Howley (Belleek Castle)
The Howley family appear in both Hussey de Burgh and the 1876 Landowners Survey as owners of land in Tireragh Barony, county Sligo. In addition there is evidence from both the OS Name Books and archival sources that they acted as agents for some of the larger estates in the area. The Howleys were also middlemen for a number of landlords in the baronies of Gallen and Tirawley, county Mayo, including the Kirkwoods and the Knox Gores. At the time of the Ordnance Survey in the 1830s they were living in a number of houses in the parish of Kilgarvan and at Belleek Castle, parish of Kilmoremoy, county Mayo. Piers and Mary White offered property for sale in Ardnaree, barony of Tireragh, in 1869. This was held on lease from the Howley estate. In 1871 over 1000 acres in county Sligo including Quignashee and 12 acres at Belleek Castle, county Mayo were advertised for sale in the Landed Estates' Court. Messers. Litterdale and Davidson purchased some of the lots in trust. Later, in 1876 and 1877, the properties at Quignamanger and Quignashee were offered for sale in the same court. The lease details seem to indicate that this had originally been Jones and Morgan land. The Irish Times reported that these lots were purchased by Alderman Harris and, in trust, by John Boyd and Mr. Barloe. In 1883 Edward John Howley offered for sale lands in the Rathglass area of the barony of Tireragh which he held on a long lease from the Digby estate. In 1906 John Howley is recorded as the owner of over 1400 acres of untenanted land in the barony of Tireragh including a mansion house. The Congested Districts Board later acquired over 1100 acres of the estate of Thomas J. Howley.
Associated Families
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quignashee | Quignashee | Kilmoremoy | Ballina | Ardnaree North 1 | Tireragh | Sligo |
OSI Ref: G266199
OS Sheet: 22,29 Discovery map: 24 |
|
| Belleek Castle/Ballina House | Ballina | Kilmoremoy | Ballina | Ballina Urban 7 | Tirawley | Mayo |
OSI Ref: G253 196
OS Sheet: 30 Discovery map: 24 |
|
| Beaufield House | Carrowcastle | Kilgarvan | Ballina | Sallymount 12 | Tirawley | Mayo |
OSI Ref: G322 162
OS Sheet: 40 Discovery map: 24 |
|
| Ellaghmore | Ellaghmore | Kilgarvan | Ballina | Sallymount 12 | Tirawley | Mayo |
OSI Ref: G315 150
OS Sheet: 40 Discovery map: 24 |
|
| Cooga Lodge | Coga | Easky | Dromore West | Rathmacurkey | Tireragh | Sligo |
OSI Ref: G352328
OS Sheet: 11, 17 Discovery map: 24 |
|
| Quignamanger | Quignamanger | Kilmoremoy | Ballina | Ardnaree North 1 | Tireragh | Sligo |
OSI Ref: G258209
OS Sheet: 22, 29 Discovery map: 24 |
Archival sources
- Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Howley, 7 Nov 1851, Vol 11, MRGS 39/005 (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
- Landed Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Howley, 4 July 1871, Vol 103, MRGS 39/048, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
- Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Howley, 16 June 1871, Vol 102, MRGS 39/048, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
- Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), White/Howley, 12 January 1869, Vol 92, MRGS 39/044, (microfilm copy in NUIG) ; National Archives of Ireland
- Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Howley, 7 July 1876, Vol 125, MRGS 39/057, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
- Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Howley, 22 June 1877, Vol 128, MRGS 39/058, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
- Land Judges' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Howley, 12 May 1883, Vol 144, MRGS 39/064, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
Contemporary printed sources
- LEET, Ambrose. ''A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland''. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 177 (Ellagh)
- ORDNANCE SURVEY NAME BOOKS, County Mayo: Vol IV, 341 & Vol V, 365
- LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: Vol II, 189 (Belleek)
- LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: Vol II, 97 (Bowfield, Ellagh and Rabbit Hill)
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 321
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 391.
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Ballina Union, 130 (Carrowcrom) & 133 (Ellaghbeg)
Modern printed sources
- NORTON, Desmond. ''Landlords, tenants, famine: the business of an Irish land agency in the 1840s.'' Dublin: University College Dublin Press, 2006.: 139-140
- ''Corran Herald'': DUFFY, P.J. The Congested Districts Board (including list of lands acquired in county Sligo under the Wyndham Act). XXXIV (2001-2002), 6-7.
- McTERNAN, John C. ''Sligo: the light of bygone days, Vol.I Houses of Sligo and associated families''. Sligo: Avena Publications, 2009. : 66-67
- ''Irish Times'': Landed Estates Court sale reports, 17 June 1871, p.5. 23 June 1877,p.3.