Landed Estates
University of Galway

Blake (Waterdale & Vermount)

In the early 19th century a junior branch of the Blakes of Kiltullagh, parish of Oranmore, barony of Dunkellin, county Galway, leased the Waterdale property in the parishes of Claregalway and Annaghdown, barony of Clare, from the Lamberts of Creg Clare. James Blake of Waterdale, purchased the French estate of Moneen or Vermont, parish of Killoscobe, barony of Tiaquin and died in 1821, leaving his estates to his nephew, another James Blake. This James Blake married his cousin Henrietta Blake of Kiltullagh and had an only child Elizabeth who married in 1854 her cousin Theobald Blake of Kiltullagh and Vermount. However when Theobald Blake died in 1902 without heirs, Vermount reverted to Elizabeth's first cousin Nicholas Blake of the U.S.A. McHale writes that the estate was bought by the Land Commission in the early 20th century and that the house was burned down in 1923. Members of the Blake family are buried in a burial house on the estate.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Waterdale Waterdale Claregalway Galway Claregalway 66 Clare Galway OSI Ref: M370 356
OS Sheet: 70
Discovery map: 46 		Photo of Waterdale
Vermount Moneen Killoscobe Mountbellew Mounthazel 156 Tiaquin Galway OSI Ref: M636412
OS Sheet: 59
Discovery map: 46 		Photo of Vermount

Archival sources

  • Encumbered Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Lambert, 22 Nov 1855, Vol 37, MRGS 39/017, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
  • Waterdale House photos. 022/095; Irish Architectural Archive

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources