Landed Estates
University of Galway

Staunton/Lynch Staunton

The Stauntons, originally from Buckinghamshire, England, settled in county Galway in the mid 17th century and were established on an estate centred at Cargin Castle in the barony of Clare by the early 18th century. 18th century members of the family were distinguished diplomats and Oriental scholars and absentee landlords. The estate was leased to the Frenchs of Monieva in the mid 18th century. The estate came back into Staunton possession in the 1780s and William Skerrett of Carrownacroagh acted as agent. Clydagh House was built in the early 1820s. The estate eventually passed to a member of the Lynch family of Duras to whom the Stauntons were connected by marriage. George Staunton Lynch took the additional surname of Staunton. The Lynch Stauntons also had 2 townlands in parish of Shrule, barony of Kilmaine, county Mayo. Between the 1830s and mid 1850s Staunton lands in the parish of Annaghdown were sold to Mary Woodcock and George Stanfort. In the 1870s the Lynch Stauntons owned 1,395 acres in county Galway and 733 acres in county Mayo. Michael Carroll states that the house was burnt in 1922 and was sold by the Lynch Staunton family in 1947.

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Clydagh Clydagh Cargin Tuam Killursa 207 Clare Galway OSI Ref: M218 432
OS Sheet: 55
Discovery map: 45
Photo of Clydagh
Waterdale Waterdale Claregalway Galway Claregalway 66 Clare Galway OSI Ref: M370 356
OS Sheet: 70
Discovery map: 46
Photo of Waterdale

Archival sources

  • Wilson Lynch Papers. LE6; James Hardiman Library, University of Galway
  • Pedigree of Staunton of Oldbury and Cargine, Co Galway, Grenada & Buckinghamshire, c 1634-c 1792. GO MS 112: 60-61; National Library of Ireland
  • Confirmation of arms to the descendants of Mark Lynch of Duras Park and to his eldest son George Staunton Lynch of Clydagh House, 10 Sept 1859. GO MS 108: 276-277; National Library of Ireland
  • Documents re the Stauntons' interest in the tithes of the parish of Cargine and property in Grenada, 170-1862. 999/241; National Archives of Ireland
  • Lynch Staunton of Clydagh Papers, 1923-1929. GSO1/8; Galway County Council Archives
  • Estate records of Denis J. Kirwan and Sons, land agents, Tuam, mid 19th - mid 20th centuries, including account book of rents received, 1909-1921. Acc. No. 5124; National Library of Ireland
  • Ffrench of Monieva Papers, rental ledger. MS 4920 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Carraigin cuttings. 131/006; Irish Architectural Archive
  • Waterdale House photos. 022/095; Irish Architectural Archive
  • Clydagh House auction catalogue 1981. RP.D.31.7; Irish Architectural Archive

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources