Ballyfin House

"The great territory of Laois his of slender swords
Belongs to O'Mordha with bulwark of battle,
Of the golden shield of one colour."

In 1600 all the country of Leix, except the town of Maryborough, was in the hands of Owny MacRory O'More, the chief of the name. "The new planted inhabitants," according to the "Description of Ireland," 1598, "Have been so molested continuallie with the multitudes of the first natives thereof, and the O'Moores, and especially at this present, as that they have in a manner recovered the countrie againe and expelled all the Inglysh inhabitants saving 3 or 4 which contayne themselves within their castles till they be relieved from Ingl.
These O'Moores was almost extinct, but they have increased againe chieflie for lack of good government. The chief Towne is Marieborrow ruled by a Portrie, and wherein is a Fort guarded with 150 Footmen or Sometymes 200, as need requireth, and some few Horsemen."
The same intrepid Owny, son of Rory Oge and grandson of Rory Ceach O'More, who "had been for some time," say the Four Masters, in recording his death, "an illustrious, renowned and celebrated gentleman, was slain by the Queen's people in an overwhelming and fierce battle which was fought between them on the borders of Leix in the month of August in this year.

THE "SETTLEMENT" OF LEIX

"His death was a great check to the valour, prowess and heroism of the Irish of Leinster and of all Ireland. He was, by fight, the sole heir to his territory, and had wrested the government of his patrimony by the prowess of his hand and the resoluteness of his heart from the hands of foreigners and adventurers.., so that there was not a village from one extremity of his patrimony to the other which he had not in his possession except Port-Leix alone."
Owny O'More's untimely end weakened the resistence and shattered the hopes of those remnants of the septs
of Leix that had survived Patrick Crosbie's "Settlement," and the historic territory became again the prey of the "foreigners and adventurers," whose power the "slender swords" of Leix had almost finally crushed in the spring of the year 1600.
That part of the demesne lands of the O'Moores known as the Ballyfin estate had been granted to Patrick Cosbie by Queen Elizabeth as a reward for his services in the settlement referred to. Crosbie built a castle on the lands, wherein he resided for a time but the place did not long remain in the possession of the Crosbie Bart., having espoused the cause of Charles 1., was attained by the Cromwellians, which attainder was not removed on the Restoration, and the King became entitle to the estate in 1663.
Ballyfin was then granted to Periam Pole, whose father, Periam, second son of Sir William Pole, of Shute, in Devonshire, arrived in Ireland with two brothers in 1660

WILLIAM POLE BUILDS BALLYFIN

Perim Pole's son and successor, William, pulled down the castle erected by the Crosbies, and built a more modern house on its site. This William Pole, married Anne, daughter of Henry Colley, of Castle, Co. Kildare, by whom he had two sons, and four daughters. He died in October, 1704, and was succeeded at Ballyfin by his son, Periam, who rebuilt the mansion, which had been destroyed by fire in his father's lifetime, and which comprises the north wing of the present edifice.
Periam Pole died, unmarried, on the 24th April, 1748, and was succeeded by his brother, William, who added extensively to the house in 1778, building the eastern front: consisting of a hail, dining-room, drawing-room, library, and other departments, besides several bedrooms. He also much improved the appearance and beauty of the grounds by planting wood, sinking a lake before the house, all contributing to justify the praise bestowed upon it by a writer in the "Anthologia Hibernica,"
1794.
"From its pleasant situation," he says, "Agreeable walks, and recesses in the wood which skirts the lake, ample
14
gardens, extensive demesne and deer-park, commodious offices and elegant apartments. Ballyfin might justly be considered the most elegant country seat in Leix."

PURCHASED BY SIR CHARLES HENRY COOTE

Williama Pole married, 13th August, 1748, Lady Sarah Moore, daughter of Edward, fifth Earl of Drogheda. Her ladyship died in 1780, and Mr. Pole in December, 1781, "both universally and justly lamented by all ranks of people:
being the parents of their tenants, the protectors of the poor, the steady and affectionate friends of their domestics; and whose urgbanity and hospitality endeared them to all those of whatever rank who had the honour and pleasure of their acquaintance."
Mr. Pole died without issue, and, being the last representative of his family in Ireland, left his estate by will to his third cousin, by his mother, the Hon. William Wellesley, younger son of Garrett, first Earl of Mornington, who assumed the name and arms of Pole; and married, 17th May, 1784, Catherine Elizabeth, daughter of Admiral John forbes, In 11821 he was created Baron Maryborough, and on the death of his brother, Richard, in. 1842, he became third Earl of Mornington.
The Hon. William Wellesley Pole was the last of the Pole connections to occupy Ballyfin. From him or his representatives, the historic estate passed by purchase to Sir Charles Henry Coote, ninth Bart., who, previous to the year 1826, expanded upwards of £20,000 in the improvement of the house and grounds, converting the former into the splendid baronial structure represented by the accompanying illustration.
This change of ownership brought Ballyfin into intimate association with a name prominently identified with events in Ireland in the seventeenth century, and with a family that has been closely belended with the history of Leix during the past three centuries or more.

DEALS FORTH WOE AND DESOLATION!

The first of the Cootes who settled in Ireland was Charles Coote, who formed his military habits among the ferocious soldiery of Queen Elizabeth's time; and served as Captain of Foot at the siege of Kinsale. In 1620 he was constituted Vice-President of the Province of Connaught, and on the 2nd April, 1621, was created a Baronet of Ireland.
Sir Charles Coote appears on the turbulent stage of the war of 1641 as an avenging spirit, "dealing forth woe and desolation"; and, while his bravery and military genius cannot be denied, his character was disfigured and rendered detestable by several acts of revolting cruelty.
On the outbreak of the great rebellion he was commissioned to raise 1,000 men "to resist and suppress the rebels", and he subsequently distinguished himself by his relief of Birr in 1642, and his surprising passage through the dense wood of Mountrath on that occasion, having continued 48 hours in the saddle, and returning to camp without the loss of a single soldier. The fame of this military exploit was perpetuated in the title of honour afterwards, in 1660, conferred upon his son - the Earldom of Mountrath, which title became extinct on the death of the seventh Earl in 1802.
Sir Charles Coote married, in 1617. Dorothea, daughter and co-heir of Hugh Cuffe, of Cuffe's Wood, Co. Cork, by whom he had four sons, viz. - Charles, his successor; Childley, of Killester, Co. Dublin; Richard, ancestor of the Cootes of Bellamont Forest, Earls of Bellamont, and Thomas, of Cootehill, Co. Cavan. The four sons were awarded for their active part in the Restoration by large tracts of confiscated lands, and were besides promoted "for very distinguished services."

SHAMELESS CONFISCATIONS!

"It is not generally known," says the editor of the "Publications of the Georgian Society," "how great and shameless were the confiscations of Irish land under the act of Settlement in 166 1-2. Thus to Thomas Coote are granted forty-four townslands, besides the mountain of Slewgowrie in the barony of Tullagh Gowin, viz. - 9,411 acres at a rant of £78. 8s. 3d., 4,205 acres in Clonchee barony, 3,500 acres in other baronies of Cavan, about 9,000 acres in the adjoining Monaghan, other lands in Meath and Queen's Co.; in all about 20,000 acres at a Crown rent of £150, approximately."
Sir Charles Coote met his death (some writers say he was shot by one of his own troopers), in a desperate sally from the town of Trim on the 7th Mar., 1642; and Parliament, on the 16th of the same month, declared its intention, in
consideration of his services, of the same month, declared its intention, in consideration of his services, of bestowing upon his children the estates in Leix forfeited by Florence Fitzpatrick. The intention of Parliament was not carried into effect but Cromwell, on the 27th July, 1654 ordered that the deceased baronet's family should be put into possession of the Fitzpatrick lands, until the intention of the Legislature should be fulfilled.
Sir Charles was succeeded by his elder son, Sir Charles Coote, second Baronet, who followed in the footsteps of his sanquinary father in taking an active and not less ruthless part in Irish affairs during the Commonwealth; he acquired grants of land to an unexampled extent, most of which were confirmed to him by the Act of Settlement. He was elevated to the Peerage of Ireland, 6th September, 1660, as Earl of Mountrath, and was ancestor of Sir Algernon Coote, sixth Earl of Mountrath.
This nobleman married, in 1721, Lady
Diana Newport, daughter of Richard,
Earl of Bradford, and, dying in August,
11744, was succeeded by his only son,
Sir Charles Henry Coote, seventh Earl of
Mountrath, and eighth Baronet.

EXTINCT PEERAGES!

The seventh Earl of Mountrath, having no heir to his hereditary honours, obtained a new peerage by Letters Patent, 20th July, 1800, creating him Baron Castlecoote, with remainder to the Right Hon. Charles Henry Coote, eldest son of his kinsman, the Very Rev. Charles Coote, of Kilferona - a creation which led to a great legal argument before the Lords Committee for Privileges in 1856.
The Earl died on the 1st March, 1802, when the Earldom of Mountrath expired while the ancient baronetcy and estates devolved upon Sir Charles Henry Coote. of Ballyfin, a descendant of Colonel Childley Coote, of Killester (second son of the first settler, Sir Charles Coote), and the Barony of Castlecoote passed under the limitation above mentioned to the Right Hon. Charles Henry Coote. second Baron Castlecoote, who died 22nd January, 1823, leaving an only son and successor; Eyre Coote, third Baron, Castlecoote, who died without issue in 1827 when the Peerage became extinct.
The descent of the baronetcy upon Sir Charles Coote, of Ballyfin, may be further explained. Colonel Chidley Coote, of Killester (second son of the first Sir Charles), died on the 19th November, 1668, leaving issue. His eldest son, Lieut. - Colonel Chidley
Coote, of Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, had, with other issue, an only son, the Rev. Chidley Coote, of Ash Hill, in the same county, whose eldest son, Robert Coote, of Ash Hill, married, in 1730, Anne, daughter and co-heir of Bartholemew Purden, and died in December 1745.
His eldest son, Chidley, of Ash Hill, married, first, 26th October, 1752, Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Coote, and sister of Charles, first earl of Bellamount. He married, secondly, 31st August 1790, Elizabeth Anne, daughter of the Rev. Ralph Carr, and died on the 6th June, 1799. His eldest son, Sir Charles Henry Coote, of Ballyfin, succeeded his kinsman, the last Earl of Mountrath, in the baronetcy (already mentioned) as ninth Baronet, on the 2nd March, 1802.

BALLYFIN DESCRIBED

Sir Charles Henry Coote, ninth Baronet, married in 1814, Caroline, daughter of John Whaley, of Whaley Abbey, Co. Wicklow, and had by her the following issue: Charles Henry, John Chidley, who died without issue in 1879; Algernon, Robert Chidley, Caroline and Melosina Catherine.
Sir Charles Coote's name will be long remembered for the remarkably able statistical surveys of the counties of Leix and Monaghan that came from his pen in the first years of the nineteenth century, and to his indefatigable labours in the field of Irish Topography, agriculture and general improvement Ireland owes much.
It is peculiarly appropriate that in the course of his "Survey of the Queen's County" the fine description he presents of Ballyfin, which was written (about 1801) before he purchased that estate, should find a place in this article. It is well worth quoting:
"Ballyfin," he says "is situate on the side of the mountain, between Cappard and the Gap of Glandine, from which latter place it is about five miles distant. This magnificent demesne contains above 1,200 acres, all walled in; there are two capital capital approaches from Mountrath.
"That from Maryborough is, perhaps, laid out with as much elegance taste and happy design as can be seen; 'tis certainly in the greatest style possible. The approach from Mountmellick is also very fine, but not so modern; the former being but lately finished, after Mr. Pole's own design. The full-grown timber and the view of an extensive lake, have a fine effect.

"This lake, which is above 30 acres in area and appears to cover a much greater extent, is surrounded with the grandest screen of evergreens and forest trees; the plantations overtop each other, as the inequality of the ground favours the scene.

GARDENS IN THE ANTIQUE STYLE

"Beyond the western side of the lake is a great bog, which the screen completely shuts out; for the rising fround on which this plantation stands is very high above the bog, and the clear horizon, as seen through this opening between the trees, appears to be another vast lake, the effects of which a vista would here entirely destroy.
"The deer-park is perhaps the most extensive in the Kingdom, and the deer as wild as nature; there cannot be higher flavoured venison than fed on this park, as there is every advantage of soil, heath, furze, fern, nice vegetarian, shade and shelter.
"A mountain vivulet runs through a glen within the walls which sometimes swells to a rapid stream; its banks appear to have been planted thickly, as some full grown timber yet remain, and through the park is a considerable quantity of ash and aspin. Very capital. drives are made through the inclosures.
"The gardens are in the antique style, and extensive; but from the elegant taste Mr and Mrs Pole have already displayed in the late improvement we may expect in a little time to see Ballyfin unrivalled in improvement as it is in natural position.
"The house is composed of three sides of a square, and another extensive range goes off to the southward; this is hid by a plantation, and in this range are the kitchens and servant's apartments. The rooms on the ground floor are very handsome and elegantly planned."
Sir Charles then proceeds to describe the luxuriantly beautiful nature of the setting in the midst of which Ballyfin House makes such an arresting picture. In the course of this he says: "the view from the windows of Ballyfin House is of the grandest scenery that can be conceived in an inland county; comprising extensive and highly-ornamental plantations, the lawn, the lake, the lofty mountains of Slieve Bloom, and the Dysart hills, with almost the whole range of the county, and certainly is superior to anything else within its bounds."
He mentions "the neat chapel within the demesne, built and endowed by the late Mr. Pole, and £100 a year salary is settled on the officiating parson. A school was also established by the same gentleman, and the chapel clerk is the master, for which he is paid £10 annually; children are educated gratis and well taken care of."

LEABHAR CLUANAEIDHNIECH!

The estate of Ballyfin lies within the bounds of the parish of Clonenagh, in the barony of Maryborough, a place of very remote antiquity. Here a monastery was founded by St. Fintan, who became its first abbot, and here died, in the year 548, St. Columba, his successor. The monastery ranked amongst the distinguished seats of learning in Ireland in early Christian times. It was called the Gallican school, from the great number of foreigners who came to study there, particularly from Gall.
Amongst the "Lost Books of Erin" is the Leabhar-Cluanaeidhniech, or Book of Clonenagh. This work, the compilation of the monks of Clonenagh, was Dr. Comerford mentions in his "History of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin," extant when Keating wrote his History of Ireland early in the seventeenth century. Keating refers to it as amongst the books "that are to be seen at this day," and he quotes many passages from it in the course of his work.
It is of particular interest to observe that this precious historical treasure was said to be preserved, at one time, in the splendid Coote Library in Ballyfin House, and that, therefore, it may till exist.

PREMIER BARONET OF IRELAND

Sir Charles Coote, ninth Baronet, died on the 9th October, 1864, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir Charles Henry Coote, tenth Baronet, who died unmarried, 15th November, 1895. He was succeeded by his brother, the Rev. Sir Algernon Coote, eleventh Baronet, of Ballyfin House.
Sir Algernon was twice married, first, on the 12th February, 1847, to Cecilia Matilda, daughter of John P. Plumptre, M.P., and by her (who died in 1878) had the following issue:- Algernon, Charles, Plumptre Charles Methuen (Rev.), John Pemberton Piumptre, Orlando Robert, Cecil Henry, Herbert Chidley (Rev.), and Catherine Cecilia. He married, secondly, 25th September, 1879, Constance, daughter of T.H. Headlam of Wavertree, by whom he had a son, Ernest Headlam, and a daughter, Cecilia Constance.
The eleventh baronet died on the 20th November, 1899, and was succeeded by
his eldest son, Sir Algernon Charles Plumptre Coote, twelfth Baronet, Premier Baronet of Ireland, who married, first, 28th August, 1873, Jean, daughter of Captain John Trotter, of Dryham Park, Herts, by whom he had the following issue:- Ralph Algernon, John Methuen, Bernard Trotter and Ethel Jean. Lady Coote died on the 15th April, 1880, and Sir Algernon married, secondly, 21st April, 11882, Ellen Melasina, daughter of Philip Charles Chenevix Trench, and by her had three sons and two daughters - viz.: Charles, Chenevix, Arthur Philip, Maxwell Henry, Ella Cecilia and Mary Melisna.
Sir Algernon's second son, John Methuen, O.B.E., late District commissioner, East African Protectorate, married, 24th September, 1912, Leonora Wray, daughter of the late John Townsend Trench, and has issue: Joanna Frances and Diana Jean. His third son, Bernard Trotter, O.B.E. Commander, R.N. (retired), Director of the Civics Institute of Ireland, married, 3rd April, 1907, Grace Harriet, daughter of the late V. Rev. John Joseph Robinson, D.D. Warden of St. John's College, Winnipeg, and has the following issue: Denis Ivor, Flight Lieut., R.A.F.,; Patrick Bernard, Squadron Leader, R.A.F, and Ann Patricia.
The first-named, Denis Ivor, married, 22nd April, 1933, Olive Sheelagh, daughter of Hugh C. Bischoff, of Woodhayes, Woodlands, Southampton; Patrick Bernard, married, 1st June, 1933, Muriel, daughter of Major General A.M.S. Elsmie, C.B., C.M.G., and has issue: Anne Patricia.
Sir Algernon Charles Plumptre Coote died on the 22nd October, 1920, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir Ralph Algernon Coote, thirteenth and present Baronet, Captain, late 17th Lancers, who married, 12th April, 1904, Alice Matilda Mary, daughter of Thomas W. Webber, D.L. of Kellyville, Leix, and has issue two sons - viz.: (1) John Ralph, Lieut. Commander, R.N., who married, 14th December, 1927, Noreen Una, only daughter of Wilfred Tighe, Rossanagh, Co. Wicklow, and has issue: Christopher John and Terence Eyre; and (2) Thomas Charles, who married, 14th June, 1932, Zuilmah Paton, daughter of W.P. Sheriff..

ACOUIRED BY PATRICIAN ORDER

Sir Ralph Algernon Coote was the last representative of his line to occupy Ballyfin House. Some years ago the estate was purchased by the Irish Land Commission, while the noble mansion and portion of the demesne were acquired by the Patrician Order, a distinguished Irish teaching brotherhood who have long been associated with successful educational work in this historic district. In their hands some structural additions have been made to the house. Its architectural beauty has, however, been carefully preserved, and nothing has been lost in the change of ownership to deteriorate from the graceful lines of the building that Sir Charles Coote, ninth baronet, expended a fortune in perfecting.

The Coote Arms are: Argent, a chevron sable, between three coots close, proper.
Crest: A coot, close, proper.
Mottoes: Vincit veritas; Coute que coute.

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