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Skerrett (Finavarra)
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In his will dated 26 November 1681 James Skerrett FitzMarcus of Galway, merchant, left his county Clare lands to his second son, William Skerrett. In 1768, Hyacinth Skerrett of Finavarra, parish of Oughtmama, barony of Burren, county Clare, married Mary Byrne of Cabinteely, county Dublin. In the 1850s the main part of the estate of their grandson, William Joseph Skerrett, was in the parish of Oughtmama and in the nearby parishes of Drumcreehy, including part of the village of Ballyvaughan and Rathborney, barony of Burren. He also held land in the parish of Kilfenora, barony of Corcomroe. An account book covering the personal and estate finances of William Joseph Skerrett is now in the National Library. It gives a day by day insight into his economic and social activities over a ten year period. In the 1870s his son, Captain William Skerrett, owned 2,679 acres in the county. Although the eldest of ten sons, only one of Captain William Skerrett's brothers had a son according to Burkes. Weir writes that the family died out following the death of his third brother, Reverend Hyacinth Heffernan Skerrett. The Irish Tourist Association file refers to the belief that the Skerretts bought the Finavarra estate for £50.
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