Smyth (Masonbrook)
The Smyths acquired property in and around the Loughrea area in the early 19th century. In 1828 they purchased large portions of the estate of the ffrenches of Rahasane, including a number of townlands in the parish of Cummer, barony of Clare. Masonbrook, which became the centre of their estate, had been sold by the Mason family to the Dalys of Dalyston in the 18th century. In 1862, lands belonging to John Blakeney were sold in the Landed Estates Court. The purchasers included James Smyth of Masonbrook. The Smyth estate amounted to over 9000 acres in the 1870s. In 1906 John J. Smyth was in possession of about 600 acres of untenanted land and a mansion house at Cooleeny, Kilmeen. At the same time he held over 700 acres of untenanted land and a mansion valued at £60 at Moanmore, Loughrea.
Associated Families
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masonbrook | Masonbrook | Loughrea | Loughrea | Kilteskill 125 | Loughrea | Galway |
OSI Ref: M656142
OS Sheet: 105 Discovery map: 52 |
|
| Cooleeney/Coolinny/Cooleeny | Cooleeney | Kilreekil | Loughrea | Kilmeen 123 | Leitrim | Galway |
OSI Ref: M686185
OS Sheet: 106 Discovery map: 52 |
|
| Woodmount House (Loughrea) | Knockadikeen | Loughrea | Loughrea | Loughrea Rural 133 | Loughrea | Galway |
OSI Ref: M645154
OS Sheet: 105 Discovery map: 52 |
|
| Fortlands House (Loughrea) | Gorteenapheebera | Loughrea | Loughrea | Loughrea | Loughrea | Galway |
OSI Ref: M632170
OS Sheet: 105 Discovery map: 52 |
Contemporary printed sources
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Loughrea Union, 118 ( herd's house), 126 (Gorteenapheebera), 127 (Knockadikeen), 141 (Moanmore)
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 299
- 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] : 418
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 325.
- 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: 148.
Modern printed sources
- BURKE, Sir Bernard. ''A genealogical and heraldic history of the Landed Gentry of Ireland''. London: Harrison & Sons, 1912: 651.
- ''The Irish Genealogist'': MELVIN, Patrick. The compostion of the Galway gentry. (1986), 91.
- GLIN, Knight of, GRIFFIN, D. J. & ROBINSON, N.K (eds).'' Vanishing Country Houses of Ireland''. Dublin: Irish Architectural Archive/Irish Georgian Society, 1989. : 74.
- BENCE-JONES, Mark. ''A Guide to Irish Country Houses''. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 204
- ''Irish Ancestor'': Tenants of J. P. Smith at Gort, Co. Galway in 1805. XIV (1982), 21.
- MELVIN, Patrick. ''Estates and landed society in Galway''. (Dublin: Éamonn de Búrca, 2012). : p.8
- ''Irish Times'': 12 November 1862, p.4