Showing 12 results

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1881. Reports that the financial condition of the estate had disimproved, outstanding arrears remaining due and abandoned arrears considerably increased. Profit remitted was £8500, a decrease on previous years, although there was a net increase in the overall rental income. Also reports that the Roskeen lease was surrendered by the reps of Mr. Bailey, and that the farm at Ballydownan was surrendered by Mr Adams and now in Lord Digby's hands and set for grazing with newly purchased cattle.

In terms of land improvement, Digby reports on the completion of a number of Board of Works projects including the draining and squaring of the moors under Scrubb Wood, the deepening of the boundary stream at Cappancur and the sinking of a large main drain in Balinvally bog. Construction works included new offices for Mr Arthur of Killurin and Patrick Nugent of Ballycollin; new cottages completed at Killeigh; new cottage commenced in Geashill Village and assistance give to William Mathews to erect substantial new dwelling house in Killurin. Also reports on the thinning and replanting of Derrygunnigan Wood.

Warns that agrarian agitation is increasing encouraged by the Land League. Blames the Government for slow response to agitation. Reports on a 'monster meeting' held in Tullamore by the Land League prior to the winter collection of rents (1880) where the Geashill tenantry requested en masse Griffith's Valuation as a fair rent which was subsequently refused by Lord Digby, but who abated the rent by 10% on the half year's rent payable. Identifies William Adams as the leader of the agitation and describes the court proceedings taken against him individually. With the result of being faced with bankruptcy, Adams paid his rent and then surrendered farm at Ballydownan, with the result that all other agitation on the estate ceased and rents were collected within three weeks. Also refers to 'boycotting' occurring throughout the estate but that no acts of violence or outrages took place. A further attempt at withholding rent in May 1881 was similarly short-lived.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1883, describing a considerable improvement in the financial situation with a large drop in arrears outstanding due to the Arrears Act of 1882. Reports that abandoned and boycotted farms now account for 850 statute acres of land in Lord Digby's hands set for temporary grazing and necessitating the purchase of cattle. Also reports that despite a decrease in the net rental due to the action of the Land Commission Courts and voluntary reduction of rents, it was possible to remit profits of £11,500. No land improvements or works were carried out, but 50 acres of replanting was carried out at Derrygunnigan Wood, River Wood at Clonad and Derrygolan.

Describes a general improvement in the condition of the estate and attributes the cessation of agitation to the Prevention of Crimes Act brought in following the Phoenix Park murders in spring 1882.

Includes letters about Disestablishment, Poor Law reform, Orangeism, Conservative registration, Home Rule and the Irish Land question. Also includes letter from M. McCormack, CC, Kinnitty to Lord Rosse concerning agrarian dispute in Kinnitty parish between Francis Foley and Delaney at Newtown (3 March 1911).

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1888, showing a very large increase in outstanding arrears and abandoned arrears, and a consequent decrease in the amount remitted to Lord Digby. Describes a marked improvement in the 'moral condition' of the country which he attributes to the 'resolute policy' of the present government. Also notes the declining influence of the National League , and that this was the first year no meeting was held to agitate for the reduction of rent. Also warns that the financial position of the tenants is most serious due to a disastrous season with a long drought.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1882. Remarking on the 'extraordinary events in Ireland of the last 12 months', Digby reports that consequently there is a large amount of arrears, including abandoned arrears which are mainly the rents of Ballydownan and Roskeen farms which are in Lord Digby's hands having been surrendered.

Land improvements have ceased due to the suspension of rent and the generally disorganised state of the country, a new dwelling house for William Payne, Killeenmore being the chief expenditure. Thirty acres of young plantations in Derrygunnigan and Newtown woods and the maintenance of other young plantations accounted for expenditure in forestry.

Warns that the country is in a 'frightful crisis' and reports on the tactics of the Land League with their 'No Rent' manifesto (Autumn 1881), which was eagerly adopted and led to a complete suspension of the payment of rent. After an abatement was refused, tenantry on the Geashill Estate held a meeting in Killeigh in January 1882 at which a resolution was passed not to pay rent unless abatements were conceded. Proceedings were issued against nine of the principal agitators, their properties seized and put up for public auction in Tullamore. Digby reports that in seven cases, the tenants allowed him to be the purchaser, and in the other two cases, the tenants bought in their farms for the full amount of rent claimed and costs. Evictions followed, five of which required the aid of 'a large force of military and police and bailiffs supplied by the Property Defence Association.'

Original incoming and copy outgoing letters relating to Ernest H Browne's management of the Bellair Estate. Matters referred to include: the sale of untenanted lands of Mulock's estates in Killeenboylegan, Knockdomny and Ballynagarbry.

Includes memo from William Bury Homan Mulock, "I am given to understand that my King's County estate will be inspected by the Land Commission early next year and my Westmeath towards the end of the same year. I have lately had much trouble on these Westmeath lands owing to Cattle driving, boycotting of my herd, assaults on my steward and herd, and injuries to my walls, which have been knocked down, and to my pumps which have had stones thrown down them thereby depriving my cattle of water. I therefore find much difficulty in managing the said farms and retaining my subordinates in my service... My mowing and haymaking machinery, horses, and labourers which I sent yesterday from here to my Westmeath farm had to be protected on the six miles of road by the police and I am in dread of my meadows being spiked or my hay and shed burnt, and my old herd writes me that he is in nightly dread of his house being fired into. To farm profitably under such conditions is quite out of the question" (20 July 1910) .

Letter from William Bury Homan Mulock the Secretary of Estates Commissioners, "At this price, as life tenant, I shall be suffering a considerable pecuniary loss, for instance, if I sell these valuable fattening lands I am absolutely handicapping my home farm at Bellair, where I breed extensively and have hitherto been able to finish my young stock. The extra police patrolling these lands, the subject of your offer, having lately been withdrawn, I greatly fear that if we do not come to terms the cattle driving, and perhaps other outrages, will be resumed and a disturbance caused in the country." (2 February 1911)

Correspondence relating to aspects of hosting An Tóstal exhibition in Tullamore.

Includes letter from James Ennnis, Country Registrar, Circuit Court Office, Tullamore, (and a member of the organising committee of An Tóstal) to Fr Hurley:

'Last evening Mrs Ennis was home to see her mother and she got from her a beautiful Land League flag in very good condition. The flag is of green with the slogan 'The Land for the People' on the back. On the front it had a picture of C.S. Parnell & of his home in Avondale. Super-imposed on Parnell's picture is a picture of Daniel O'Connell and presumably C. S. P. was 'effaced' after the Divorce. I have also learned that there is in Killeaveys of William St. a lovely picture of Dr Dunne...Both will be additions to our Museum.'

Leather bound minute book of the King’s County Infirmary board of management meetings. Minutes contain the proceedings of meetings such as the overview of the patient admissions and discharges, suppliers of provisions and statements of accounts. Records decisions regarding the hiring and managing of staff, complaints, fees for patients, and building repairs and improvements. Includes occasional notes on specific patients and transcription of correspondence to various bodies including the County Council and notes of thanks to various donors such as the Countess of Rosse from 1895-1905. Other items discussed were the implementation of a new surgical theatre in 1909 and a tuberculosis sanitorium in 1913.

Prominent members of the Board include Rev. Graham Craig, Rev. Maxwell Coote, Reginald Digby, Joshua C Goodbody, J Perry Goodbody, Lewis Goodbody, John Tarleton, Henry Egan, Rev. P Callery, and Rev R.S. Craig, Dr George Ridley. Registrar: Hugh T Love

The first entry in the minute book records a special meeting of the governors in which they appoint a new surgeon to the infirmary following the death of Dr James Ridley. Ridley who also acted as the Tullamore Jail Physician was reported to have died by suicide on the morning he was due to give evidence in court regarding the harsh treatment of John Mandeville, a national league activist who was imprisoned under the Irish Crimes Act in 1887.

A meeting in February 1900 discussed the dismissal of two servants and the cook for gross misconduct after admitting two male patients to their bedroom.

The hospital surgeon Dr Meagher (appointed in 1906 following the death of Dr George Ridley) served in the Royal Medical Corp during WW1 between 1914-1915.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1886, showing a further reduction in the gross rental received by £152.13.0 and noting a considerable increase in arrears outstanding mainly attributable to the continued and intensified depression in the value of almost all kind of stock and farm produce, recent proposed legislation and a renewed demand for alteration of land laws. Forestry works consisted of 20 acres planted in Derryclure Wood and Scrubb Wood.

Describes a further agitation at the winter collection of rents (1885) with the object of procuring an abatement of rents that have been recently judicially fixed. Also describes the 'great excitement' among the tenantry derived from the Home Rule movement and the Parnellite party.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1887, showing a small decrease in rent, a moderate increase in arrears which Digby blames on a 'grave agricultural depression'. Abandoned arrears are high with much of this land consisting of boycotted farms and lands now 'on hand' following surrender. Principal amounts of expenditure is for forestry at Scrubb Wood and Derryadd, which he points out led to a large amount of employment in the reach of small tenants and labourers on the estate who must otherwise have suffered from enforced idleness. Describes a 'half-hearted' agitation against the payment of any more rent than the National League authorities advised. Also notes that meetings were held before the winter collection of rents and a proposal to inaugurate the League's 'Plan of Campaign' was not successful.