Landed Estates
University of Galway

Head

The Head family descend from Michael Head, Sheriff of the city of Waterford in 1672 and Mayor in 1684. His son, John, married Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Samuel Wade of Derry, county Tipperary. Their two grandsons were Michael, of Derry Castle and John, of Ashley Park. At the time of Griffith's Valuation, Reverend John Head, Dean of Killaloe (third son of Michael), held three townlands in the parish of Ballynaclogh, barony of Upper Ormond, county Tipperary while William H. Head, held an estate in the barony of Lower Ormond, parishes of Dorrha, Lorrha, Modreeny and Templeachally. In 1815 Reverend John had married Susan, daughter of Edward Hawke Darby of the Leap Castle family. The estate of Edward Head at Ballykinash and Turlough, barony of Upper Ormond was advertised for sale in July 1864. Ballykanash was advertised again in February 1877. The Irish Times reported the purchase of this lot by Adam Mitchell for over £4000. In the 1870s Henry Darby Head of Ballyquiveen, Nenagh, owned 941 acres in county Tipperary. John Head of Ashley Park, married Phoebe Toler, sister of the 1st Earl of Norbury, and had a son, Lieutenant General Michael Head of Modreeney House, who was succeeded in 1827 by his only child, William Henry Head of Derrylahan Park, Parsonstown. William H. Head bought the Walsh estate in the late 1850s and built Derrylahan Park in 1862. Some of his property was sold in the Landed Estates Court in June 1869. It was purchased in trust by Mr.Mitchell. William H. Head owned 2,330 acres in county Tipperary in the 1870s.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Coolagh Coolagh Ballynaclogh Nenagh Ballynaclogh 84 Upper Ormond Tipperary OSI Ref: R889 744
OS Sheet: 27
Discovery map: 59
Ballyquiveen Ballyquiveen Ballynaclogh Nenagh Ballynaclogh 84 Upper Ormond Tipperary OSI Ref: R899 735
OS Sheet: 27
Discovery map: 59
Ashleypark Ashleypark Cloghprior Nenagh Ardcrony 83 Lower Ormond Tipperary OSI Ref: R879 861
OS Sheet: 15
Discovery map: 59 		Photo of Ashleypark
Derrylahan Park Walshpark Dorrha Birr Graigue 3 Lower Ormond Tipperary OSI Ref: M997 042
OS Sheet: 5
Discovery map: 53 		Photo of Derrylahan Park
Northland Ballyhasty Modreeny Borrisokane Cloghjordan 14 Lower Ormond Tipperary OSI Ref: R960 886
OS Sheet: 10
Discovery map: 53
Modreeny Modreeny Modreeny Borrisokane Mertonhall 15 Lower Ormond Tipperary OSI Ref: R957 892
OS Sheet: 10
Discovery map: 59 		Photo of Modreeny
Derry Castle Derry Demesne Templeachally Nenagh Ballina 97 Owney and Arra Tipperary OSI Ref: R716 781
OS Sheet: 19
Discovery map: 58 		Photo of Derry Castle
Lakeview Ryninch Lower Templeachally Nenagh Derrycastle 100 Owney and Arra Tipperary OSI Ref: R702 747
OS Sheet: 19
Discovery map: 58
Mary Ville Ryninch Upper Templeachally Nenagh Derrycastle 100 Owney and Arra Tipperary OSI Ref: R705 759
OS Sheet: 19
Discovery map: 58

Archival sources

  • Detailed abstracts of wills of Head of London, Waterford, Headsgrove, Co. Kilkenny and Derry, Co. Tipperary, with pedigree of Head, 1709 -- 1793. Genealogical Office: Ms.142, pp.8-12 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Copy of lease from John and Elizabeth Head to Elnathan Lumm of Ballyhane and other townlands in the barony of Lower Ormond, Co. Tipperary, Oct. 22, 1702. D. 6644 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Agreement between The Hon. Barry Barry of the City of Dublin and Michael Head of Derry, Co. Tipperary concerning lands in Co. Wexford, Aug. 2, 1771. D. 22,778 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Landed Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Head, 5 July 1864, Vol 73 (65) & 16 Feb 1877, Vol 127 (29), MRGS 39/036 & 39/057, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
  • Baker, Ringwood & Gordon, solicitors' collection, includes fee farm grant of 270 acres in East Keile, barony of Clanwilliam, Michael Head of Derry to John Dawson of Ballynecourty, 3 Mar 1738. Small Accs. Index 105, D.21,038 ; National Archives of Ireland
  • Landed Estates’ Court Sale Rental of Modreeny, estate of William Henry Head, 29 June 1869. TL/F/32 ; Tipperary Studies Research Library (Archives), Thurles

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources