Blake (Ballinafad)
In the early 17th century a younger son of the Blake family of Ballyglunin, county Galway, acquired lands in county Mayo, including some from O'Kelly of Dunamona. A later generation received letters patent, dated 30 June 1681, of 1,189 acres of the Ballinafad estate, which they retained for a further two centuries. Although Ballinafad was in the parish of Drum, most of the estate was in the parish of Rosslee, barony of Carra. In 1876 two family members held almost 3,500 acres in county Mayo. The estate at Cloghballymore, parish of Killeenavarra, barony of Dunkellin, county Galway, came into the possession of the Blakes of Ballinafad in the early 19th century through the marriage of Anne Lynch and Maurice Blake. Llewellyn Blake is recorded as holding a mansion house and over 1000 acres of untenanted land there in 1906. Parts of the Ballinafad estate were sold to the Congested Districts' Board in June 1913 and June 1914. The Irish Tourist Association file refers to an 18th century map of the estate then in the college.
Associated Families
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballinafad | Ballinafad | Drum | Castlebar | Ballinafad 57 | Carra | Mayo |
OSI Ref: M221 810
OS Sheet: 90 Discovery map: 31 |
|
| Castlelucas | Castlelucas | Rosslee | Castlebar | Balllinafad 57 | Carra | Mayo |
OSI Ref: M211 799
OS Sheet: 90 Discovery map: 38 |
|
| Cloghballymore | Cloghballymore | Killeenavarra | Gort | Killeenavarra 105 | Dunkellin | Galway |
OSI Ref: M398140
OS Sheet: 103 Discovery map: 52 |
|
Archival sources
- Pedigree of Blake of Ballinafad, Co Mayo, circa 1710- 1880. GO MS 180, 357-8; National Library of Ireland
- Ballinafad House, photographs 2004. 149/097; Irish Architectural Archive
- Irish Tourist Association. Topographical and General Survey, 1941-1945. Parish of Balla & Manulla. ITA/3/4; Mayo County Library
Contemporary printed sources
- LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: Vol I, 510
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Castlebar Union, 65
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 307
- 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] : 38
- ORDNANCE SURVEY NAME BOOKS, County Mayo: Vol III, 168
- LEET, Ambrose. ''A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland''. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 22 (Ballinafad) & 100 (Castlelucas - Ryan)
- M'PARLAN, James. ''Statistical survey of the county of Mayo''. Dublin: Royal Dublin Society, 1802: 103
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''24th Annual Report of the Congested Districts' Board for Ireland'', [Cd 8356], HC 1916, vi, 564-586. Appendix VIII: 51
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 320 (Cloghballymore) & 361.
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''15th Annual Report of the Commissioners of Public Records Ireland,'' 1825. Vol XVI, Appendix I, Grants under Acts of Settlement: 273
- SLATER, Isaac. ''Royal National Directory of Ireland: List of the principal seats''. (Manchester: 1894) : xxi, 45
Modern printed sources
- BENCE-JONES, Mark. ''A Guide to Irish Country Houses''. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 17
- MONTGOMERY-MASSINGBERD, Hugh (ed). ''Burke's Irish Family Records''. London: Burke's Peerage, 1976: 44
- BLAKE, Martin J. ''Blake Family Records'' 1300-1600 1st Series, 1600-1700 2nd Series. London: Elliot Stock, 1902: I, 173-175 & II, 175-178 & Appendix E, 285
- BURKE, Sir Bernard. ''A genealogical and heraldic history of the Landed Gentry of Ireland''. London: Harrison & Sons, 1912: 51