Landed Estates
University of Galway

Colthurst (Dripsey Castle)

This county Cork family was a junior branch of the Colthurst family, baronets and were descended from James Colthurst, brother of the 1st Baronet. John Colthurst of Dripsey Castle married Jane, daughter of John Bowen of Oak Grove, county Cork. Three of their grandsons lived at houses in West Cork, John Henry at Dripsey Castle, George at Carhue House and Joseph succeeded Henry in 1865. Their granddaughter Peggy married Alfred Greer and this couple were living at Dripsey Castle in the 1870s. Alfred Greer appears to have purchased part of the Dripsey estate, which was advertised for sale in October 1851. It was comprised of over 1,900 acres in 1851. The Greer's daughter Georgina succeeded to Dripsey Castle. In 1878 she married Robert Walter Travers Bowen, who took the additional name of Colthurst in 1882. It was their son, John Bowen Colthurst, who ordered the shooting of Francis Sheehy-Skeffington in 1916. In the 1870s George Colthurst of Carhoo Lower and Joseph Colthurst of Carrignamuck, Coachford, owned 284 and 463 acres respectively in county Cork, while Alfred Greer of Dripsey owned 930 acres in county Cork and 244 acres in county Armagh.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Clonmoyle Clonmoyle East Aghabulloge Macroom Clonmoyle 214 East Muskerry Cork OSI Ref: W472 757
OS Sheet: 61
Discovery map: 80
Dripsey Castle Carrignamuck Magourney Macroom Magourney 217 East Muskerry Cork OSI Ref: W481 752
OS Sheet: 72
Discovery map: 80 		Photo of Dripsey Castle
Beechmount Deeshart Magourney Macroom Magourney 217 East Muskerry Cork OSI Ref: W485 752
OS Sheet: 72
Discovery map: 80
Carhue/Carhoo Carhoo Lower Magourney Macroom Magourney 217 East Muskerry Cork OSI Ref: W441 726
OS Sheet: 72
Discovery map: 80 		Photo of Carhue/Carhoo
Deeshart Deeshart Magourney Macroom Magourney 217 East Muskerry Cork OSI Ref: W485 750
OS Sheet: 72
Discovery map: 80

Archival sources

  • Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Colthurst, 25 Oct 1851, Vol 11(28), MRGS 39/005, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
  • Colthurst of Blarney estate papers, including deeds, rentals, correspondence, maps & plans, photographs & other material relating to Colthurst, Morris, Oliver, Jefferyes & other families. 1602-1960s. U196 & 196A ; Cork City and County Archives
  • Copy of confirmation of arms being Colthurst quartering Conway, to the descendants of James Colthurst of Knockanariff, Co. Cork, next younger brother to Sir John Conway Colthurst, 1st Bart. of Ardrum and to his great grandson, Joseph Colthurst of Dripsey Castle Oct. 31, 1867. GO Ms. 109, pp. 155-6 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Copy of grant of arms to Robert Walter Travers Bowen of Oak Grove, Co. Cork and Georgina de Bellasis Greer, his wife, on their assuming under Royal Licence and in compliance with the will of Joseph Colthurst of Dripsey Castle, Co. Cork, the name and arms of Bowen Colthurst Feb. 8, 1883. GO Ms. 110, pp. 37-8 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Pedigree of Colthurst, Barts., of Macroom and Cooleneshan and Ballyally and Ardrum, of Knockannariff, Killigrohan, Dripsey Castle, of Carhue House and Clonmoyle all in Co. Cork, and Lucan House, Co. Dublin 1641 -- 1865. GO Ms.114, pp.6-10 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Pedigree of Colthurst, Barts., of Ballyally and Ardrum, Killigrohan, Knocknemariff and Dripsey Castle c.1680 1810. GO Ms.113, pp.251-2 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Irish Tourist Association Survey Files, Parish of Aghabullogue. ; Cork County Library

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources