Kirwan (Blindwell)
Descended from a younger son of the Kirwans of Gardenfield, the Kirwans of Blindwell, built up a substanial estate in the 18th century. Martin Staunton Kirwan held 2 townlands and islands in the parish of Kilcummin, barony of Moycullen, county Galway at the time of Griffith's Valuation and his Blindwell estate included lands in the parishes of Kilconla and Dunmore, baronies of Dunmore and Ballymoe. The Kirwans had intermarried with the Lynchs of Drimcong and the Moycullen property may have come into the family as a result. The Kirwans owned almost 7,000 acres in county Galway in the 1870s. The male line of this family died out in 1881 following the death of Thomas Staunton Kirwan. His widow married Ormsby Bowen Miller of Milford in 1890 and they lived at Blindwell in the early 20th century. By March 1916 Mrs Miller had accepted offers from the Congested Districts' Board for over 5,000 acres of her estate.
Associated Families
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blindwell | Blindwell | Kilconla | Tuam | Foxhall 218 | Dunmore | Galway |
OSI Ref: M342 595
OS Sheet: 15 Discovery map: 39 |
|
Archival sources
- Land transactions between the Kirwans of Blindwell & the Lamberts of Cregaclare, 1790 & 1820. Small Accs. Index 74, D.11250 & D.11259; National Archives of Ireland
Contemporary printed sources
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 297
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 339 (Miller)
- 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] : 253
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Tuam Union, 150
- LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: Vol II, 68
- DUTTON, Hely. ''Statistical and agricultural survey of the county of Galway''. Dublin: Royal Dublin Society, 1824. : 414
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''24th Annual Report of the Congested Districts' Board for Ireland'', [Cd 8356], HC 1916, vi, 564-586. Appendix VIII: 47
- TAYLOR, George & SKINNER, Andrew. ''Maps of the Roads of Ireland, surveyed in 1777 and corrected down to 1783''. Facsimile of 2nd edition. Shannon: Irish University Press, 1969: 78
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of names of proprietors and area and valuation of properties in counties in Ireland, held in fee or perpetuity or long leases at chief rents,'' 1876. (412) LXXX. 395: 149.
- WILSON, William. ''The Post-Chaise Companion or Travellers Directory Through Ireland''. The author: Dublin, 1786 : 123 (Blindwell)
Modern printed sources
- BURKE, Sir Bernard. ''A genealogical and heraldic history of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland''. London: Harrison & Sons, 1886: 1039-1040
- ''Jnl. of the Old Tuam Society'': DELANEY, Sister Teresa. Sister Magdalen Kirwan - a link with the Invincibles. Jots I (2004), 61-62