Kelly.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Johnstown Johnstown Demesne Drum Athlone Drumlosh 4 Athlone Roscommon OSI Ref: M994 353
OS Sheet: 55
Discovery map: 47
Kilbegly House Kilbegly Moore Ballinasloe Culliagh 22 Moycarn Roscommon OSI Ref: M901306
OS Sheet: 54
Discovery map: 47

Archival sources

  • Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Dillon, 23 June 1853, Vol 21, MRGS 39/010, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
  • Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Dillon, 1 February 1872, Vol 105, MRGS 39/049, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
  • Map of the Dillon estate in the townlands of Carrigan Beg and More [St Johns], barony of Athlone, Co Roscommon and Inchmore and Nuns Island, Co Westmeath, 1907. 15.A.20(8-9); National Library of Ireland

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources