Newtown Estate

Established circa 1712

The area that would form Newtown Estate was originally heavily wooded and the region would have been ruled by the McMahon clan who had title to it until late into the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The lands were eventually confiscated by the Crown and granted to Sir Daniel O’Brien, ancestor of the Viscounts of Clare.

The Barony of Moyarta came into existence around the year 1600 and was divided in ownership between the Earl of Thomond (O’Brien) and Sir Daniel O’Brien, Viscount, of Carrigaholt. In the Down Survey maps of 1656 – 1658, the area was known as Farrimwilleon Prot:land. According to the 1659 Census of Clare, the following numbers were recorded: 

English 31, Irish 993, with principle names: Cahane, Connor, McDaniell, McDae, Ó Dae, Fizgerald,  Gorman, Hurly, Lenchy, Lyne, Mullowny, Mahony, McMahon, Fitzmorrice, Madigane, Quelly, Sulevane, Scanlane, McShane, and McTeige. 

In 1712, the Earl of Thomond made a lease forever for many of the townlands to Anthony Hickman and Richard Freeman. As a result of this, it brought many English Protestant families to the area, like Francis Brew (1680 – 1760) of the Brew family, taking up residence of the townlands of Newtown, Clarefield and Kilferagh. 

Newtown House, a 19th century house, built over an original house, became the seat for the Brew family of Newtown Estate. Both the original house and the 19th century house are demolished, with the second occurring around 1950, with only part of the first floor remaining (2026). Little is known of the original house, but the second was a 19th century, two storey, three bay, double pile, square house facing north-east towards Poulnasherry Bay. Francis Brew (1715 – 1790) is suggested to have married Susanna Burton, daughter to the Burton family of Carrigaholt Castle & Manor, who had purchased the forfeited estates of Viscount Clare in 1698. 

In 1800, the estate of Newtown was split in two to form Newtown East & Newtown West, following the death of Burton Brew (1754 – 1800), who had married Elizabeth Cox (1754 – 1834) of Mount Pleasant House, Clarefield.

Newtown East - became the estate of Francis Brew and later his son, Francis Parkinson Brew under Fee Farm Grant, dated 26 March 1860, from Richard Studdert. The estate of Newtown East, containing 183 acres was sold in auction on the 04 July 1867, to Richard Bolton Silles (1829 - 1898, father of Richard Silles, Newtown East) JP, of Kerry. (Ref: Land Act of 1876, 333 acres, tenement valuation £161). 

Newtown West - became divided between brothers, Jonathon Brew (m. Abigail Pilkington) and Burton Brew (m. Anne Pilkington). Jonathon lived at an older house on the estate, built in the 18th century and Burton built a new house circa 1819. Another house existed next to Burton's house, however has been demolished and is associated with the Court of Chancery case on the lands of Burton Brew, following his death, between his widow Anne Pilington Brew V William Brew & his wife, Susanna Daxon.

In 1853, part of the lands of Newtown West, once belonging to Jonathon Brew, including the 18th century house were granted in a marriage agreement between Jane Brew (1825 – 1904, daughter of Burton Brew & Anne Pilkington), and Eyre Heaphy (1806 – 1891), son of John and Frances Heaphy, formerly of Elm Park, Clarina, Limerick, introducing the Heaphy name into the estate of Newtown.

Houses - Four main houses existed on the estate, with Newtown House being the original seat for the Brew family, which was sold by the family as part of the aution in 1867. Newtown East was purchased by Richard Bolton Silles, of Kerry and the Silles remained until the property along with Newtown House was purchased by Thomas Coughlan.  Newtown House was demolished in the 1950s. Only two of the original four houses exist today in Newtown West (2026), owned by Heaphy and Scanlan (formerly built by Burton Brew). Access to these houses were through long avenues leading to the south of the houses. Following 1880, road access changed and long avenues were used leading into the north side or rear of the houses. 

The oldest of the two houses (Heaphy House), sits on the western edge of Newtown and has been witness to an exorcism, armed attacks in 1922, a fire and was a home to bats. The house, a story and half, with originally having 7 front facing windows, was completely renovated in the 1950s and again in the early 2000s. The 1950s works saw the removal of a red brick fireplace in an upper floor bedroom at the east end of the house; removal of a window on the western gable; removal of one of the four front facing windows on the upper floor. The work in the 2000s, saw the demolishing of the central chimney and its reconstruction, along with complete overhaul of all rooms, including all electrical & plumbing works, and redevelopment of the kitchen at the rear of the house, which was an addition from the 1970s.  

Occupants of the 18th Century House of Newtown West, that became the Heaphy home

Circa 1760 – 1799

Brew Family

1799 – 1816

William Pilkington & Jane O’Donnell with children: 

Abigail (Brew), Catherine (O'Donnell), Anne (Brew), Thomas, Francis, William, Richard, Mary (Bradley), Jane, John, & Thomas. Under Lease. 

1816 – 1844

Jonathon Brew & Abigail Pilkington with children: 

Jane, Eliza, Burton, William, Francis, Katherine, Susanna, William, Anne (Griffin), Margaret, Francis, Jonathon, Richard, and Abigail.

1844 – 1853

Burton Brew & Jane Brew. Burton died in 1848 and the couple had no children.

Burton was the son of Jonathon Brew and some of his siblings may also have continued to live at the house during this time. 

1853 – 1891

Eyre Heaphy & Jane Brew with children: 

(Harriet & John Eyre - born Clarina, Limerick, from Eyre’s first marriage), Elizabeth (Parkinson), Burton, Samuel, Frances Jane, Catherine, Abigail (Young), and George Francis.  

Anne Pilkington Brew, mother of Jane Brew Heaphy, returned to live at the house, following 1870 until her death in 1880. 

1891 – 1937

Burton Heaphy & Johanna Harvey with children: 

Mary Anne, Francis, Jane Frances, Samuel John, Johanna, and Bridget. Johanna Harvey died in 1906.

Burton Heaphy & Annie Lynch with children: 

Johanna and Jane (Sheedy) (Frost).

1937 – 1970

Samuel Heaphy & Josephine McMahon with children: (4)

1970 – 2001

Thomas Heaphy & Mary Fennell with children: (4)

2001 – 2024

Noel Heaphy

2024 – Present

Heaphy family, under guardianship of Thomas & Mary Fennell Heaphy.