Smith (Cahermoyle)
At the beginning of the 19th century William Smith, an attorney, had an estate in the western part of the county of Limerick, mainly in the baronies of Connello Lower and Shanid. Caleb Powell in his list of Jurors states that the Smiths were descended from Thomas Smyth, consecrated Bishop of Limerick in 1695. In 1774 William Smith purchased the lease of Cahermoyle from Boles Felan who held the property from the Southwell family. He was married to Grace Stevelly and died in 1809 leaving his two daughters as co heiresses. In 1799 Charlotte had married Sir Edward O'Brien baronet of Dromoland and it was their second son William Smith O'Brien, one of the leaders of the Young Ireland movement, who eventually inherited the Smith estate of Cahermoyle through his mother. Charlotte's sister Harriet married Thomas Arthur of Glenomera, county Clare. In 1864 William Smith O'Brien was succeeded by his son William Edward O'Brien who married Mary Spring Rice, sister of the 2nd Baron Monteagle of Brandon. Cahermoyle was sold by their son Dermod O'Brien in 1919.
Associated Families
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cahermoyle/Cahirmoyle | Cahermoyle | Rathronan | Rathkeale | Kilscannell 129 | Shanid | Limerick |
OSI Ref: R288 402
OS Sheet: 28 Discovery map: 64 |
|
Archival sources
- Cash book of Robin V. O’Brien as agent for estates of H.S. O’Brien, Mrs Monsell & Miss M.C. Ffennell, in Cos Clare & Limerick, 1900-1905. Ms 5025; Trinity College Dublin
- Papers of the Family of O'Brien of Cahirmoyle, Co Limerick, estate & family papers, 18th-19th centuries. Collection List 64; National Library of Ireland
- Inchiquin Papers, include documents re the Smith of Cahermoyle estate, 1748-1837. Collection List 143, MSS 45,408-45,409; National Library of Ireland
- Inchiquin Papers: Copy made by Lady Charlotte O’Brien of documents & evidence in case of Thomas Smith, son & lost heir of William Smith of Cahirmoyle, Co Limerick, 1836. MSS 14,868-14,869; National Library of Ireland
Modern printed sources
- BENCE-JONES, Mark. ''A Guide to Irish Country Houses''. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 54
- MOSLEY, Charles (ed). ''Burke's Peerage and Baronetage''. Crans, Switzerland: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 1999: 1491-1502
- CUSSEN, Robert. Caleb Powell, High Sheriff of County Limerick, 1858, sums up his Grand Jury. In RYNNE, Etienne (ed). ''North Munster Studies: Essays in commemoration of Monsignor Michael Moloney''. Limerick: The Thomond Archaeological Society, 1967. : 407-408