Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [1879-1951] (Creation)
Level of description
Series
Extent and medium
52 volumes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Toler Roberts 'Rob' Garvey was the third generation of Garvey land agents. He took over the land agency business, with its headquarters at his residence at Tullynisk Park, Birr, in 1914 on the death of his father, Toler Roberts Garvey Sr. He looked after the estate at Birr Castle and other estates of gentry in south Offaly and north Tipperary during the revolutionary period 1916-23 and beyond. As a result he managed the estates through turbulent times, notably the requisitioning of Birr Castle by the Free State Army during the Irish Civil War (1922-23). He died at the age of 80 on 1 April 1946 and is buried at Clonoghill cemetery, Birr.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Toler Roberts Garvey was born at Thornvale, Moneygall, County Offaly, son of George Garvey, land agent and his wife, Jane. He took over his father's land agency business on his death in 1879. He managed many estates, the largest of which was the Rosse estate at Birr. Due to the size of this estate he maintained another residence on the Rosse estate called Tullynisk, and this became the headquarters of his land agency which extended across Offaly and into Tipperary. Garvey was a magistrate and served on the North Tipperary and King's County Grand Juries from 1871. In 1881 he became High Sherriff of the county and was foreman at the spring assizes. He served on most of the King's County boards, such as the Poor Law Commissioners, Parsonstown Town Commission, and the Lunatic Asylum.
He married Amelia, daughter of Samuel Cox of Henley Grove, Gloucestershire and had six children. His eldest son, George, qualified as an electrical engineer and worked in England. His second eldest son, also called Toler Roberts Garvey, worked with him in the land agency and took it over on his death at the age of 80 on 30 November 1914. He is buried in Borrisnafarney church near Moneygall, County Offaly.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Repository
Archival history
Content and structure area
Scope and content
52 quarto volumes of damp press, copy out-letters from Toler R. Garvey Senior [and Junior] and Capt. Alec Drought, successive agents for the Rosse estate, writing from the Birr Estate Office.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
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System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access strictly by appointment only. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Supplementary catalogue entry: Includes volume of letters relating to executions of three young men on castle grounds by the Free State Army who had requisitioned the castle during the Civil War (1923).