Timeline
In the late 18th century, Newhall became the property of the MacDonnell family, who forged significant alliances through several marriages with the O’Brien dynasty and the Viscounts Clare.
James MacDonnell of Kilkee, a staunch Jacobite, initially aligned himself with the catholic King James II, serving as a captain in Lord Clare's dragoons. However, following William of Orange's victory at the Battle of the Boyne, MacDonnell pragmatically shifted his allegiance, from catholic to protestant, to protect his holdings.
In 1702, he played a key role in acquiring the confiscated estates of his cousin, the 3rd Viscount Clare, who had been exiled to France after his lands were forfeited due to his support of James II and the subsequent Flight of the Wild Geese. His attempt to rally catholic support from the continent.
Additionally, James MacDonnell contributed to local governance, serving as a commissioner for the poll tax in County Clare in 1695. His marriage to Elizabeth O'Brien, the daughter of Christopher O’Brien of Ennistymon, further cemented ties with the O’Brien family, including connections to the ill-fated Lord Clare.
1190 Killone Abbey
Killone Abbey was established in 1190 by Donal Mór O’Brien, King of Thomond (Co Clare) and King of Munster, as a sanctuary for nuns following the Rule of St Augustine.
The abbey maintained close ties to the O’Brien dynasty, one of the preeminent Gaelic noble families of medieval Ireland. Many of its abbesses were drawn from the O’Brien lineage, including Slaney O’Brien (d. 1260), daughter of Carbreagh, King of Thomond. Slaney relinquished her royal status and material wealth to dedicate her life to the abbey, where she served as abbess. During a time of political upheaval, Killone Abbey offered both a refuge and a haven for virtue.
Slaney was celebrated in the Irish annals as "the most pious, most charitable, and most generous woman in all Munster."
The abbey’s later history was shaped by Lady Honora O’Brien, the daughter of Murrough O’Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond, who served as its last abbess before the dissolution of monastic houses in 1540. Lady Honora married Sir Roger O’Shaughnessy, becoming the heiress to Newhall and Killone. Their union, formalised through a papal dispensation, occurred after the birth of their three eldest children.
By 1617, Killone Abbey had fallen into ruins. Despite this, the site remains a cherished landmark, renowned for its tranquil setting, historical significance, and natural beauty.
Holy Well of St John the Baptist
Visitors come every year for Mass on St John the Baptist feast day 23rd June.
A place of pilgrimage for centuries, its origins stretch back to pre-Christian times. Renowned for its healing properties, the well has long attracted those seeking blessings and cures, particularly on the feast day of Saint John.
The site features remnants of historical stone structures surrounding a natural spring, reflecting its sacred significance. Inscriptions on the stones, some dating back to the 1600s, serve as enduring markers of devotion and link the well to the spiritual practices of generations past.
Local folklore and historical accounts celebrate the well as a place of reflection, healing, and veneration. Its reputation continues to draw visitors who come to experience its serene atmosphere and to honour the traditions associated with this ancient site.
In 1899, Lord Walter Fitzgerald, the fourth son of Charles, 4th Duke of Leinster, visited the well and documented its inscriptions in his work Inscriptions at St John's Well, Killone Abbey, County Clare.
Early period: Lord Clare and O'Brien Dynasty
Murrough offering the crown of Thomond (County Clare) to Henry VIII - at Greenwich, England
1544
King Henry VIII granted Killone Abbey, the parish of Killone, including Newhall, and numerous property in County Clare to Murrough O’Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond. This followed Murrough’s strategic decision to offer the kingdom of Thomond to the King in exchange for receiving his lands and titles under the Crown. This arrangement, known as "surrender and regrant," allowed Murrough to retain his status and holdings as a feudal subject of Henry VIII.
1580
Killone Castle was under the ownership of the Baron of Inchiquin. While the castle once stood near Newhall House, no visible traces of the structure remain today, leaving its legacy preserved only in historical records.
1650
In 1650, the groundwork for Newhall House was laid, with construction on its original rear section and stables. At the time, the estate was under the ownership of The Viscount Clare, marking the foundation of what would become an enduring landmark in the region.
1708
Colonel John O’Brien of Newhall, a member of the influential O’Brien family and son of the Earl of Inchiquin, bequeathed Newhall and Killone to his wife, Honora O’Brien, in his will. This act further cemented the estate’s ties to one of Munster’s most powerful dynasties.
1747
By 1747, Honora O’Brien had an affair with Richard Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde, which resulted in the birth of their illegitimate son, Richard Burke of Newhall. Richard’s daughter, Marcella Burke, later married Donough O’Callaghan of Kilgorey in 1747, marking her second marriage.
Georgian expansion: MacDonnell
1764
In 1764, Charles MacDonnell purchased Newhall from his maternal uncle, Sir Edward O’Brien, 2nd Baronet of Dromoland Castle. Charles married Sir Edward’s daughter, Katherine O’Brien, further strengthening ties between the families.
MacDonnell served as Member of Parliament for County Clare until his death and oversaw significant expansions to Newhall House. Under his direction, the original structure was transformed, with the addition of a Georgian Queen Anne-style façade, likely designed by the architect Francis Bindon (a Clareman). This renovation created a distinctive T-shaped layout, with the extended rear section repurposed as servants' quarters.
Charles and Katherine’s son, also named Charles MacDonnell, was born in 1761 and followed in his father’s footsteps as a Member of Parliament. He was appointed lieutenant-colonel commandant of the Earl of Belvidere’s regiment in 1794 and demonstrated his leadership by raising and commanding a volunteer regiment in Canada during the American War. Later, he represented the borough of Yarmouth and was appointed a commissioner of accounts in 1802. He died in Bath, England, on 6 September 1803.
MacDonnell Coat of Arms at Newhall
1821
In 1821, John MacDonnell, Esq., of Newhall served as magistrate, deputy lieutenant, and high sheriff of County Clare. Having been a minor following his father’s death, he assumed these roles upon coming of age. John MacDonnell also distinguished himself as a volunteer in Spain during the Peninsular War. He resided at Newhall until his death in 1850, leaving a legacy of public service and military contribution.
1850
By the 19th century, the Armstrong family of Mount Heaton, County Offaly, had succeeded to the Newhall estate. This followed the 1809 marriage of William Henry Armstrong to the granddaughter of Charles MacDonnell. Their second son, William Edward Armstrong, inherited the estate from his uncle, John MacDonnell, in 1850. By royal license, he assumed the additional name and arms of MacDonnell.
In 1853, William Edward Armstrong MacDonnell was appointed deputy lieutenant and high sheriff of County Clare and became Colonel commanding the Clare Militia.
In 1858, he married the Hon. Juliana-Cecilia O’Brien, the eldest daughter of Lucius O’Brien, 13th Lord Inchiquin, further strengthening ties with the region’s prominent families.
1870s
During the 1870s, the Newhall estate spanned 6,670 acres. By the 1890s, it was occupied and rented by Robert and Florence Vere O’Brien, relatives of the MacDonnell family.
Florence Vere O’Brien, a noted writer and philanthropist, included a chapter about Newhall in her book Sketches in the Sunny South, offering a vivid glimpse into the estate’s history and character.
Slater’s Directory of 1894 lists Newhall as a seat of Charles R. A. MacDonnel.
1883
In 1883, Charles Randal Armstrong MacDonnell inherited the Newhall estate. His wife, Mary Stacpoole, came from the neighbouring gentry family of Edenvale, whose estate featured a grand mansion adjacent to Newhall.
In the 1870s, Mary’s father, William Stacpoole of Edenvale, Member of Parliament for Clare, owned an impressive 7,381 acres, further highlighting the prominence of the Stacpoole family in the region.
20th-21st centuries: Joyce and Commane
1912
In 1912, Charles R.A. MacDonnell transferred 3,485 acres of tenanted land and 256 acres of untenanted land to the Congested Districts Board for over £26,000.
During the 20th century, from the 1920s until 2016, Newhall became home to the Joyce family of County Galway.
As a gentry seat, Newhall was a hub of social life, hosting grand balls and fox hunts that drew Clare’s elite, reflecting its status and enduring charm.
2016
In 2016, the estate was purchased by the Commane family, a local family from Newhall (with census records of a tenant farmer John Commane of Newhall in 1659) with deep historical ties to the area. Today, the family is undertaking a meticulous restoration of the house, bringing it back to its original grandeur while honouring its rich heritage.
Fergus Commane, the youngest of 11 children, grew up on his parents' farm directly across from Newhall, on land that was once part of the estate. Like many young Irish people of his generation, he moved to London to build a career and achieved business success at an early age. Deeply connected to the area’s heritage, Fergus nurtured a lifelong dream of acquiring Newhall to restore it to its former glory. After years of unsuccessful attempts to purchase the estate, fate intervened when the property finally became available to purchase.
Today, the Commane family have restored Newhall into a cherished home and are developing a wellness retreat that celebrates its folklore, spiritual history, and cultural significance. Their efforts include preserving Killone Abbey and the Holy Well of St John, revitalising new life into these national treasures and re-establishing Newhall as a vibrant part of Ireland’s heritage.
Gaelic Nobility of Ireland
Commane family ancestral ties trace back over a thousand years in the region. In the Gaelic nobility of Ireland, historical records and DNA matching link the family to the Kings of Déisi Muman (Old Irish for Munster) and the Chiefdom of Tulach Commáin ("The Fort of Commane") in the early medieval period, whose lands included parts of modern-day Clare. Notably, the chiefdom’s capital, Cahercommane, is now a recognised archaeological site.[1][2]
During the 13th century, the family were dispossessed of their ancestral lands, following the Anglo-Norman invasion (according to John O'Hart in Irish Pedigrees 1892).[3]
The Commane family lineage, by tradition, claims earliest known descent from Ferchess mac Commán (anglicised as Fergus Commane), recorded in the Irish annals as a Gaelic lord, fían warrior, seer, and poet of the 3rd century; a member of the royal household of King Ailill, who ruled southern Ireland. According to early Irish sagas, Ferchess was tasked by King Ailill to avenge the death of his son, Éogan, by slaying Mac Con, the High King of Ireland. An act commemorated in the naming of the "Rapids of Ferchess".
The family’s heritage also includes two patron saints of Ireland: Saint Commán, the 6th-century founder of Roscommon, and Saint Comán of Kinvara, circa 9th-century. This rich history highlights the Commane family’s deep roots as an ancient Gaelic lineage, firmly connected to the heritage of Newhall and its surrounding lands.
Name Variations and Historical Mistranslations
The modern standardised Irish of the anglicised Commane is Ó Comáin, while the name Hurley is a mistranslation based on a linguistic confusion. The terms Comán and Camán (for hurley) are distinct and unrelated in Irish. Variant spellings of the surname arose due to the absence of a standardised Irish language until 1948 and the historical practice of English-speaking officials transcribing Irish names phonetically, often altering their original forms.
In many cases, English officials wrote down names they were already familiar with, for example writing down "Comyn," a well-known Scottish surname of Norman origin, despite it having no connection to the Irish name Ó Comáin.
Variant forms: Comain, Comaine, Coman, Comane, Comeens, Comins, Comman, Commans, Commins, Common(s), Command, Comyn, Cowman(s), Cummane, Cummin(s), Cumming(s), Cumyn, McCowman (Munster: Ó Comáin or Connaught: Ó Cuimín, or reduced from Mac Comáin, Mac Cuimín; the prefix signifies "descendant").
References:
[1] Gibson, David Blair Ph.D. (1990). Tulach Commain: A view of an Irish chiefdom. University of California.. Doctoral thesis studying the Chiefdom of Tulach Commáin and the archaeological remains in the area of Cahercommane. [2] Séamus Pender (1937), Déssi Genealogies. [3] O'Hart, John (1881). Irish Pedigrees, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation. M.H. Gill & Son. p. 209. [4] MacLysaght, Edward (1 December 1988). The Surnames of Ireland: 6th Edition. Irish Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-911024-64-4. mistaken belief that comán derives from camán a hurley. [5] MacLysaght, Edward (1985). Irish Families: Their Names, Arms, and Origins. Irish Academic Press. p. 67. ISBN 978-0-7165-2364-2.