Kelly/Roche Kelly
Descended from an O’Kelly of county Kilkenny, the Kelly family were established in county Limerick by the early 18th century. In 1753 Michael Kelly married Christian, daughter of John Roche of Limerick and Ballintlea, parish of Kilfintinan, barony of Bunratty Lower, county Clare. They had two sons, John Peter Kelly of Ballintlea and Firgrove, parish of Drumline, barony of Bunratty Lower, who purchased the estates of the Ingoldsby Massy family in county Limerick in 1811 and Thomas Kelly, of Shannonview, county Limerick, who died in 1869 leaving two daughters. John Peter's son, James Michael Kelly of Rockstown Castle, county Limerick and Cahircon, county Clare, was Member of Parliament for county Limerick 1844-1847 and in 1834 married Frances Maria, only daughter of Edward Roche of Trabolgan, county Cork and sister of the 1st Baron Fermoy. She directed that all her grandchildren should adopt the surname Roche-Kelly. At the time of Griffith's Valuation James Kelly held an estate in the parishes of Caherelly, Ludden and Rochestown, barony of Clanwilliam and Fedamore in the baronies of Clanwilliam and Smallcounty. In the 1870s his representative owned 2177 acres in county Limerick, 2826 acres in county Kildare and 433 acres in county Dublin. By the 1870s Fitzjames Kelly of Ballintlea owned 184 acres in county Clare while Michael Kelly of Firgrove owned 158 acres. An estate of 1,700 acres in county Mayo, belonging to Michael Roche-Kelly of Firgrove, Bunratty, county Clare, was vested in the Congested Districts' Board on 11 Dec 1913. Members of the Roche-Kelly family still reside at Ballintlea.
Associated Families
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballintlea | Ballintlea North | Kilfintinan | Limerick | Mountievers 118 | Bunratty Lower | Clare |
OSI Ref: R479 643
OS Sheet: 52 Discovery map: 58 |
|
| Firgrove | Firgrove | Drumline | Ennis | Drumline 40 | Bunratty Lower | Clare |
OSI Ref: R426 635
OS Sheet: 51 Discovery map: 58 |
|
| Cahercon/Cahiracon | Cahiracon | Kilfiddane | Killadysert | Rinealon 75 | Clonderalaw | Clare |
OSI Ref: R232 549
OS Sheet: 69 Discovery map: 64 |
|
| Clifton | Cahiracon | Kilfiddane | Killadysert | Rinealon 75 | Clonderalaw | Clare |
OSI Ref: R219 543
OS Sheet: 69 Discovery map: 64 |
|
| Rockstown House | Rockstown | Fedamore | Limerick | Ballybricken 48 | Clanwilliam | Limerick |
OSI Ref: R623 462
OS Sheet: 23 Discovery map: 65 |
|
| Sandville | Friarstown | Rochestown | Limerick | Ballybricken 48 | Clanwilliam | Limerick |
OSI Ref: R635 463
OS Sheet: 23 Discovery map: 65 |
|
| Friarstown (Grange) | Friarstown | Rochestown | Limerick | Ballybricken 48 | Clanwilliam | Limerick |
OSI Ref: R635455
OS Sheet: 23 Discovery map: 65 |
|
| Shannon View | Newcastle | Kilmurry | Limerick | Ballysimon 45 | Clanwilliam | Limerick |
OSI Ref: R615 575
OS Sheet: 5 Discovery map: 65 |
|
| Islandmore | Tooreen | Croom | Croom | Croom 16 | Coshma | Limerick |
OSI Ref: R518 401
OS Sheet: 30 Discovery map: 65 |
|
| Kilshannig | Kilshannig Upper | Rathcormack | Fermoy | Gortore 148 | Barrymore | Cork |
OSI Ref: W808 898
OS Sheet: 44 Discovery map: 81 |
|
| Fedamore | Fedamore | Fedamore | Croom | Fedamore 17 | Smallcounty | Limerick |
OSI Ref: R595 444
OS Sheet: 22 Discovery map: 65 |
Archival sources
- Pedigrees & genealogical notes re Kelly family of Co Clare, by M. Silles Kelly, c 1940. GO MS 488 ; National Library of Ireland
- Copy of grant of arms to Capt Brian James Rhys Kelly only son of Major William Kelly, son of James Kelly of Cree House, Co Clare, 5 June 1916. GO MS 111B: 27; National Library of Ireland
- Lease by Daniel O’Connell, barrister at law, to John Kelly & others of lands at Maghery, barony of Inchiquin, 19 Mar 1806. D 27,070; National Library of Ireland
- Records of Roche Kelly, oil mills, Six Mile Bridge, 1762-1897. BR. CL. 2; National Archives of Ireland
- Kelly Papers: copies of & extracts from letters, wills & other papers re Kelly family of Co Limerick & Roche family of Trabolgan, Co Cork & allied families, compiled by T Kelly 1876 with additions. Microfilm P.5329; National Library of Ireland
- Irish Tourist Association Survey file for parish of Croom, barony of Coshma, 1943. Limerick North East 11; Limerick Studies Department, Dooradoyle
- Business Records Survey. Hubert Roche-Kelly, Sixmilebridge – maps, leases, legal costs & other records re the Roche Kelly estate & the estate of Samuel Martin D’Esterre, John Kelly appears to have purchased Calluragh & Carrowmore/Carhuemore, parish of Kilfenora, Bunratty in the 1850s from D’Esterre. Includes reference to oil mills at Ballintlea & some correspondence with Stafford O’Brien re purchase of lands at Ballintlea in 1850s. 1762-1897. CL2/1-17; National Archives of Ireland
- Papers of Barry family of Springvale, Ballyneety, Co Limerick & Leamlara, Co Cork, mainly relating to the Sandville branch of the Barry family & the activities of James Grene Barry, includes reference to sale of part of Islandmore estate by Major Roche Kelly, mainly 19th century. P20; University of Limerick: Special Collections and Information Services, Glucksman Library
Contemporary printed sources
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Limerick Union, 8 (Ballintlea), Ennis Union, 10 (Firgrove); Killadysert Union, 14 (Cahiracon)
- LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: II, 191 (Shannon View), II, 139 (Ballintlea)
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 110, 150
- 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] : 244
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 216 (Firgrove), 223 (Ballintlea) & 265 (Rockstown & Friarstown)
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''24th Annual Report of the Congested Districts' Board for Ireland'', [Cd 8356], HC 1916, vi, 564-586. Appendix VIII: 54
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Barony of Clanwilliam, 62 (Rockstown), 84 (Newcastle), 93 (Friarstown)
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Barrymore Barony, 133 (Kilshannig)
- SLATER, Isaac. ''Royal National Directory of Ireland: List of the principal seats''. (Manchester: 1894) : xxvii & 203 (Fedamore), xxviii & 182 (Islandmore)
- BATEMAN, John. ''The great landowners of Great Britain and Ireland''. London: Harrison, 1883. : p.248
Modern printed sources
- WEIR, Hugh W. L. ''Historical, Genealogical and Architectural notes on some Houses of Clare''. Whitegate, county Clare: Ballinakella Press, 1999. : 16-17, 54, 74, 126-127
- MONTGOMERY-MASSINGBERD, Hugh (ed). ''Burke's Irish Family Records''. London: Burke's Peerage, 1976: 657-660
- NATIONAL LIBRARY OF IRELAND. Reports on Private Collections: D'Esterre Papers, with reference to D'Esterre lands in Co Clare including Ballintlea and letter with particulars of John Kelly (1672-1765) ancestor of Roche Kelly family, 1872. Report No 446
- BENCE-JONES, Mark. ''A Guide to Irish Country Houses''. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 53 (Cahiracon), 159 (Islandmore)
- ''Sixmilebridge Parish Magazine'': ROCHE-KELLY, Hubert. The Oil Mills at Ballintlea. 1992, 23