A brief history of

THE BALFE FAMILY of

COUNTY ROSCOMMON

by Mary & Gordon Elmer

© Copyright: Mary Elmer 2012. All rights reserved.

THE BALFE FAMILY of COUNTY ROSCOMMON

Originally of Anglo-Norman stock, the Balfes were prominent in the Athboy area of Co. Meath in the

15C. The first recorded presence of the family in Co. Roscommon is that of Walter Balfe at Heathfield,

Castleplunkett in the late 18C when he married Jane French, the daughter of Nicholas French of

Frenchlawn, Ballintubber. They had ten sons and two daughters, many of whom through marriage, land

purchase and lease became substantial property owners in County Roscommon during the 19C.

The purpose of this history is to explore the family of my paternal grandmother, Kate Mary Balfe who

was born on 14 August 1870 at Gardenstown, Cloontusket in Co Roscommon. Her father, James

Joseph Balfe was the third son of Michael Balfe and Alicia Smith, died on 21 July 1872. My great-

grandfather served as Secretary of the Roscommon Grand Jury from 1864 until his death. Prior to that,

he was the Cess Collector for the Castlerea Barony. He also acted as land agent for his brother’s estate

at Gardenstown, Cloontuskert. Following his marriage to Arabella Hawkes of Brierfield,

Ballinaheglish, they resided in Curreen, Lanesboro until about 1871 when he moved to Acres House,

located off the Athlone Road about one mile from Roscommon Town, and where he died a year later.

He was only 49.

Close by was the family seat at Southpark House which was built in c1773 by General James Gisborne

but acquired by the Balfe family in about 1805. Southpark House, two miles east of Castlerea was

built on the Malone Estate.

Arabella Balfe and her seven children sailed to Sydney NSW in October 1885 on SS Aberdeen. The

family resided at “Glencoe” Mansfield Street Glebe in Sydney and Arabella Balfe died in 1897 in

Petersham in NSW Australia.

Grandmother’s siblings were:

Michael James born 1 April 1867 Gardenstown, Cloontusket

James born 9 December 1868 Gardenstown, Cloontusket

Caroline***

Alice Mary***

Geraldtina born 15 October 1865 Gardenstown, Cloontusket

GRANDMOTHER (Katie Mary) born 14 August 1870 Gardenstown, Cloontusket

Arabella Kate born 27 November 1871 Acres House, Roscommon Town.

***Irish records only

began in about 1864 and

it is probable that

Caroline + Alice were

born before records

started. I have also been

unable to find the date of

the marriage of James

Joseph Balfe and

Arabella Hawkes.

After his death James

Joseph Balfe was “taken

to the family vault in

Southpark demesne” (the

family vault) for

internment.

The burial vault at

Southpark

Obituaries of James Joseph Balfe from local Roscommon newspapers at the time of his death:

Roscommon Journal, Saturday July 27, 1872 “We regret to inform our readers that the indisposition of the above-named gentlemen, briefly

referred to in our last issue, terminated fatally on Sunday night, at his residence at Acres House,

near this town and sincere sympathy is universally felt for his bereaved widow and her youthful

family. Mr Balfe filled the office of Secretary to the Grand Jury and indeed it may be safely said

of him, either in connection with his official or private character, that he never lost a friend or

made an enemy, while the tenants on his brother’s property, over whom he acted as agent,

speak in the most grateful terms of his kind and charitable disposition. A large number of cars

and carriages with people on horseback and on foot accompanied the remains to the family

burial place at Southpark. Several of the principals of the county will be placed in mourning by

the demise of Mr Balfe.

It is almost needless to add that there are already several candidates in the field for the

vacancy, amongst whom perhaps we may mention by name, Mr. Michael Balfe, nephew to the

deceased gentleman, and who proposes to hold the office, should he obtain it, in trust for the

widow and seven orphan children of the late lamented incumbent.”

Roscommon Messenger 27 July 1872 It is with regret that we announce the demise of James J Balfe, Esq., Secretary to the Grand

Jury of this county, which said event took place at his residence at Acres on Sunday night last.

The deceased gentleman was a member of one of the leading families of this county, and his

premature death has cast a gloom over a large circle of relatives and friends. The greatest

sympathy is felt for his afflicted widow and her young family. The funeral took place on

Wednesday last, and the cortège which accompanied the remains to their last resting place, in

the family vault in Southpark demesne, was exceedingly large and respectable. May his soul

rest in peace.”

James Joseph Balfe’s father, Michael Balfe, married twice, (1) Sally Dolphin who bore him a daughter,

Maria Balfe and (2) Alicia Smith in 1819 who produced seven children. James Joseph Balfe’s siblings

were:

Michael died 1839

Nicholas died 1856

Captain Patrick Joseph Balfe born 1816 and died 1886*

JAMES JOSEPH BALFE (great-grandfather) died 21 July 1872 at Acres Roscommon.

Anne died 1850

Sarah

Kate Mary

*Captain Patrick Joseph Balfe was born in September 1819. He married Anna Mary MacDermott,

daughter of William MacDermott and Anna Bodkin, on 5 November 1847. She died on 5 September

1884. He died in December 1886 at age 70. Captain Patrick Joseph Balfe gained the rank of Captain

in the service of the 5th Battalion Connaught Rangers. He held the office of High Sheriff in 1858. He

held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.). He lived at Southpark, County Roscommon, Ireland.

Their children were:

Annie Mary Balfe died 7 March 1894

Katie Mary Balfe died 10 August 1884

Alice Mary Maud Balfe

Mary Josephine Ignatius Balfe

Major Michael Joseph Balfe born 10 June 1850 and died 16 June 1928**

Nicholas Dominick Joseph Balfe born 5 August 1854

Patrick Joseph Balfe born 1 June 1857

**Major Michael Joseph Balfe gained the rank of Captain and honorary Major in the service of the 5th

Battalion Connaught Rangers. He held the office of High Sheriff in 1875, and again in 1890. He held

the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.). He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) He lived at

Southpark, County Roscommon, Ireland.

Major Michael Joseph Balfe married Kathleen O’Connell (granddaughter of Daniel O’Connell – “the

Liberator”) on 29 July 1885. The latter was apparently a frequent visitor to the estate. Her sister, Alice

O’Connell, a painter artist stayed there regularly. Unfortunately all her works were burned in the fire

in 1921. In the 1911 Census Alice O’Connell appears as head of the household and no mention is

made of the Major or his family. After their marriage the family lived at Southpark and their children

were:

Kathleen Mary died on 14 December 1935

Alice Elizabeth Mary Angela Balfe born 2 October 1886 and died 1 January 1938

Michael Edward Joseph Balfe born 13 October 1887 and who died on 30 May 1919. He is

buried with his grandparents Captain Patrick Joseph Balfe and Anna Mary Balfe in Castlerea

cemetery (see photo below)

Maurice O’Connell Francis Balfe born 2 December 1888

James Morgan Balfe born 8 October 1889

Headstone of Grave in Castlerea Cemetery with inscription

badly eroded:

“Pray for the Soul of

Captain Patrick Balfe JP

of Southpark died 9 December 1886

aged 70 years

And

of his wife

Anna Balfe who died 5 September 1884

aged 53 years

And

of their grandson

Edward Michael Balfe of Frenchlawn

Who died on 30 May 1919

aged 31 years”

Major M.J. Balfe lived in Southpark House from 1887-1911. He was said to be a good Landlord, a

staunch Catholic, and much respected in the area. Southpark House was a house of entertainment.

Mass was celebrated weekly in 'The Big House'. His staff numbered 70 permanent and 70 casual

workers. The workers had freedom and were “paid in kind with the grass of a cow, donkey or horse.”

Apparently the first Tennis Court was also at Southpark. On the lands of this Demesne at Rathra are

two well preserved Ring Forts going back (some say) to the Bronze Age.

Major Balfe was an expert horseman and had a commission to buy horses for the British Army. Races

were held twice a year on the estate. The 1879 Grand National was won by "The Liberator" ridden by

Garry Moore (horse's owner) with Mr. J Moore as the horse's trainer and Major Balfe was involved

with this particular horse.

The Major was master of the famous 'Roscommon Staghounds for almost

quarter of a century and for a time master of the 'Mid-Roscommon

Harriers'. There were 2 packs (52 dogs) of hounds kept on the estate,

harriers for hunting foxes and hares and staghounds for hunting deer.

The hunting season started in early October and continued until April,

with hunts being held twice a week. A joint hunt was held on St.

Stephen's Day with a party that night for the gentry. Next day the

workers had a party at which the Balfe family attended. Major Balfe was

not a very good business man. He trusted everybody. When the number

of horses declined during World War 1 his financial situation

deteriorated. The land was sold little by little until eventually he had to

sell Southpark altogether. Southpark House was burnt by the IRA in

1921 as because of the Major’s connections with the British Army (he

had provided them with horses in the Boer War) they thought the Black +

Tans might requisition the house – which turned out not to the case in any

event. It is said that the house had not been lived in for about 3 years

before its destruction but I have been unable to find out more. It seems that the Major was a smallish

man who wore a cap and had a bushy moustache.

FACTS ABOUT SOUTHPARK DEMESNE

The “Big House” as it was called had 365 windows and 34 rooms. It had a two acre orchard which

boasted 32 different types of apples, It grew pears, cherries and under glass gooseberries, raspberries.

It had four people to tend it.

There were three women employed to look after the “fowl” on the Estate. Two sheep were slaughtered

each week to feed the workers on the estate and it was said that if an estate worker died and there were

insufficient funds the Major would provide a cart and pay for the person to be buried. Major Balfe died

in 1928 and is buried with his wife in Dublin.

The walls of the Orchard

Inside the Old Orchard

The Gate of the Old Orchard formerly one of the Gates to the

entrance of Southpark House

Foundations of Southpark House in 2009

Looking from the foundations across to the walls of the Orchard

THE GHOST LEGEND at SOUTHPARK

Southpark House boasted a coach pulled by 2 horses and carriages. There was a coachman and a

reserve coachman employed. On the night following St Stephen’s Night in 1899, Richard McIntyre,

the coachman, was brought from his bed to bring a party of four people – 2 ladies and 2 gentlemen, to

Castlerea Church - about 4 miles - there was no public lighting but the moon was young and about to

set. Richard tackled the four horses and carriage. Two lamps in front of the carriage lit their way.

There was no conversation between the driver and the passengers. The driver was only allowed to

reply to questions asked as Richard let his passengers off at the church and they went in. After a time

they returned and the carriage headed home. The horses were pouring sweat and frothing at the month.

They struggled all the way back to Southpark. It took Richard many hours to settle the horses.

Next day Richard met Biddy Warren who used to look after the pigs and poultry on the estate. She told

him that there were “queer things happening here.” General James Gisborne, who died in England on 4

March 1778, a previous owner of the estate was said to have ordered the burial of a massive amount of

gold sovereigns in two barrels one on either side of the entrance pillars. The two men who buried the

gold were beheaded. Shortly afterwards two young women arrived at the gates and they too were

beheaded. These were the four people who went to the church that night. They were the last ghosts at

Southpark.

Gates to Southpark (where the gold was supposedly buried) (2009)

BALFE FAMILY HISTORY

The Balfe family were settled at Heathfield in county Roscommon in the 18th century but had moved

to Southpark by the 19th century. Walter Balfe and his wife Jane French of Frenchlawn had 10 sons,

some of whom owned property in county Roscommon in the 19th century.

In 1828 Michael Balfe of Southpark was a member of the Grand Panel of county Roscommon. James

Balfe of Southpark, county Roscommon, was advertising for sale 236 acres of Kinlough, parish of

Shrule, county Mayo, in February 1850. At the time of Griffith's Valuation Thomas Balfe held the

townland of Rooaunalaghta in the same parish and Nicholas Balfe held a number of townlands in the

parishes of Kilglass, barony of Ballintober North and Cloontuskert, barony of Ballintober South,

county Roscommon. The representatives of James Balfe also had land in the parish of Ogulla, barony

of Roscommon. In the 1870s Nicholas J. Balfe of Dublin owned 110 acres in county Galway, 47 acres

in county Roscommon, 433 acres in county Sligo and 412 acres in county Westmeath. Patrick Balfe of

Southpark owned over 6000 acres in county Roscommon in the 1870s. Some of his lands in the barony

of Castlereagh were offered for sale in the Landed Estates' Court in June 1858, November 1874 and

again in February 1875. Some of these lands were held on leases from the Lyster and Murphy families.

Over 900 acres of Patrick Balfe's estate in the barony of Frenchpark was offered for sale in the Landed

Estates' Court in November 1860. James Balfe of Runnemead, tenth son of Walter Balfe of Heathfield,

county Roscommon, died leaving 4 daughters and co heiresses. His daughters married into the

Chichester, Berington and De Morelle families. The Chichester's eldest son, Walter George Raleigh

Chichester, succeeded to the Irish estates of his mother and also to the Burton Constable estate,

Yorkshire and in 1894 he took the name Constable by royal license. 375 acres of the estate of Michael

Joseph Balfe in county Galway were vested in the Congested Districts' Board on 26 Apr 1905 and a

further 740 acres in county Roscommon on 4 Feb 1909. At the time of Griffith's Valuation Bernard

Balfe held land in the parish of Cloonfinlough, barony of Roscommon. The estate of John Balfe in the

parishes of Cloonfinlough, barony of Roscommon and Creeve, barony of Frenchpark, was advertised

for sale in May 1851. The senior branch of the Balfe family of Southpark afterwards moved to

Balinluska House, Myrtleville, county Cork. At the time of Griffith's Valuation Patrick Balfe owned an

estate in the parishes of Aglishcormish, Dromkeen and Grean, barony of Clanwilliam, county

Limerick. The interest of his niece Ellen McDermott in these lands was advertised for sale in June

1862. Captain Walter Balfe of Southpark, Castlerea, owned 1,042 acres in county Limerick in the

1870s.

Quotations regarding the Balfe Family from

Irish Sport & Sportsmen” by B. M. Fitzpatrick

(1878)

The late Mr. James Balfe had, long ago, a pack of hounds, but the want of foxes compelled

him to dispose of them.

In 1873, a pack of staghounds was formed, by Captain M. J. Balfe of South-Park, and he has

hunted them himself ever since in a manner which does him infinite credit.

Captain Balfe laboured sedulously and successfully to gain the end he has so fully attained,

and has now the pleasure of having in his kennel thirty-and-a-half couple of working hounds,

including a very promising entry. They average twenty-five inches, and are remarkable for

their pace, symmetry, uniformity in size and colour, steadiness, and endurance. With a

subscription of £700 a year, the master of the Roscommon Staghounds has certainly achieved

more than his most sanguine admirers could have expected, although much was, no doubt,

expected from him, as he is descended from a family remarkable for their love of racing and

hunting. His father and uncle were both staunch supporters of the Irish turf some years ago.

Captain Balfe is a first-rate judge of horses, and always keeps fourteen or fifteen hunters of

the right stamp.

When forming the pack, Captain Balfe got all his hounds from England, and several from Her

Majesty's and the Craven kennels.

And finally, Southpark House itself – the only photos I have been able to find before it was burned to

the ground by the IRA in 1921 – the sad ending to an interesting family history – the family has now

scattered to Australia, South Africa and America and although some Balfes still live in Roscommon I

did not meet up with them.

Southpark House (rear), Castlerea Co Roscommon

Southpark House (front)

Heathfield House Co Roscommon

(original home of the Balfe Family)

Anna Balfe’s Seat at Southpark with her name + the date

18 August 1881 engraved in the centre upright stone

SOUTHPARK HOUSE HISTORY

1773 General James Gisborne builds Southpark House.

1778 General James Gisborne dies in England.

1805 Southpark is acquired by the Balfe Family

1814 Southpark is the seat of Michael Balfe, son of Walter Balfe.

1838 Michael Balfe dies at Southpark.

1839 Michael Balfe first son of Michael Balfe takes over at Southpark and dies that year.

1839 Nicholas Balfe second son of Michael Balfe takes over at Southpark.

1856 Nicholas Balfe dies at Southpark.

1856 Captain Patrick Balfe third son of Michael Balfe takes over Southpark.

1886 Captain Patrick Balfe dies at Southpark.

1886 Major Michael Joseph Balfe son of Captain Patrick Balfe takes over Southpark.

1904 Major Balfe advertises 3000 acres of the Southpark Estate for Sale.

1911 In the 1911 Census Alice O’Connell the sister of the Major’s wife appears as head of

the household and no mention is made of the Major or his family.

1919 Michael Edward Joseph Balfe, son of Major Balfe dies at Frenchlawn.

1921 The IRA burn Southpark House to the ground – property of Alice O’Connell

contained there is destroyed.

1928 Major Balfe dies aged 78 in June at ‘Auburn’, Ulverton Road, Dalkey Dublin and is

buried with his wife in Dublin.

The Balfe Family in Australia from 1885

After her arrival in Sydney in or about October 1885 aboard SS Aberdeen with her seven children,

great grandmother, Arabella Balfe, moved into “Glencoe” in Mansfield Street Glebe, a Sydney suburb

where she lived till her death in l897.

“Glencoe” 20 Mansfield Street, Glebe

1. Katie Mary died in Sydney

in 1929 (aged 59) - (she was

known as Catherine by this

time),

2. Michael James Joseph Balfe

died in 1938 in Sydney,

3. James Balfe died [apparently

in New Zealand in a hotel

fire]?

4. Caroline Balfe died in

Sydney in 1922,

5. Alice (Mary) Balfe died in

Sydney 1937,

6. Geraldtina Hahn died in Sydney in 1961 (aged 96), and

7. Arabella Kate (Mirabel) died in Sydney in 1947.

I know only a little about her siblings, but my grandmother, Katie Mary Balfe married Daniel James

Malone, an engineer and Member of Parliament in Sydney in 1904 and they lived at Glencoe for some

time after their marriage. Their children were;

1. Mary Kathleen (“Mickey”) (born 1905 and died 1941),

2. Kevin Daniel (born 1907 and died in 1973),

3. Caroline (born 1909 and died 1916 from burns sustained when playing with a lighted candle

in bed),

4. Geraldine Mary (born 1910 and died in the 1970s),

5. John Hawkes Malone (born 1912 and died 1947); and

6. Thomas Balfe Malone.

The children all appear to have been born at Glencoe. The boys were all educated at St Josephs

College Hunters Hill in Sydney and the girls at Domremy Convent in Sydney. My father was John

Hawkes Malone.

On a couple of occasions when I was about 16 or 17 in Sydney, I met a woman a lot older than me who

was apparently my second cousin. She was the daughter of Geraldtina Balfe who in 1898 married

Francis Hahn (who died 1921). This second cousin was called Alma Hahn and was unmarried and

lived in Randwick, a suburb of Sydney.

Mary Kathleen Malone married Robert Nihill in 1932 and had three children, Caroline (born 1937),

Michael (born 1939) and John (born 1941). My cousins have all married and have families. Mar

Kathleen died in 1941 and Robert Nihill married her cousin, Arabella Mary Dorothy Dempsey in 1945.

Kevin Malone married Alma Perry in 1942 and had three daughters, Maureen, Janet and Alma Kay.

Geraldine Mary Malone did not marry.

My father, John Hawkes Malone trained as an architect but didn’t like being cooped up in an office and

applied to join the NSW Police Force. He was initially rejected because of a broken nose sustained

whilst he was playing rugby. He was an international Rugby player and represented NSW and

Australia and came to England with the Wallabies in 1939. Unfortunately the Second World War

started just after their arrival and the team came home without playing a game, although it is said they

did help in filling sandbags while they were in the

UK. As he was in the Police Force he was not called

up till late in the war when he joined the Royal

Australian Air Force.

36 Liverpool Street Paddington where my mother, Vera

Millicent Donald, grew up

In April 1942 he married my mother, Vera Millicent

Donald (daughter of Robert Donald and Mary

McEnery) at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney. My

parents lived in a flat overlooking Tamarama Beach

from the time of their marriage. In November 1945

I, Mary Veronica Elmer (nee Malone) was born and

in March 1947 my brother, Robert John Malone was

born.

On 1 May 1947 my father was killed while was on

escort duty with the Police when the tyre on his motor

cycle blew out and he was thrown onto the road where he was involved in a collision with a vehicle

coming in the opposite direction. He sustained a fractured skull and died a short time afterwards. He

was aged only 35. I was then 16 months old and my brother 5 weeks. My mother never remarried

and died in Sydney in September 1989 aged 76 years.

70 Canberra Street Randwick where I lived with my

mother + brother, Robert from January 1960 till I left for

England in January 1969 – we lived in Tamarama until

1960

Thomas Balfe Malone married in 1941 Patricia

Mary O’Brien and they had two children,

Daniel and Kathleen. I am still in regular

contact with Caroline Nihill (now Caroline

Simmonds) but have lost touch with all my

other cousins.

In 1969 I came to the UK on what was to be a

year long visit. I am still here and married my

husband, Gordon Elmer in London on 13

December 1974. We have no children and

make frequent trips back to Australia to see

family and friends.

My brother, Robert Malone, married Elizabeth Brennan in Australia in 1972 and has four children,

Damien Malone, Clair McKee, Simon Malone and Brendan Malone, all of whom live in NSW,

Australia. Elizabeth died in 1985 aged 38 from cancer. My brother has remarried.

Clair married Matthew McKee in November 2003 and they have a daughter, Isabella born in 9 May

2004 and a son, Owen Hawkes born at the end of 2011.

Brendan married Louise Goding in November 2010 and they have two daughters, Juliette Patricia born

28 April 2009 and Mara Elizabeth born September 2011.

Damien Malone and Simon Malone are at present (2012) unmarried.

NOTES

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Compiled and edited by Mary & Gordon Elmer.

First Published edition – September 2012.