Edmund Blake , of Ballyglunin. Blake This family is of British extraction, and, though the name seems derived from the Saxon, Blac, a colour; yet, Debrett, in his Baronetage, says, "they are traditionally descended from Ap-lake, one of the knights of King Arthur's round table,'' and adds, ''that in the reign of Henry II, one of this family accompanied Strongbow, and after many exploits built himself a castle, at Menlo?, near Galway.'' --- Richard Caddell w surnamed Blake, (from whom, according to Lynch's MS. the Blakes of Galway are descended,) was sheriff of Connaught, Vicecomes Conacioe, 32 and 33 Edw. I, x he was also sheriff in 1306. and in 7 Edw. Il. the king's writ issued, for arrearages of his account. --- Rot. Mem. --- The arms of this family were first borne by him and descended to his posterity. The family of Ardfry, descended from Sir Richard Blake, who was speaker or chairman, of the assembly of the confederate catholics of Ireland, at Kilkenny, in 1647, was raised to the dignity of the peerage, in the year 1800, in the person of Joseph Henry Blake, Esq. who was then created Lord Baron of Wallscourt?, in the kingdom of Ireland. This widely extended name is, at present, divided into the opulent and respectable families, of Ardfry, Ballyglunin?, Belmont?, Castlegrove?, Corbally?, Forbough?, Frenchfort?, Hollypark?, Killeencastle?, Mace?, Menlo?, Merlinpark?, Moorfield?, Orancastle?, Rahara? or Annbally?, Renville?, (formerly of Lehinch?, in Mayo,) Tully?, Waterdale? and Windfield?, in the County of Galway; and Ballinafad?, Brookhill?, Garracloone?, Milltown? and Towerhill?, in the County of Mayo. Arms. Argent, a fret, gules. Crest. A cat passant, gardant, proper, Motto. Virtus sola Nobilitat. ------------- Related? CAHIRNEFIEKE. I am not certain of the identity of this castle; its place on the 1585 list is next Ballina. There is a Caherphuca townland a little south of Ballyglunin station. It probably is the old castle in the well-wooded demesne of Brook Lodge, the property of Mr. Robert Blake of Ballyglunin Park. This is an altered castle, it was cut down in height and roofed as a residence in connection with a training stable by the late Martin Blake, M. P. The spiral stone staircase was removed in 1815, and only one loophole is (perhaps) discernible through the plaster. The walls are only 3 1/2 feet thick; it was rather small in area, but high, over 45 feet-cubic contents probably 40,000 feet. In 1585 it belonged to Tirlagh Carragh McSwyne. -------------- Landowners in Co. Galway, circa 1870s # 6. Charles Blake, address Tuam, owned 125 acres. # 7. Henry J. Blake, address Kentfield, Galway, owned 127 acres. # 8. John H. Blake, address Rathville, Athenry, owned 259 acres. # 9. Patrick Blake, (a minor), address Dublin, owned 43 acres. # 10. Rickard Blake, address Murroogh, Galway, owned 238 acres. # 11. Theobald Blake, address Vermount, Glantane, owned 338 acres. # 12. Sir Valentine Blake, address Menlo Castle, Galway, owned 1,373 acres. # 13. Walter M. Blake, address Ballyglunin, owned 116 acres. --- # 39. Mrs. Anne Blake, address Cloghballymore, owned 4,847 acres. # 40. Arthur N. Blake, Reps. of, address Kilcloughan House, Twam, owned 207 acres. # 41. Caroline J. Blake, address Renvyle, Letterfrack, 4,682 acres. # 42. Christopher Blake, address Galway, owned 137 acres. # 43. Edward Blake, address 13, Rue de Bonvilian, Belgium, owned 924 acres. # 44. Francis Blake, address Bayview, Oranmore, owned 72 acres. # 45. Henry Blake, address Glenlo Abbey, Galway, owned 280 acres. # 46. Henry J. Blake, address Glenlo Abbey, Galway, owned 846 acres. # 47. James Blake, address Annaghdown, Drumgriffin, owned 5,615 acres. # 48. John Blake, address Rockville, Athenry, owned 984 acres. # 49. John H. Blake, address Rathville, Athenry, owned 300 acres. # 50. Martin J. Blake, address Ballyglunin, owned 64 acres. # 51. Mrs. Maria L. Blake, address Bradford, Yorkshire, owned 1,304 acres. # 52. Mrs. Mary Blake, address Tuam, owned 365 acres. # 53. Mrs. Blake, address Convent, Oughterard, owned 1 acre. # 54. Mrs. Blake, address Care of Patt Collins, Lisnaheltia, Glennamaddy, owned 237 acres. # 55. Patrick Blake, address Gurthnamona, owned 17,335 acres. # 56. Peter Blake, address Crumlin, Ballyglunin, Co. Galway, owned 1,405 acres. # 57. Peter Blake, address Holly Park, Athenry, owned 1,710 acres. # 58. Richard Blake, address Annaghdown, Drumgriffin, owned 1,037 acres. # 59. Robert Blake, address Brook Lodge, Ballyglunin, Co. Galway, owned 274 acres. # 60. Theobold Blake, address 31, Raglan-rd., Dublin, owned 5,103 acres. # 61. Sir Valentine Blake, address Menlo Castle, Galway, owned 2,030 acres. # 62. Val. O'Connor Blake, address Bunowen Castle, Clifden, owned 7,690 acres. # 63 Walter M. Blake, address Ballyglunin, owned 10,336 acres. ---------- # 6. Charles Blake, address Tuam, owned 125 acres. # 7. Henry J. Blake, address Kentfield, Galway, owned 127 acres. # 8. John H. Blake, address Rathville, Athenry, owned 259 acres. # 9. Patrick Blake, (a minor), address Dublin, owned 43 acres. # 10. Rickard Blake, address Murroogh, Galway, owned 238 acres. # 11. Theobald Blake, address Vermount, Glantane, owned 338 acres. # 12. Sir Valentine Blake, address Menlo Castle, Galway, owned 1,373 acres. # 13. Walter M. Blake, address Ballyglunin, owned 116 acres. ------------- # 39. Mrs. Anne Blake, address Cloghballymore, owned 4,847 acres. # 40. Arthur N. Blake, Reps. of, address Kilcloughan House, Twam, owned 207 acres. # 41. Caroline J. Blake, address Renvyle, Letterfrack, 4,682 acres. # 42. Christopher Blake, address Galway, owned 137 acres. # 43. Edward Blake, address 13, Rue de Bonvilian, Belgium, owned 924 acres. # 44. Francis Blake, address Bayview, Oranmore, owned 72 acres. # 45. Henry Blake, address Glenlo Abbey, Galway, owned 280 acres. # 46. Henry J. Blake, address Glenlo Abbey, Galway, owned 846 acres. # 47. James Blake, address Annaghdown, Drumgriffin, owned 5,615 acres. # 48. John Blake, address Rockville, Athenry, owned 984 acres. # 49. John H. Blake, address Rathville, Athenry, owned 300 acres. # 50. Martin J. Blake, address Ballyglunin, owned 64 acres. # 51. Mrs. Maria L. Blake, address Bradford, Yorkshire, owned 1,304 acres. # 52. Mrs. Mary Blake, address Tuam, owned 365 acres. # 53. Mrs. Blake, address Convent, Oughterard, owned 1 acre. # 54. Mrs. Blake, address Care of Patt Collins, Lisnaheltia, Glennamaddy, owned 237 acres. # 55. Patrick Blake, address Gurthnamona, owned 17,335 acres. # 56. Peter Blake, address Crumlin, Ballyglunin, Co. Galway, owned 1,405 acres. # 57. Peter Blake, address Holly Park, Athenry, owned 1,710 acres. # 58. Richard Blake, address Annaghdown, Drumgriffin, owned 1,037 acres. # 59. Robert Blake, address Brook Lodge, Ballyglunin, Co. Galway, owned 274 acres. # 60. Theobold Blake, address 31, Raglan-rd., Dublin, owned 5,103 acres. # 61. Sir Valentine Blake, address Menlo Castle, Galway, owned 2,030 acres. # 62. Val. O'Connor Blake, address Bunowen Castle, Clifden, owned 7,690 acres. # 63 Walter M. Blake, address Ballyglunin, owned 10,336 acres. --------------- Related? In "The Lamberts of Athenry" (p.171) Martin T. Kelly writes, "In 1742 Martin Blake of Aughrim and Corbally found himself in debt to Walter Lambert of Creg Clare. By virtue of this indebtedness, John Lambert acquired in 1756 (from Patrick Blake) the Castle Park of Aughrim and Moor Aughrim prob- ably on behalf of the Creg Clare estate. It was to become the property of his brother Thomas (the great grandfather of William Hyacinth). The stone castle, tower house and bawn were probably demolished by Thomas and his son Walter to make way for a family mansion. It is likely that the building of the mansion of Castle Lambert with its extensive yards and out-houses was begun by Thomas after 1756 and was continued during the lifetime of his son Walter Lambert." (Walter married Elizabeth Persse in 1791 and died in 1824). The property passed from the family following a mortgagee sale in 1892, at which time it consisted of 2835 acres. The outcome of the sale was the breaking up of the estate and 50 farming families were set up within its boundaries. Castle Lambert House was destroyed during the Civil War of 1922-23. (Now euphemistically referred to as "The Troubles"). I have not as yet been able to ascertain what happened to the occupants. Only a bell-tower and various farm buildings remain on the site which has become the village of Castle Lambert comprising about 20 modest houses. It is located 2-3 km. north-east of Athenry, in the Barony of Clare, County Galway. Castle Ellen House is about the same distance from Athenry in a more northerly direction. Martin T. Kelly writes, "In 1785 the Brownes of Cahermacrinode sold what was to become the basis of the Castle Ellen estate to Peter Lambert, another son of Walter Lambert of Creg Clare. Peter, having been a successful merchant in Dublin was in a position to add lands bought from the Brownes of Coolarne to the new estate. It would appear that the Castle Ellen Lamberts lived first in the Tower House, which still stands close to the nansion, then moved to St. Ellen's in an adjacent townland of that name. They finally settled in Castle Ellen House, the gateway and yard of which was com- pleted in 1875 by Walter Peter Lambert, by then a proprieter of 3,829 acres. Castle Ellen House escaped destruction during the Civil War but was sold to the Land Commission in 1923 by Walter Peter Lambert. It's restoration is planned by the present owners. --------------- Freeman's Journal — 24 July 1841 Guide to the Irish Commoners (Written expressly for the Freeman) BLAKE Mark Mayo co — A Repealer, pledged to encourage native manufacture. first returned in 1840, upon the death of Sir W BRABAZON. Ballinasad, county Mayo. BLAKE Martin Joseph Galway — A Repealer. Sat since 1833, when he superseded Mr M'LAGHLAN on a petition. Brook Lodge, county Galway, and Reform Club, London. BLAKE Sir Valentine Galway — A Repealer. Sat in the parliament of 1831. Menio Castle, Galway. ------------ County Galway Ireland Civil Parishes Killereran (aka Killererin) descriptions from Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837 KILLERERAN, a parish, partly in the barony of DUNMORE and TYAQUIN, but chiefly in that of CLARE, county of GALWAY, and province of CONNAUGHT, containing, with the post-town of Dangan, 4307 inhabitants. Besides the arable and pasture land, there are about 800 acres of waste and a tract of bog, both reclaimable. Petty sessions are held at Barna every Monday. The principal seats are Brook Lodge, the residence of Martin J. Blake, Esq. ; Hillsbrook, of J. A. Kirwan, Esq. ; Castle Moyle, of M. Browne, Esq. ; and the glebe-house, of the Rev. W. Le Poer Trench. ---------------- related? The Tuam Herald, March 6, 1909: Major Napoleon Joseph Blake, DSO, late of the Middlesex Regiment, was born in 1852 son of Captain Maurice Lynch Blake, second son of Maurice Blake, of Ballinafad, and Margaret, daughter of Captain Wallis. He entered the army in 1873 and served in the Zulu war in 1879, and was made a captain in 1881, and major in 1890. He was second in command of the Middlesex Regiment in the South African war, and being mentioned in despatches was awarded the D S O. He has retired since 1901, and is married to Alice, daughter of Robert Page Henderson, of Oswaldkirk, Yorkshire. Count Llewellyn Blake, Colonel 3rd Connaught Rangers, J P for Co Galway and D L for Co Mayo, was born in 1842. He is the only surviving son of Maurice Blake, of Ballinafad, by Anne, daughter and heir of Marcus Lynch, at Cloghballymore. He gave over his estate at Ballinafad to a French religious order. He was made a Count of the Papal Court in 1895. Robert ffrench Blake, of Ballyglunin Park, by Adelaide, daughter of Robert Ffrench. Of Monivca Castle. He succeeded his brother, Walter, in Ballyglunin Park in 1891. Mr Blake was High Sheriff for Galway town in 1892. He is the owner of extensive estates in the neighbourhood of Ballyglunin, and at Kilbannon, near Tuam. ------------- Nenagh Guardian News 1839 Index 2 Co Tipperary Blake Patrick Gortnamener/Galway.appointed High Sheriff ---------------
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