Abbotstown House (formerly also known as Sheephill), Castleknock, Co Dublin- now a sports centre

Abbotstown House (formerly also known as Sheephill), Castleknock, Co Dublin- now a sports centre 

Mark Bence-Jones. A Guide to Irish Country Houses.[originally published as Burke’s Guide to Country Houses volume 1 Ireland by Burke’s Peerage Ltd. 1978; Revised edition 1988 Constable and Company Ltd, London.] 

“(Hamilton, Holm Patrick, B/PB) A 2 storey house, added to at various times, but of predominantly early to mid-C19 aspect, 5 bay entrance front, the centre bay breaking forward with a triple window above a projecting pilastered porch. Similar side elevation, with a single-storey pillared bow instead of porch; prolonged by curved bow of full height. Parapeted roof; entablatures on console brackets over triple windows and other embellishments.” 

http://lordbelmontinnorthernireland.blogspot.com/2014/12/abbotstown-house.html 

THE BARONS HOLMPATRICK WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY DUBLIN, WITH 3,647 ACRES 

 
JOHN HAMILTON  (1576-1639), of Coronary, County Cavan, and Hamiltonsbawn, County Armagh, next brother of James Hamilton, created Viscount Claneboye, married, in 1617, Sarah, daughter of Anthony Brabazon, Governor of Connaught, and brother to Edward, Lord Ardee, father of William, 1st Earl of Meath, and had issue, 

Hans, Rt Hon Sir, Baronet, MP
JAMES, of whom we treat
Francis, of Tullabrack, County Armagh; 
Mary. 

Mr Hamilton’s second son, 

JAMES HAMILTON, of Bailieborough, born ca 1610, espoused in 1639, Jane, daughter of the Rt Rev William Bailie, and had issue, 

HENRY; 
Hans. 

Mr Hamilton was succeeded by his elder son, 

 
HENRY HAMILTON, of Bailieborough, County Cavan, who wedded, before 1685, Rebecca Blackwell, and had issue, 

John; 
JAMES; 
Mary. 

Mr Hamilton was killed at Limerick, 1691, and was succeeded by his surviving son, 
 
JAMES HAMILTON (1685-1771), of Bailieborough, County Cavan, MP for Newry, 1723-7, Carlow Borough, 1727-60, who married Anne Hall, and had, with other issue, 

Hans; 
John; 
JAMES. 

Mr Hamilton was succeeded by his surviving son, 
 
JAMES HAMILTON (1727-1800), of Sheepshill, Abbotstown, and HolmPatrick, Deputy Protonotary of the Court of King’s Bench, who married thrice. 
 
The eldest son by his first marriage, 
 
HANS HAMILTON (1758-1822), of Sheephill and Holmpatrick, County Dublin, Captain, 5th Dragoons, High Sheriff of County Dublin, 1803, MP for County Dublin, 1798-1800, espoused firstly, in 1787, Sarah, daughter of Joseph Lynam, and had issue, 

Sarah; 
Jane. 

He married secondly, Anne, daughter of Hugh Henry Mitchell, and had further issue, 

JAMES HANS, his heir
Frances Caroline; Harriette Augusta. 

Mr Hamilton was succeeded by his only son, 
 
JAMES HANS HAMILTON JP DL (1810-63), High Sheriff of County Dublin, 1832, MP for County Dublin, 1841-63, who wedded, in 1833, Caroline, daughter of John Frederick Trant, and had issue, 

Hans James (1835-62); 
ION TRANT, his successor

Mr Hamilton was succeeded by his surviving son, 
 
THE RT HON ION TRANT HAMILTON JP DL(1839-98), MP for County Dublin, 1863-85, Lord-Lieutenant for County Dublin, 1892-98, who was elevated to the peerage, in 1897, in the dignity of BARON HOLMPATRICK, of Holmpatrick, County Dublin. 
 
His lordship married, in 1877, Victoria Alexandrina, daughter of Major-General Lord Charles Wellesley, and granddaughter of Arthur, 1st Duke of Wellington, and had issue, 

HANS WELLESLEY, his successor
Winifred; Margaret Augusta; Georgina; Sybil Evelyn; Clare. 

The heir presumptive is the present holder’s brother, the Hon Ion Henry James Hamilton. 

The 4th and present Baron lives in Cornwall. 

 
ABBOTSTOWN HOUSE, Castleknock, County Dublin, is a two-storey house, extended at various times, though mainly early to mid-19th century. 
 
It has a five-bay entrance front, the central bay breaking forward with a triple window above a projecting, pilastered porch. 

 
There is a similar side elevation, with a single-storey, pillared bow in lieu of a porch; elongated by a full-height curved bow. 
 
Abbotstown House remained the seat of the HolmPatricks until 1947, when the 3rd Baron lost part of his lands under a Compulsory Purchase Order to allow for the building of a Hospital. 
 
Later, Lord HolmPatrick sold remaining lands at Abbotstown to the Marine Institute of Ireland, which was located at Abbotstown House until 2005, when the house was acquired for Sports Campus Ireland. 
 
In the late 1990s, half of the lands under the ownership of the local health board were sold for development in order to finance the redevelopment of the hospital buildings. 

now a sports centre 

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