Vandeleur (Rathlaheen)
The Vandeleurs’ Rathlahine estate was in the parishes of Feenagh and Tomfinlough, barony of Bunratty Lower, county Clare. They were descended from Boyle Vandeleu,r third son of Giles Vandeleur, who settled at Rathlahine in 1660. This branch of the Vandeleur family intermarried with the Fitzgeralds of Carrigoran, Scotts of Cahiracon and the Molonys of Kiltanon. John Scott Vandeleur was the landlord responsible for the founding of the Rathlahine Co-operative in the 1830s. Edward Craig organized the co-operative and Vandeleur was President. However J.S. Vandeleur accumulated very large gambling debts and his estate had to be sold in 1834. Pierce Creagh bought the mortgages on the house. However the family did retain much of the estate as Mrs Mary Vandeleur of Lemington, daughter-in-law of J.S. Vandeleur, owned 1,887 acres in county Clare in the 1870s. A granddaughter of John Scott Vandeleur married A. B. Stoney and they continued to farm part of the estate until the 1920s. The house was demolished in the 1940s. Hannah Villiers Boyd, a sister of John Scott Vandeleur, was the author of two books in the mid 19th century ''A Voice from Australia: or an inquiry into the probability of New Holland being connected with the prophecies relating to New Jerusalem and the Spiritual Temple'' and ''Letters on Education''.
Associated Families
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rathlaheen House | Rathlaheen South | Tomfinlough | Ennis | Tomfinlough 43 | Bunratty Lower | Clare |
OSI Ref: R431 668
OS Sheet: 51 Discovery map: 58 |
Archival sources
- Pedigree of Vandeleur of Ralahine, Kilrush, Co Clare, Ballynamona, Co Limerick, Ballinacourty & Springfort, Co Cork & of Cos Meath, Kildare & Laois. c 1640-1947. GO MS 171: 307-316 & 409; National Library of Ireland
- Includes genealogical notes on Stieglitz, Cookstown, Co Tyrone & Vandeleur family of Ralahide, 1601-1945. T/1470; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Contemporary printed sources
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Ennis Union, 40 (Rathlaheen South)
- LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: II, 636 (Ralahine)
- LEET, Ambrose. ''A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland''. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 326 (Ralahine)
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 114
- 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] : 456
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 218
- TAYLOR, George & SKINNER, Andrew. ''Maps of the Roads of Ireland, surveyed in 1777 and corrected down to 1783''. Facsimile of 2nd edition. Shannon: Irish University Press, 1969: 200 & 202 (Ralehene)
- WILSON, William. ''The Post-Chaise Companion or Travellers Directory Through Ireland''. The author: Dublin, 1786 : 175 (Rahelene)
Modern printed sources
- WEIR, Hugh W. L. ''Historical, Genealogical and Architectural notes on some Houses of Clare''. Whitegate, county Clare: Ballinakella Press, 1999. : 224
- MONTGOMERY-MASSINGBERD, Hugh (ed). ''Burke's Irish Family Records''. London: Burke's Peerage, 1976: 1160-1163
- CRAIG, E.T. ''The Irish Land & Labour Question illustrated in the History of Ralahine and Co-Operative Farming''. London:Truber & Co, 1882: All
- ''The Other Clare'': SIMONS, Kennie. The last letter of John Scott Vandeleur of Ralahine. 46-47
- ''The Other Clare'': MORSE, Margaret. Ralahine: A new dimension to the Irish Owenite Community 1831-1833. XXIII (1999), 11-15