My ancestors - O'Mara - Contents
Cashel House
On Cashel Bay, Cashel, Moyrus par (nr Roundstone), Connemara, W Co.Galway. See Google Maps.The house is at the base of Cashel Hill.
- References:
- CASHEL HOUSE in [Irish Country Houses]
- CASHEL HOUSE in Listed Buildings of Connemara, vol.1, Breandan O Scanaill.
- de Gaulle in land of magic, Kate O'Brien, The Irish Times, Mon 2nd June 1969.
Cashel House, c.1930.
See full size.
Cashel House was built 1850 (or poss. 1840), on Cashel Bay.
It was bought by my grandmother's father James O'Mara
as summer home, Aug 1919.
It was
NOT bought 1921
(see [Lavelle, 1961],
also it was raided 1920,
also there are photos dated 1920).
James had noticed it earlier while at
Barfield -
a photo of it exists in the family 1918 but they were
not living there yet.
James liked it partly because his wife's name was Cashel
(no connection).
When the O'Mara's were there, it was raided by British
in War of Independence,
Apr 1920.
The Conacher twins
died there 1922.
My grandfather Dick Humphreys courted my grandmother there
(they married 1929).
The
house had beautiful gardens,
tennis and croquet lawns,
and
its own boathouse and private harbour for boating on Cashel Bay
(deep sea fishing, cultivation of oysters).
James O'Mara died 1948.
His family sold the house 1952 (or poss. 1951).
There is a leaflet
(and p.2)
putting the house up for sale,
price £15,000
(about £1m in
today's money),
but directing queries to James O'Mara at
The Grove, Killiney.
Perhaps he was organising the sale before he died,
but it didn't go through?
Cashel House was purchased by the Browne-Claytons 1952,
who entertained
Harold Macmillan
(Prime Minister 1957-63)
there.
See BROWNE-CLAYTON in
[Burkes Irish, 1976].
Cashel House was purchased by Dermot and Kay McEvilly, 1967.
They
opened it as the luxury
"Cashel House Hotel" 1968.
The French wartime leader
Charles de Gaulle
and his wife
spent holiday there, May 1969
(just before he died).
The McEvillys still run it as "Cashel House Hotel" today.
They have added a tasteful extension at back.
Entrance to Cashel House.
Click to rotate.
From Google Street View.
Cashel House
on 1887 to 1913 map.
Cashel House, c.1920.
Kat Riordan (left)
and her niece Eithne O'Mara.
Cashel House, (stuck in album) 1922.
Cashel House, the gardens, think c.1922.
Cashel House, Aug 1924.
Eileen and Una.
See larger
and full size
and other shot.
Cashel House, prob. c.1930.
Cashel House.
See larger
and original.
Cashel House.
See larger
and original.
Cashel House, c.1940.
Cashel House, think c.1947.
Cashel House, think c.1947.
Cashel House for sale, leaflet, think c.1948.
See alternative
and full size
and original.
And p.2 of leaflet.
Cashel House, c.1965-6.
Plaque commemorating the de Gaulle visit of 1969, Cashel House.
From Cashel House Hotel.
Used with permission.
Sign to the "De Gaulle seat", Cashel House.
From Cashel House Hotel.
Used with permission.
Cashel House, c.1970s.
See larger
and original.
Cashel House today
Cashel Bay
Cashel Bay (movies)
