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. 

Jonathon Brew was registered as Freeholder at Newtown (Heaphy Hse) in 1832 as follows: 

Jonathon Brew, Newtown, house and land at Newtown, townland of Newtown, and Barony of Moyarta - ten pounds. 

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.

Population census of Newtown in the 1840s by Sir Petty was recorded as follows: 

Newtown West 150 People

Newtown East 182 People 

Houses - four main houses existed on the estate, along with many tenement cottages.  Newtown House being the original seat for the Brew family, which was sold by the family as part of the auction in 1867. Newtown East was purchased by Richard Bolton Silles JP, from Kerry. Richard Bolton Silles was married to Anne Cunningham and had the following children: 

Richard O'Connell Silles JP, continued to live at Newtown House as per 1901 and 1911 census.

Francis C Silles, who was Barony Constable of Clonderlaw before moving to London, where he married Miss Wace, daughter of Sir. T. Hook Hitching (Ref: Saturday Record (Ennis) 05 Sep 1903). 

John Silles, b.1873. John died 1908, as referenced in the Clare Champion, February 1908, brother to Richard O'C Silles. 

Stephen Silles, b.1875

Mary Silles, b.1877, died aged 4 months, April 1877, at Newtown, daughter of Richard Bolton Silles. 

Dr. Thomas S. Silles, (this may be Stephen, b.1875). In 1881, passed his preliminary examinations for the College of Surgeons and was educated at the Diocesan College (Ref: Clare Journal & Ennis Advertiser, August 1881). Thomas died, London, 1893, where he had a large practice. Dr. Silles, son of Mr. Richard Bolton Silles and brother to Messrs Richard and Francis Silles, Newtown House, Kilrush (Ref: Clare Journal and Ennis Advertiser December 1893). 

Richard Bolton Silles, magistrate, left Newtown House for Leicester, England in 1888 (Ref: Clare Journal & Ennis Advertiser, November 1888). Richard O'Connell Silles, son of Richard B Silles, left for London in 1912 as follows:

Saturday Record (Ennis) 11 May 1912. A highly esteemed West Clare gentleman Mr. Rd. O'Connell Silles, JP, Newtown House, Querrin, left last week for London, where he will permanently reside in the future. He carries with him, every good wish of the people of the district, who keenly regret his departure from their midst. 

Newtown House and East, were put for sale as per the following record: 

Clare Champion. 28 October 1911. NEWTOWN to be sold, on Friday, October 27th, 1911. 

His valuable form consisting of 183 acres (10 are sub-let) held under the Landed Estate Courts at the nominal annual rent of £35 13s 6d, the valuation being £99 10s 0d. 

Descriptive Particulars

Newtown House occupies an elevated position between the town of Kilrush and the well known health resort, Kilkee. It commands a magnificent view of the picturesque country around and from the hall door there are distant and pleasing views of three surrounding counties. The house which is approached by a well kept and tastefully planted avenue, contains three fine sitting rooms, six bedrooms, lavatory, kitchen, pantry, and the out offices, well built commodious, are in keeping with the substantial proportions of the residence itself. The farm is at present in great heart, judiciously sub-divided into paddocks of convenient size plentifully supplied with water and fenced with white thorn hedges, which afford the necessary shelter to outlying cattle in the winter and when the flies and heat of the summer come, make it impossible for stock to stray. For dairying or tillage purposes, a ready market is to be found in Kilkee, a few miles distant, and for grazing purposes, the farm is admirably located, being only three miles from Kilrush, an important and progressive port on the Shannon. 

Sale at One O'Clock

By 1921, as per records, Thomas Falvey was in residence. Per the 1926 census, Thomas Falvey, his wife, Bridget (of Tipperary), son, John and daughter, Bridget M, were at the house, occupying ten rooms. Thomas Falvey was elected for the County Constituency of Clare in June 1927 (Ref: Saturday Record (Ennis) 1917). The Falvey family remained on at Newtown House and Newtown East, until the entire 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.