Kenny (Ballinrobe)
A family established in the Ballinrobe area, barony of Kilmaine, county Mayo, from the late 17th century. They held land from the Earls of Lucan, the Ruttledges, the Cuffs and later from the Knoxes of Creagh. They were also involved in the brewing and milling industries in the town of Ballinrobe. They lived at Rocksborough, a short distance outside the town during the 18th century and then moved into their house, Robe Villa, in the town. In June 1855 Courtney Bermingham Kenny was granted a lease of Brendrum or Blakehill in the parish of Cong, county Galway by the Provost of Trinity College, Dublin. This property was advertised for sale in 1861 but the Irish Times reports that it was bought back by the owner for £1600. In 1876 Stanhope Kenny owned 598 acres in county Mayo. John Hearne was their agent from 1880s-1910. Most of their estate was vested in the Congested Districts' Board on 1 Dec 1913.
Associated Families
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summerville/Villa Lodge | Rossbeg | Oughaval | Westport | Westport Rural 154 | Murrisk | Mayo |
OSI Ref: L971 838
OS Sheet: 87 Discovery map: 31 |
|
| Robe Villa | Knockanotish | Ballinrobe | Ballinrobe | Ballinrobe 23 | Kilmaine | Mayo |
OSI Ref: M190 646
OS Sheet: 118 Discovery map: 38 |
|
| Liskilleen | Liskilleen | Ballinrobe | Ballinrobe | Ballinrobe 23 | Kilmaine | Mayo |
OSI Ref: M203 682
OS Sheet: 110 Discovery map: 38 |
|
| Blake Hill | Breandrim | Ross | Oughterard | Clonbur 157 | Ross | Galway |
OSI Ref: M127 561
OS Sheet: 27 Discovery map: 38 |
|
Archival sources
- Kenny Papers, including land agreements, estate management and financial records with some family papers, 1730-1939. Collection list, MP03; Mayo County Library
- Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Kenny, 15 Nov 1867, Vol 87, MRGS 39/042, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
- Pedigree of Kenny of Roxborough, Co Mayo, Yorkshire and Co Wicklow, c 1670-c 1851. GO MS 179, 116-119; National Library of Ireland
- Kenny Photographs; Mayo County Library
- Landed Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Kenny, 18 Apr 1861, Vol 61, MRGS 39/031, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
Contemporary printed sources
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Ballinrobe Union, 45, Westport Union, 87 (Summerville) & Oughterard Union, 63 (Breandrim)
- 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] : 248
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 310
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''24th Annual Report of the Congested Districts' Board for Ireland'', [Cd 8356], HC 1916, vi, 564-586. Appendix VIII: 54
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 355 (Liskilleen)
Modern printed sources
- RUANE, Patrick. Thesis entitled ''Mayo Country Houses before 1840 - Vernacular country houses in the classical tradition'' (M.U.B.C.), 1996: Appendix VI
- MULLOY, Bridie. ''Itchy Feet & Thirsty Work: A Guide to the History & Folklore of Ballinrobe''. Lough Mask and Lough Carra Tourist Development Association, 1990: 132-133
- MONTGOMERY-MASSINGBERD, Hugh (ed). ''Burke's Irish Family Records''. London: Burke's Peerage, 1976: 667
- ''Cathair na Mart : Journal of the Westport Historical Society'': MCWALTER, Patria. The Papers of the Kennys of Ballinrobe. XXIII (2003), 99-105
- BENCE-JONES, Mark. ''A Guide to Irish Country Houses''. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 19
- ''Irish Times'': 19 April 1861, p.4.