Skerrett (Finavarra)
In his will dated 26 November 1681 James Skerrett FitzMarcus of Galway, merchant, left his county Clare lands to his second son, William Skerrett. In 1768, Hyacinth Skerrett of Finavarra, parish of Oughtmama, barony of Burren, county Clare, married Mary Byrne of Cabinteely, county Dublin. In the 1850s the main part of the estate of their grandson, William Joseph Skerrett, was in the parish of Oughtmama and in the nearby parishes of Drumcreehy, including part of the village of Ballyvaughan and Rathborney, barony of Burren. He also held land in the parish of Kilfenora, barony of Corcomroe. An account book covering the personal and estate finances of William Joseph Skerrett is now in the National Library. It gives a day by day insight into his economic and social activities over a ten year period. In the 1870s his son, Captain William Skerrett, owned 2,679 acres in the county. Although the eldest of ten sons, only one of Captain William Skerrett's brothers had a son according to Burkes. Weir writes that the family died out following the death of his third brother, Reverend Hyacinth Heffernan Skerrett. The Irish Tourist Association file refers to the belief that the Skerretts bought the Finavarra estate for £50.
Associated Families
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finavarra House | Finavarra Demesne | Oughtmama | Ballyvaghan | Abbey 1 | Burren | Clare |
OSI Ref: M266 116
OS Sheet: 3 Discovery map: 51 |
|
| Mount Vernon Lodge | Newquay | Oughtmama | Ballyvaghan | Abbey 1 | Burren | Clare |
OSI Ref: M271 124
OS Sheet: 3 Discovery map: 51 |
|
Archival sources
- Personal & estate accounts of William Joseph Skerrett, Finavarra, Co Clare, Jan 1857-May 1867. MS 19,476; National Library of Ireland
- Irish Tourist Association file, Parish of New Quay or Glanamanagh, Clare North 4.; Clare County Library
- A.J. Joyce, solicitor's collection, includes testamentary papers of William Joseph Skerrett of Finavarra, 1874. Small Accs Index 89, T.5034; National Archives of Ireland
Contemporary printed sources
- LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: I,1
- 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] : 414
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 114
- LEET, Ambrose. ''A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland''. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 185
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Ballyvaghan Union, 41 & 42
Modern printed sources
- BURKE, Sir Bernard. ''A genealogical and heraldic history of the Landed Gentry of Ireland''. London: Harrison & Sons, 1904: 552
- WEIR, Hugh W. L. ''Historical, Genealogical and Architectural notes on some Houses of Clare''. Whitegate, county Clare: Ballinakella Press, 1999. : 126, 199
- GLIN, Knight of, GRIFFIN, D. J. & ROBINSON, N.K (eds).'' Vanishing Country Houses of Ireland''. Dublin: Irish Architectural Archive/Irish Georgian Society, 1989. : 41 (Finnevara)
- BALFE, Michael. ''A Burren Village, a brief history of New Quay and its environs''. The Frenchman Publications, 2006: 14-17, 28-29
- Fawle, Kathleen. ''The history of New Quay in 12 Tales''. [the author, 2023].: The tale of the Skerretts of Finavarra House, pp.15-42.