Landed Estates
University of Galway

Holmes

The Holmes family, who were granted the title Baron Heytesbury in 1828, held estates in counties Limerick, Waterford and Wicklow in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Limerick estate lay on the southern banks of the River Shannon, mainly in the baronies of Connello and Shanid (parish of Kilfergus) and around Kilmallock town, barony of Coshma. It was bought by Sir Robert Holmes in 1684, who may have been acting as agent for his brother Thomas. The estate in Waterford consisted of a quarter of the manor of Temple Michael, bought by Thomas Holmes in 1750. This Thomas Holmes was elevated to the peerage as Baron Holmes of Kilmallock in 1760 but the title became extinct four years later when he died childless. His estates passed to the Barons Heytesbury through the female line. Records relating to these estates are located in the Isle of Wight Record Office and refer to a number of families who held land from the Holmes in counties Limerick, Waterford and Wicklow. The Holmes family of Maiden Hall, county Limerick and Carrigmore, county Cork, would appear to be related to the Baron Holmes of Kilmallock and there is one reference to Godfrey Holmes of the parish of Effin in 1855 in the Heytesbury Papers. http://holmesacourt.org/index.htm#toc

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Maiden Hall Garrynderk South Effin Kilmallock Tobernea 44 Coshma Limerick OSI Ref: R552 233
OS Sheet: 47
Discovery map: 73

Archival sources

  • Heytesbury Papers, including title deeds, leases, maps & surveys re the Irish estates of the Holmes family in Limerick, Waterford & Wicklow, 17th-20th centuries. JER/HBY/; Isle of Wight Record Office
  • Henry Holmes & Anne Holmes v John Lysaght re will of Nicholas Lysaght of Brickfield, Co Limerick, May 1733. House of Lords Appeals, Vol II; King's Inn Library
  • Survey of Liberties of Kilmallock, as held by heirs of Sir Leonard W Holmes Bt. 21 F 40(9) ; National Library of Ireland
  • Large collection of solicitors' records including documents re the devisees in trust of Sir Leonard T.W. Holmes, 19th century. E.J.French solicitor's collection, Small Accessions Index 8 ; National Archives of Ireland
  • Abstract of title of trustees & devisees of Sir Leonard Thomas Worsley Holmes Bt & George Denecke Esq & Elizabeth his wife, to freehold estates in Co Limerick, circa 1842. Small Accs Index 65, D.16,264; National Archives of Ireland

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources