Butler (Castlecrine)
The Butlers of Castlecrine, parish of Kilfinaghta, barony of Bunratty Lower, county Clare, descend from Thomas Butler, one of the trustees of the (’49) Officers and younger son of James Butler of Boytonrath, county Tipperary, who was hanged in 1653. William Butler of Rossroe Castle, county Clare, a lawyer by profession, acquired much of the estate through purchase from families such as the Burtons, Westbyus, McDonnells, O'Briens and Lysaghts. He had two sons, Henry of Rossroe and Thomas of Castlecrine. Thomas had a son, William of Castlecrine, who inherited the estate of his cousin Henry Butler of O’Brien’s Castle in 1791. In the mid 19th century the main part of their estate was in the parishes of Inchicronan and Quin, barony of Bunratty Upper, but they also held land in the baronies of Bunratty Lower, Tulla Upper and Lower and Inchiquin. James Butler who died in 1857 was succeeded by his three daughters and heiresses, Anna, Sophia and Henrietta, who are recorded in the 1870s as owning 11,389 acres in county Clare.
Associated Families
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castlecrine | Castlecrine | Kilfinaghta | Limerick | Castlecrine 115 | Bunratty Lower | Clare |
OSI Ref: R492 677
OS Sheet: 52 Discovery map: 58 |
|
Archival sources
- Pedigree of Butler of Shronagolle, Castle Crine, Drumaclogh, Rosaroe, Doonmulvihill, Ballyline, Moynee, Cloneen, Monanagh, Drumcore, Beagh, Bunnahow, Millbrooke, Glenwilliam, Stamer Park, 1533-1950. GO MS 182a: 55-60; National Library of Ireland
- Butler of Castlecrine Papers including rentals, account books & workmen's accounts, 1775-1925. MSS 5403-5439; National Library of Ireland
- 5 volumes containing inventory of household effects 1826, register of tenancy agreements 1849-1852, cattle book 1896-1938, record of investments 1902-1913, account of estate of James Butler in 1801. MS 4252-4256; National Library of Ireland
- Account book (of the family of Butler of Castlecrine), 1753-1792 & ledger containing account of Daniel Gabbett, agent with James Butler of Castlecrine, 1804-1817. MS 16,413-16,414; National Library of Ireland
- Genealogical notes on Butler of Castle Crine by Charles French Blake Foster, c 1865. MS 13,560; National Library of Ireland
- Butler of Castlecrine collection, unsorted material. PC4 & PC 180; National Library of Ireland
- Papers in Chancery case of Butler v Butler re estates of Mary Kate & Anne Butler in Cos Clare & Limerick, including rentals, maps & deeds, 1794-1914. D.20,905-20,915, M.3703(1-216), T.11,667-11,668; National Archives of Ireland
- Rental & receiver's accounts of the estate in Cos Clare & Galway of Butler Minors, 1901-1907. 999/690; National Archives of Ireland
Contemporary printed sources
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Limerick Union, 3
- LEET, Ambrose. ''A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland''. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 98
- LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: II, 93
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 107
- 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] : 65
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 222
- BATEMAN, John. ''The great landowners of Great Britain and Ireland''. London: Harrison, 1883. : p.69
Modern printed sources
- ''North Munster Antiquarian Journal'': BLACKALL, Sir Henry William Butler. The Butlers of Co Clare. VII (1953), 153-167
- WEIR, Hugh W. L. ''Historical, Genealogical and Architectural notes on some Houses of Clare''. Whitegate, county Clare: Ballinakella Press, 1999. : 66
- BURKE, Sir Bernard. ''A genealogical and heraldic history of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland''. London: Harrison & Sons, 1886: I, 270
- MONTGOMERY-MASSINGBERD, Hugh (ed). ''Burke's Irish Family Records''. London: Burke's Peerage, 1976: 192-195
- NATIONAL LIBRARY OF IRELAND. Special Lists.: Butler of Castlecrine Papers, Special List 4
- ''The Other Clare'': WEIR, Hugh W. L. An Old Will. XXIII (1999), 33
- NATIONAL LIBRARY OF IRELAND. Reports on Private Collections: Butler of Castlecrine Papers, includes reference to Lysaght family & lands in Co Clare, rental of 1720 & pedigree of Fitzgeralds of Carrigoran. Report No 270
- NATIONAL LIBRARY OF IRELAND. Special Lists.: Butler of Castlecrine Papers, list by Sir Henry Blackall of manuscripts in Castlecrine Collection. Special List 4
- GLIN, Knight of, GRIFFIN, D. J. & ROBINSON, N.K (eds).'' Vanishing Country Houses of Ireland''. Dublin: Irish Architectural Archive/Irish Georgian Society, 1989. : 41
- BENCE-JONES, Mark. ''A Guide to Irish Country Houses''. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 66 (Castle Crine)
- ''Sixmilebridge Parish Magazine'': MCNAMARA, Michael. The Butlers of Castlecrine. 1992, 2-7