Loughglinn House or Loughglynn, Loughglinn, Co Roscommon F45 YN22
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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.
p. 193. “(Dillon/V/PB) Originally a C18 house of two storeys over basement with a dormered attic in a high-pitched roof. Entrance front with centre and end bays breaking forward, and two bays in between on either side; round-headed window above fanlighted doorway, each flaked by two narrow windows. Garden front, facing the lough from which the estate takes its name, with 23 sided bows; centre windows flanked by two narrow windows above pedimented tripartite doorcase; one bay on the outside of each bow. Six bay side elevation wiht two bay pedimented breakfront; unusual Venetian window with round-headed sidelights in centre of lower storey. A third storey was added ca. 1830, to the design of James Bolger; it was treated as an attic, above the original cornice. The house was gutted by fire in 1904 and rebuilt without the top storey and the end bays of the garden front; the end bays of the entrance front being reduced to one storey only. At the same time, the entrance front was given a pediment and a segmental-pedimented Doric doorcase. The entrance front is flanked by a free-standing wing or pavilion of two storeys with rusticated window surrounds. The house is now a convent, noted for its cheeses.”
Detached five-bay two-storey former country house over basement, built c.1715, extended c.1820 with top floor removed after fire in 1904. M-profile slate roof with rendered chimneystacks and cast-iron rainwater goods. Ashlar limestone walls with quoins, and roughly tooled limestone walls to basement. Replacement aluminium windows with tooled limestone sills and architraves. Venetian window to west-facing side elevation. Canted bay windows to garden elevation. Central pedimented breakfront with segmental-headed door surround with engaged Doric columns and timber panelled door flanked by narrow lights. Sweeping limestone steps with carved tread ends, access garden elevation doorway. Single-storey flanking bays. Plaque to side elevation with date ‘July 1715’. Chapel of c.1970, to east of main house. Two-storey block to east of house with cut limestone walls and Gibbsian window surrounds. Castellated yard to east of house contains single-storey outbuildings and stables. Burial ground to west of house accessed through wrought-iron gates and ashlar piers. Building located on shores of Lough Glinn.
Appraisal
Located on the shores of Lough Glinn, this is a suitably elegant and fine setting for a country residence for Viscount Dillon and his family. Built originally as a three-storey house over a basement, the classical proportions and understated external decoration enhance the form and scale of this imposing structure. The fine stonework is a notable feature, in particular the carved limestone tread ends to the steps to the rear doorway and the carved limestone window and door surrounds. While the stately scale of Loughglynn Convent, the use of limestone, and the castellated yard impart an austere atmosphere, the 1970s chapel is an appealing addition to the otherwise forbidding complex.
It was auctioned by BidX1 in October 2024. AMV €425,000
Property Summary Online Auction Date: 24th October 2024. 18th Century Georgian country estate on approximately 7.94 hectares (19.63 acres) of land. Comprising 2 x period houses together with church buildings, courtyard buildings and caretaker cottage.
Dillon House extending to approximately 1,728 sq m (18,600 sq ft). Contained within folio RN40756F. Vacant possession.
Location Loughglynn Demesne is situated approximately 2km north of Loughglynn village, 10km north of Castlerea and 9km south of Ballaghaderreen. The area is serviced by the R325, N5 & N60 with Knock Airport located approximately 25km north west of the estate.
Property Description The property is arranged to provide a substantial 18th century Georgian residence together with numerous external buildings. The property is situated on a site area extending to approximately 7.94 hectares (19.63acres).
The main building is arranged to provide numerous receptions rooms and bedrooms arranged over ground and two upper floors.
The property also comprises church buildings, courtyard buildings including old dairy and stores and farm buildings including old stables, cow byre, chicken shed and piggery.
Additional caretaker’s cottage extending to approximately 73 sq. m. (785 sq. ft). Restored in 2015 the property comprises two bedrooms, kitchen/living room, office/ 3rd bedroom, shower/toilet and solid fuel central heating.
All intending purchasers are advised to satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the measurements provided.
Accommodation The accommodation on site comprises: Dillon House extending to approximately 1,728 sq. m (18,600 sq. ft). Church Building extending to approximately 1,423 sq. m (15,317 sq. ft). Strickland House extending to approximately 443 sq. m (4,768 sq. ft). Caretaker cottage restored 2015, three bedrooms extending to approximately 73 sq. m (785 sq. ft). Courtyard buildings extending to approximately 342 sq. m (3,681 sq. ft).
http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie/LandedEstates/jsp/property-list.jsp?letter=L
Loughglynn was the main residence of the Dillon family, built circa 1715, extended in the 1820s and altered again in the early 20th century. It is recorded in 1814, 1837 and in Griffith’s Valuation as the seat of Viscount Dillon. The Dillons were absentee landlords for much of the nineteenth century and their agents, the Stricklands, lived in the house. During the twentiethcentury the house served as a convent. Loughglinn House is still extant.
see http://lordbelmontinnorthernireland.blogspot.com/2015/08/1st-viscount-dillon.html
THE VISCOUNTS DILLON WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY MAYO, WITH 83,749 ACRES
This family is said to derive from LOGAN, or the Valiant (third son of O’Neal, monarch of Ireland, of the blood royal of Heremon), who fled his country in consequence of slaying, in single combat, about AD 595, his father’s nephew, Coleman, King of Timoria, in Hibernia; and subsequently passing over into France, and marrying the daughter and heir of the Duke of Aquitaine, himself and his descendants became, for several generations, sovereign princes of that dukedom.
From these princes descended
SIR HENRY DE LEON (son of Thomas, Duke of Aquitaine), who was brought into England with his brother Thomas, when an infant, by HENRY II, the deposer of his father; and accompanying the Earl of Moreton (afterwards King JOHN) into Ireland, in 1185, obtained those extensive territorial grants in the counties of Longford and Westmeath then denominated Dillon’s Country, but altered by statute, in the reign of HENRY VIII, to the Barony of Kilkenny West.
Sir Henry married a daughter of John de Courcy, Earl of Ulster, and was afterwards styled “Premier Dillon, Lord Drumraney“.
From this feudal lord lineally sprang
GERALD DILLON, of Drumraney, County Westmeath, chief of the family of Dillon towards the end of the 14th century, left two sons, the elder of whom, SIR MAURICE, was ancestor of the Viscounts Dillon; and the younger, SIR JAMES, of the Earls of Roscommon.
Sixth in descent from Sir Maurice was
SIR THEOBALD DILLON, Knight, of Costello-Gallen, County Mayo, who was created VISCOUNT DILLON in 1622.
His lordship married Eleanor, daughter of Sir Edward Tuite, of Tuitestown, County Westmeath, and sister of William Tuite, of Tuitestown, County Westmeath.
He died at an advanced period of life, in 1624, leaving so numerous a progeny that he assembled, at one time, in his house at Killenfaghny, more than one hundred of his descendants.
He was succeeded by his grandson,
LUCAS, 2nd Viscount (1610-29), who wedded, in 1625, but when fifteen years of age, the Lady Mary MacDonnell, second daughter of Randal, 1st Earl of Antrim; by whom he left at his decease an only son, his successor,
THEOBALD, 3rd Viscount (1629-30); who died in infancy, when the title reverted to his uncle,
THOMAS, 4th Viscount (1615-72), who espoused Frances, daughter of Nicholas White, of Leixlip; and was succeeded at his decease by his by his eldest surviving son,
THOMAS, 5th Viscount, who married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir John Burke, Knight, of County Galway; but left no issue.
His lordship died in 1674, when the title reverted to his kinsman,
LUCAS, 6th Viscount, great-grandson of the 1st Viscount, being the eldest son of Theobald Dillon, third son of his lordship’s eldest son, Sir Christopher Dillon, Knight.
This nobleman dying without issue, in 1682, the title devolved upon
THEOBALD DILLON, of Kilmore, as 7th Viscount (refer to Sir Lucas Dillon, 2nd son of 1st Viscount).
This nobleman, an officer in the army, attached himself to the falling fortunes of JAMES II, and was outlawed in 1690.
His lordship wedded Mary, daughter of Sir Henry Talbot, of Templeoge, County Dublin, and had, with other issue,
HENRY, his successor;
Arthur, father of 10th and 11th Viscounts.
After the decease of his lordship, in 1691, the outlawry was reversed in favour of his son and successor,
HENRY, 8th Viscount, who espoused Frances, second daughter of George, Count Hamilton, and was succeeded at his decease, in 1713, by his son,
RICHARD, 9th Viscount (1688-1737), who married the Lady Bridget Burke, second daughter of John, 9th Earl of Clanricarde, by whom he left at his decease an only daughter, Frances, who wedded her first cousin, and his lordship’s successor,
CHARLES, 10th Viscount (1701-41), who died without issue and was succeeded by his brother,
HENRY, 11th Viscount (1705-87), a colonel in the French service, who espoused, in 1744, the Lady Charlotte Lee, eldest daughter of George Henry, 2nd Earl of Lichfield, of Ditchley Park, Oxfordshire, and had issue,
CHARLES, his successor;
Arthur, a general in the French service;
Henry;
Frances; Catherine; Laura; Charlotte.
His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,
CHARLES, 12th Viscount (1745-1813), who conformed to the established church in 1767, and claimed, and was allowed, the viscountcy, as 12th Viscount, by the Irish House of Lords in 1778.
His lordship married firstly, in 1776, Henrietta Maria Phipps, only daughter of Constantine, 1st Lord Mulgrave, and had issue,
HENRY AUGUSTUS, his successor;
Frances Charlotte.
His lordship wedded secondly, a French lady, and by her, who died in 1833, he had a daughter, Charlotte, married in 1813 to Lord Frederick Beauclerk.
He was succeeded by his son,
HENRY AUGUSTUS, 13th Viscount (1777-1832), who espoused, in 1807, Henrietta, eldest daughter of Dominick Geoffrey Browne MP, and had issue,
CHARLES HENRY, his successor;
Theobald Dominick Geoffrey;
Arthur Edmund Denis;
Constantine Augustus;
Gerald Normanby;
Henrietta Maria; Margaret Frances Florence; Louisa Anne Rose; Helena Matilda.
This nobleman, assuming the additional surname and arms of LEE, was succeeded by his eldest son,
CHARLES HENRY, 14th Viscount (1810-65).
- Charles Henry Dillon, 14th Viscount (1810–65);
- Arthur Edmund Denis Dillon, 16th Viscount (1812–92);
- Harold Arthur Dillon, 17th Viscount (1844–1932);
- Arthur Henry Dillon, 18th Viscount (1875–1934);
- Eric FitzGerald Dillon, 19th Viscount (1881–1946);
- Michael Eric Dillon, 20th Viscount (1911–79);
- Charles Henry Robert Dillon, 21st Viscount (1945–82);
- Henry Benedict Charles Dillon, 22nd Viscount (b 1973);
The heir is his cousin, Thomas Arthur Lee Dillon (b 1983), the son of his uncle, the Hon Richard Arthur Louis Dillon (1948–2014).
LOUGHGLYNN HOUSE, County Roscommon, is a five-bay, two-storey mansion house, built ca 1715.
Although Loughglynn is in County Roscommon, the vast majority of the Dillon estate straddled the border with County Mayo.
A third attic storey was built in the 1820s, though suffered a disastrous fire in 1904, when the top storey was not replaced, nor the end bays on the garden front which were reduced to a single storey.
There are ashlar limestone walls with quoins and a with roughly tooled limestone basement.
The entrance front has a pediment and a pedimented Doric doorcase.
In 1903, Loughglynn was sold to the Catholic Bishop of Elphin, who invited the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary to establish a convent.
The sisters established a dairy, and Loughglynn butter and cheese was famous all over the world until they ceased this activity in the 1960s.
They subsequently opened a nursing home.
In 2003, the property developer Gerry Gannon bought the convent for under €2m, intending to turn it into a hotel.
In 2009, it was transferred to his wife’s name.
Irish Historic Houses 