Browne (Moyvilly & Mounthazel)
The Moyvilly estate, near Oranmore, county Galway, was granted to the Brownes under the Acts of Settlement. It was formerly an estate belonging to the Ffrench family. Andrew Browne of Moyvilla is listed as a resident proprietor in county Galway in 1824. The Blakes of Kiltolla became indebted to the Brownes during the 18th century and in settlement sold their Mounthazel estate, near Mount Bellew, to the Brownes. The Brownes then moved their main residence from Moyvilly to Mounthazel. At the time of Griffith's Valuation, the Mounthazel estate comprised of eight townlands in the parish of Ballymacward, barony of Tiaquin and townlands in the parishes of Boyounagh, barony of Ballymoe and Dunmore, barony of Dunmore, county Galway, some of them purchased from the Cuff and Eyre families. The Brownes also held land in the parishes of Moygawnagh and Kilfian, barony of Tirawley, county Mayo, at the time of Griffith's Valuation. In the 1870s Andrew Browne of Mounthazel owned 1,939 acres in county Galway and 2,953 acres in county Mayo while his first cousin Colonel Andrew Browne of Mount Bernard owned 1,644 acres in county Galway. The Mounthazel estate passed by marriage to the De Stacpoole family in 1883. In 1887 Virginia Maude, daughter of Lieutenant-General Andrew Browne, married Captain Hugh O'Connor Henchy of Stonebrook, county Kildare and they inherited Moyveela Castle.
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moyveela Lodge | Moyveela | Athenry | Galway | Stradbally 57 | Dunkellin | Galway |
OSI Ref: M450248
OS Sheet: 95 Discovery map: 46 |
|
| Mounthazel | Mounthazel | Ballymacward | Mountbellew | Mounthazel 156 | Tiaquin | Galway |
OSI Ref: M644398
OS Sheet: 59 Discovery map: 46 |
|
| Mountbernard | Mountbernard | Ballymacward | Mountbellew | Mounthazel 156 | Tiaquin | Galway |
OSI Ref: M645376
OS Sheet: 59 Discovery map: 46 |
|
| Esker Lodge | Esker | Ballymacward | Mountbellew | Annagh 143 | Tiaquin | Galway |
OSI Ref: M681 404
OS Sheet: 60 Discovery map: 46 |
Archival sources
- Estate records of Denis J. Kirwan and Sons, land agents, Tuam, mid 19th - mid 20th centuries, including account book of rents received O'Conor Henchy estate, 1909-1921. Acc. No. 5124; National Library of Ireland
- Photos. 022/074 (Mount Hazel) & 022/064 (Mount Bernard); Irish Architectural Archive
- O'Connor Henchy Papers, unsorted collection, 19th-20th centuries.; National Library of Ireland
Contemporary printed sources
- DUTTON, Hely. ''Statistical and agricultural survey of the county of Galway''. Dublin: Royal Dublin Society, 1824. : 414.
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 331 (de Stacpoole)
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 55 & 193
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Mountbellew Union, 73 & 75
- LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: I, 145 (Mounthazel & Mountbernard)
- LEET, Ambrose. ''A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland''. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 295 (Mounthazel)
- 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] : 55
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of names of proprietors and area and valuation of properties in counties in Ireland, held in fee or perpetuity or long leases at chief rents,'' 1876. (412) LXXX. 395: 148.
- WILSON, William. ''The Post-Chaise Companion or Travellers Directory Through Ireland''. The author: Dublin, 1786 : 140 (Movilla)
Modern printed sources
- MELVIN, Patrick. The Galway Tribes as Landowners and Gentry. In MORAN, Gerard (ed). ''Galway: History & Society''. Dublin: Geography Publications, 1996 : 319-374
- ''Tuam Herald'': BLAKE, Martin J. Family of Ffrench of Moyvilly (now Mount Hazel). 21 July 1928
- BURKE, Sir Bernard. ''A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain & Ireland''. London: Harrison, 1871: II, 1585
- FLYNN, John S. ''Ballymacward: The Story of an East Galway Parish''. The author, 1991: 87, 90 & 162-163
- BENCE-JONES, Mark. ''A Guide to Irish Country Houses''. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 213 (Mounthazel)
- GLIN, Knight of, GRIFFIN, D. J. & ROBINSON, N.K (eds).'' Vanishing Country Houses of Ireland''. Dublin: Irish Architectural Archive/Irish Georgian Society, 1989. : 76 (Mountbernard & Mounthazel)
- BURKE, Sir Bernard. ''A genealogical and heraldic history of the Landed Gentry of Ireland''. London: Harrison & Sons, 1904: 256-257 (O'Connor-Henchy)