Landed Estates
University of Galway

De Vere

This family were descended from Vere Hunt, a Cromwellian soldier who was granted land in county Limerick and at Glangoole, county Tipperary in the mid 17th century. John Hunt of Glangoul purchased 177 acres in the barony of Kenry, county Limerick in 1703. In 1784 a descendant, also named Vere Hunt, was created a baronet. The 1st Baronet married Elinor Pery, sister of the 1st Earl of Limerick. Their son, Sir Aubrey, assumed in 1832 the surname of De Vere only. He wrote poems, developed the estate and married Mary Rice of Mount Trenchard, county Limerick. They had five sons, none of whom left male heirs so Currah Chase passed to the descendants of their daughter Elinor who married Robert O'Brien. Robert Stephen Vere O'Brien, grandson of Elinor, succeeded to Currah Chase in 1898 and assumed the name De Vere in 1899. In the 1870s the De Vere estate was comprised of over 4,000 acres in county Limerick. In the mid 19th century the De Vere estate was mainly in the parishes of Kilcornan and Adare, barony of Kenry and Kilmeedy, barony of Connello Upper, county Limerick and in the parishes of Kilcooly and Fennor, barony of Slievardagh, county Tipperary. The agent in the early 1840s was Stephen Edward De Vere. The Hollypark demesne was advertised for sale in December 1854, Catherine Taylor, widow, was the petitioner. The county Tipperary property, comprised of over 6,000 acres and including coal mines at Glangoole, was advertised for sale in June 1855. This sale rental is annotated with the names of some of the purchasers.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Currah Chase Currahchase Adare Rathkeale Kilcornan 126 Kenry Limerick OSI Ref: R452 475
OS Sheet: 11
Discovery map: 65 		Photo of Currah Chase
Farm Lodge Kyleavarrraga Middle Adare Rathkeale Kilcornan 126 Kenry Limerick OSI Ref: R417 483
OS Sheet: 20
Discovery map: 65
Holly Park Currahchase North Kilcornan Rathkeale Kilcornan 126 Kenry Limerick OSI Ref: R405 512
OS Sheet: 11
Discovery map: 65

Archival sources

  • Hunt & De Vere Family of Currahchase, Co Limerick Papers, include estate & military records & family correspondence, 1755-1888. P22; Limerick City Archives
  • Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), De Vere, 8 Dec 1854, Vol 32 (47), MRGS 39/014 -39/015, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
  • Pedigree of Hunt of Williamstown, Liggadoon, Friarstown, Curragh Chase, Co Limerick & Co Wicklow, afterward De Vere Barts of Faha, Curraghbridge, Co Limerick, Cappaghwhite, Curragheen, Ballysinode & High Park, Co Tipperary, c 1649-1910. GO MS 180:158-169; National Library of Ireland
  • Limerick City Library: 5 letter books of Sir Vere Hunt of New Birmingham & Currah chase re business & personal affairs, including some from his agent Thomas Lahy, 1815-1818. Microfilm P 5527 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Copy of confirmation of arms to Robert Stephen Vere O’Brien of Curragh Chase, & to his mother Harriet Lucy O’Brien, widow, on their assuming under Royal Licence the name & arms of de Vere, 26 May 1899. GO MS 111:42-43 ; National Library of Ireland
  • De Vere Papers: literary remains of Aubrey de Vere, his personal & family papers, including domestic accounts of Curraghchase, Co Limerick, c 1855-1895. MSS 13,101-13,121 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Some reminiscences re estate of De Vere family at Curragh Chase, Co Limerick. Misc.VI; Trinity College Dublin
  • Pamphlets, journals, notebook, letterbook & bank books of Sir Stephen de Vere, 1846-1881, includes household expenses account book [of Sir Aubrey de Vere] and estate & demesne accounts of Sir Vere de Vere Bt, 1866-1871, 1830-1846. Mss 5059-5086; Trinity College Dublin
  • Irish Tourist Association File, parish of Stonehall, Limerick West 24; Limerick Studies Department, Dooradoyle
  • Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), De Vere, 22 June 1855, Vol 35 (49), MRGS 39/016, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
  • Papers relating to the De Veres of Curragh Chase and the estate there. Ms.3572; Trinity College Dublin

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources