Landed Estates
University of Galway

Roche (Trabolgan)

The Roches were established at Trabolgan, Whitegate, county Cork, from the mid 17th century. In 1703 Edmund Roche of Trabolgan purchased over 2,500 acres in the barony of Barrymore, forfeited by Walter Coppinger and his son James. In 1672 Edward Roche married Catherine Lavallin of Walterstown, county Cork, and they had four sons. The eldest, Francis, died unmarried in 1755 and all the Roche estate was eventually inherited by his grandnephew, Edward Roche of Kildinan. In 1805 Edward Roche married Margaret Honoria Curtin, a relative of Edmund Burke. Their son, Edmund Burke Roche, was created Baron Fermoy in 1856. The main part of the Roche estate was in the parish of Rathcormack, barony of Barrymore, but some of it was located in the parishes of Kilshannig, barony of Duhallow, Ardnageehy, Gortroe, Ballycurrany, Dunbulloge, Lisgoold and Templebodan, barony of Barrymore, Aghada, Garryvoe and Trabolgan, barony of Imokilly and Whitechurch, barony of Cork. Edmund B. Roche was among the principal lessors in the parish of Ringagonagh, barony of Decies-within-Drum, county Waterford in 1851. In 1877 the 2nd Baron Fermoy married the Honourable Cecilia O'Grady of Rockbarton, daughter of the 3rd Viscount Guillamore. In the mid 1870s she is recorded as the owner of 4,977 acres in county Limerick. At the same time Lord Fermoy of Trabolgan is recorded as owning 15,543 acres in county Cork and 744 acres in county Waterford. In November 1880 the Kildinan estate in the barony of Barrymore, the lands of Glashybeg, barony of Duhallow and Balinvarrig, barony of Cork, were advertised for sale with the lands of Gurtnadidhy and Ballincourty, barony of Decies within Drum, county Waterford. The total acreage amounted to 8,178 acres.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Rockbarton Rockbarton Tullabracky Croom Grange 19 Coshma Limerick OSI Ref: R619 395
OS Sheet: 31
Discovery map: 65
Kilshannig Kilshannig Upper Rathcormack Fermoy Gortore 148 Barrymore Cork OSI Ref: W808 898
OS Sheet: 44
Discovery map: 81 		Photo of Kilshannig
Kildinan Kildinan Rathcormack Fermoy Kildinan 149 Barrymore Cork OSI Ref: W752 906
OS Sheet: 44
Discovery map: 80
Shanbally Shanbally Rathcormack Fermoy Kildinan 149 Barrymore Cork OSI Ref: W759 894
OS Sheet: 44
Discovery map: 80
Trabolgan Trabolgan Trabolgan Middleton Corkbeg 257 Imokilly Cork OSI Ref: W847 617
OS Sheet: 100
Discovery map: 81 		Photo of Trabolgan
Mosestown Mosestown Aghada Middleton Corkbeg 257 Imokilly Cork OSI Ref: W847 637
OS Sheet: 88
Discovery map: 81

Archival sources

  • Roche Papers, 16th-19th centuries. MS 8630, D 8833-8894; National Library of Ireland
  • Irish Tourist Association Survey file for parish of Bruff, barony of Small County, 1944. Limerick North East 6 ; Limerick Studies Department, Dooradoyle
  • William B. Fitt & Co, auctioneers, 46 O'Connell St., Limerick, inventories & valuations of Co Limerick properties, including damaged furniture at Rockbarton, for Mrs Baring, 1924. LM1993.0178; Limerick City Museum
  • William B. Fitt & Co, auctioneers, 46 O'Connell St., Limerick, inventories & valuations of Co Limerick properties, including Rockbarton, 1907. LM1993.0179; Limerick City Museum
  • British Museum Add. Ms. 20,715 Papers re Roche family of Cork, mostly connected with the mercantile firm of Roche & McGrath 1732-1749, but also some 16th & 17th century documents re lands in Co Cork. Microfilm P 520; National Library of Ireland
  • Sale rental of the Honourable James B.B. Roche, Cos Cork & Waterford, 1880. 999/115; National Archives of Ireland
  • Land Judges’ Court Rentals (O'Brien), Burke Roche, 16 November 1880, Vol 140, MRGS 39/062, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
  • William D. Mockler, solicitor's collection, includes records re Roche of Kildinan. T.3924-3998, CO 2559-2568, D.15,326-15,661, M.1444-1449; National Archives of Ireland
  • Irish Tourist Association Survey files, Parish of Rathcormac; Cork County Library

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources