Byrne of Cabinteely
The Byrnes are said to be of the line of the old and once mighty Sept of O’Brwns or
O’Birnes. The family were cavalier and to the loss of land made powerful resistance
in Ireland against Cromwell. By 1795 the Byrnes were represented by Lord de Tabley
in England and the junior branch by Robert Byrne of Cabinteely.
Robert Byrne married Mary Devereux
born circa 1745 7 Nov 1790 born circa 1770
died 7 Jan 1799 Kingstown died circa 1815
Lisbon
Robert Byrne third son of George Byrne and Clare Nugent born circa 1745. His father
died at Cabinteely in April 1763. Robert held large estates around Blackrock, Cabinteely,
Cornelscourt and also held land at Kevin Street and Richmond Hill (1782), Dublin. He
was the owner of most of the land on which the villages of Barndarrig and Kilbride
stood in Co Wicklow, as well as other lands in the area, amounting to almost 3,000
acres. His only sister married Hyacinth Skerrett at St Peter’s, Chester on 18 Apr 1768.
Hyacinth was from Finavarra, Co Clare. In 1773 Robert and his mother Clare were
returning from The Rock to Dublin when they were set upon up by footpads near the
Gallows Highway but Robert threatened to fire on them and they managed to escape.
He put the mansion house and 40 acres in Cabinteely up for lease in 1787 as he was
living in Nice but it appears not to have been leased by anyone. In 1789 he was living
at Peter’s Street and again had the mansion house up for lease. He married Mary
Devereux on 7 Nov 1790 at Kingstown. (ML 18 Jul 1790). Mary was the daughter of
Robert Devereux of Carrickmennan and Mary Ward of Co Wexford. He had stables
at Cabinteely and sold horses some for as much as 50 guineas. In 1793 he supplied
50 yards of flannel for waistcoats to be used by the British and Irish Army serving
abroad. In 1794 Robert hosted the wedding of John Burke and Mary Byrne, only
daughter of the late John Byrne of Bordeaux at Cabinteely House. Robert died at
Lisbon on 7 Jan 1799 and his body was repatriated. His remains were interred in
the family vault at Kill ’O the Grange. In his will he mentions his daughters and wife,
his cousin Richard Byrne of Dublin, nephew William Skerrett of Clare, Clare Skerrett
and his uncle Gregory Byrne.
Mary devoted her life to the education of her three daughters. She was a friend of
Madame Angelica Catalani the Italian opera singer, and escorted her when she
visited Dublin in August 1807 to appear at the Rotunda (Madam was reputed to have
been paid 1200 guineas for her 3 nights on stage). It was reported that Mary died in
June 1808 near Dublin from a fractured skull. She was returning to Cabinteely having
attended a masquerade ball in Dublin when a stone was thrown at her carriage, the
carriage was upset and she was thrown to the ground. Rumours of her demise were
untrue and the following week it was reported that she was on the road to recovery.
She was alive when her daughter Mary died in 1810, died circa 1815 and was buried
with her husband.
1 Mary Clare Byrne eldest daughter baptised 7 Oct 1791 at the Pro Cathedral. She
was well educated and expert in both the classics and modern languages. Her
education was considered to go beyond what was considered to be suitable for
a female of the time. She was heiress to her father’s estates when she reached
her majority. She died a spinster aged 19 on the 14 Mar 1810 at Madeira where
she had repaired for the recovery of her health. Her body was repatriated and
arrived back in Ireland on the 13 Apr 1810 and she was buried at Kill O’ The
Grange graveyard.
2 Clarinda Mary Byrne born circa 1796 was entitled to 20K from her father’s
estate when she reached her majority. She became heiress of the whole estate
on the death of her elder sister. She was living at Cabinteely in 1817 and in
1825 she was approached by the Dublin to Kingstown Railway Company to sell
land at Castlebyrne. In 1833 she sold the land known as Newtown on the
strand and Newtown Castle Byrne partly in the County of the city of Dublin and
partly in the Parish of Monkstown to them for £2700. In 1836 she was robbed
while heading to visit Lord Talbot in Malahide. The frequently spent a few nights
at Dublin hotels on returning from England or the continent. They were at the
Shelbourne in March 1837. In June 1840 the vault at Kill O’ The grange was broken
into. The remains of three coffins were scattered to the ground and the 3 lead
lined coffins were stolen. By 1841 nearly the entire of Blackrock was out of lease.
It was reported that the Misses Byrne, of Cabinteely, intended to erect some
splendid mansions there and were asking 15s. a foot for the unlet portion of the
building ground. The sisters were still in Cabinteely in1846 but spent much time
abroad attending theatres, balls, fancy dress parties etc. On a return visit in 1846
they visited upwards of fifty destitute families in the area and provided them with
money, tea, sugar and clothing. By 1847 they were living most of the time in
London and regular attendees at Covent Garden. Clarinda died a spinster 1850
at Hyde Park Place, London and was buried at All Souls Catholic Cemetery in
Chelsea on 3 Aug 1850. Probate to her sister Georgiana.
3 Georgiana Mary Byrne baptised at Kingstown in August 1798. She and her sister
were presented to the Queen in 1831, wearing White crape dresses, richly
embroidered with gold mounts and wreaths round the dresses; epaulettes,
mantilla, and sabots of blonde with headdresses of feathers and diamonds. They
were regular guests to the Mansion House. Georgiana became a member of the
Kingstown Benefit society in 1837. Later that year she travelled from Liverpool
back to Dublin, onboard the HM Thestis with the Earl and Countess of County
Meath and Lord Clonmel. Giovanni Battista Rubini, the Italian tenor stayed with
them in Cabinteely in 1838. He was engaged to appear in Dublin with Madam
Fanny Tacchinardi Persiani and Emiliami (who stayed with Sir Harcourt Lees. The
two surviving sisters donated large sums of money for the provision of the poor in
Cabinteely, Kingstown and Stillorgan. They were major benefactors to the
rebuilding of Cabinteely church (1822-1836), the building of the Sisters of Mercy
Covent, Booterstown in 1838 and the building of St John the Baptist Church in
Blackrock in the early 1840’s. As youngest and last surviving daughter Georgiana
died a spinster on 28 Nov 1864 at 15 St George’s Place, Hyde Park Corner,
Knightsbridge, Middlesex and left 40K in personal estate. Her executors were
Edward Philip Collins of Victoria Cottage, Osborne, Isle of Wight and George
Thompson Gream of Upper Brook Street, Middlesex. The estate and representation
of the O'Byrnes, of Cabinteely, passed to her heir, William Richard O’Byrne of Grove
House, Hayes Middlesex. In 1865 her will was contested as a second will had
been found in which she appointed the Deveroux's her executors, and left her
entire personal property to Eliza Sarah Burke, the wife of James R Burke, her
steward. The personal estate amounted to over 42K, but this case failed as the
real estate was not in her disposal to bequeath, having been made in settlement.
William Richard O'Byrne was was the author of 'The Naval Biography' and other
meritorious and popular works. He lived at Cabinteely House and was appointed JP and
Sheriff of Co Wicklow. He was later an MP. He gave half yearly entertainment to the
tenants on his failing estates in Wicklow. Most of the lands were sold through the
Encumbered Courts. W R married but had no issue and died in July 1896 aged 73 leaving
little in the way of personal estate.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - April 2023
The Byrnes are said to be of the line of the old and once mighty Sept of O’Brwns or
O’Birnes. The family were cavalier and to the loss of land made powerful resistance
in Ireland against Cromwell. By 1795 the Byrnes were represented by Lord de Tabley
in England and the junior branch by Robert Byrne of Cabinteely.
Robert Byrne married Mary Devereux
born circa 1745 7 Nov 1790 born circa 1770
died 7 Jan 1799 Kingstown died circa 1815
Lisbon
Robert Byrne third son of George Byrne and Clare Nugent born circa 1745. His father
died at Cabinteely in April 1763. Robert held large estates around Blackrock, Cabinteely,
Cornelscourt and also held land at Kevin Street and Richmond Hill (1782), Dublin. He
was the owner of most of the land on which the villages of Barndarrig and Kilbride
stood in Co Wicklow, as well as other lands in the area, amounting to almost 3,000
acres. His only sister married Hyacinth Skerrett at St Peter’s, Chester on 18 Apr 1768.
Hyacinth was from Finavarra, Co Clare. In 1773 Robert and his mother Clare were
returning from The Rock to Dublin when they were set upon up by footpads near the
Gallows Highway but Robert threatened to fire on them and they managed to escape.
He put the mansion house and 40 acres in Cabinteely up for lease in 1787 as he was
living in Nice but it appears not to have been leased by anyone. In 1789 he was living
at Peter’s Street and again had the mansion house up for lease. He married Mary
Devereux on 7 Nov 1790 at Kingstown. (ML 18 Jul 1790). Mary was the daughter of
Robert Devereux of Carrickmennan and Mary Ward of Co Wexford. He had stables
at Cabinteely and sold horses some for as much as 50 guineas. In 1793 he supplied
50 yards of flannel for waistcoats to be used by the British and Irish Army serving
abroad. In 1794 Robert hosted the wedding of John Burke and Mary Byrne, only
daughter of the late John Byrne of Bordeaux at Cabinteely House. Robert died at
Lisbon on 7 Jan 1799 and his body was repatriated. His remains were interred in
the family vault at Kill ’O the Grange. In his will he mentions his daughters and wife,
his cousin Richard Byrne of Dublin, nephew William Skerrett of Clare, Clare Skerrett
and his uncle Gregory Byrne.
Mary devoted her life to the education of her three daughters. She was a friend of
Madame Angelica Catalani the Italian opera singer, and escorted her when she
visited Dublin in August 1807 to appear at the Rotunda (Madam was reputed to have
been paid 1200 guineas for her 3 nights on stage). It was reported that Mary died in
June 1808 near Dublin from a fractured skull. She was returning to Cabinteely having
attended a masquerade ball in Dublin when a stone was thrown at her carriage, the
carriage was upset and she was thrown to the ground. Rumours of her demise were
untrue and the following week it was reported that she was on the road to recovery.
She was alive when her daughter Mary died in 1810, died circa 1815 and was buried
with her husband.
1 Mary Clare Byrne eldest daughter baptised 7 Oct 1791 at the Pro Cathedral. She
was well educated and expert in both the classics and modern languages. Her
education was considered to go beyond what was considered to be suitable for
a female of the time. She was heiress to her father’s estates when she reached
her majority. She died a spinster aged 19 on the 14 Mar 1810 at Madeira where
she had repaired for the recovery of her health. Her body was repatriated and
arrived back in Ireland on the 13 Apr 1810 and she was buried at Kill O’ The
Grange graveyard.
2 Clarinda Mary Byrne born circa 1796 was entitled to 20K from her father’s
estate when she reached her majority. She became heiress of the whole estate
on the death of her elder sister. She was living at Cabinteely in 1817 and in
1825 she was approached by the Dublin to Kingstown Railway Company to sell
land at Castlebyrne. In 1833 she sold the land known as Newtown on the
strand and Newtown Castle Byrne partly in the County of the city of Dublin and
partly in the Parish of Monkstown to them for £2700. In 1836 she was robbed
while heading to visit Lord Talbot in Malahide. The frequently spent a few nights
at Dublin hotels on returning from England or the continent. They were at the
Shelbourne in March 1837. In June 1840 the vault at Kill O’ The grange was broken
into. The remains of three coffins were scattered to the ground and the 3 lead
lined coffins were stolen. By 1841 nearly the entire of Blackrock was out of lease.
It was reported that the Misses Byrne, of Cabinteely, intended to erect some
splendid mansions there and were asking 15s. a foot for the unlet portion of the
building ground. The sisters were still in Cabinteely in1846 but spent much time
abroad attending theatres, balls, fancy dress parties etc. On a return visit in 1846
they visited upwards of fifty destitute families in the area and provided them with
money, tea, sugar and clothing. By 1847 they were living most of the time in
London and regular attendees at Covent Garden. Clarinda died a spinster 1850
at Hyde Park Place, London and was buried at All Souls Catholic Cemetery in
Chelsea on 3 Aug 1850. Probate to her sister Georgiana.
3 Georgiana Mary Byrne baptised at Kingstown in August 1798. She and her sister
were presented to the Queen in 1831, wearing White crape dresses, richly
embroidered with gold mounts and wreaths round the dresses; epaulettes,
mantilla, and sabots of blonde with headdresses of feathers and diamonds. They
were regular guests to the Mansion House. Georgiana became a member of the
Kingstown Benefit society in 1837. Later that year she travelled from Liverpool
back to Dublin, onboard the HM Thestis with the Earl and Countess of County
Meath and Lord Clonmel. Giovanni Battista Rubini, the Italian tenor stayed with
them in Cabinteely in 1838. He was engaged to appear in Dublin with Madam
Fanny Tacchinardi Persiani and Emiliami (who stayed with Sir Harcourt Lees. The
two surviving sisters donated large sums of money for the provision of the poor in
Cabinteely, Kingstown and Stillorgan. They were major benefactors to the
rebuilding of Cabinteely church (1822-1836), the building of the Sisters of Mercy
Covent, Booterstown in 1838 and the building of St John the Baptist Church in
Blackrock in the early 1840’s. As youngest and last surviving daughter Georgiana
died a spinster on 28 Nov 1864 at 15 St George’s Place, Hyde Park Corner,
Knightsbridge, Middlesex and left 40K in personal estate. Her executors were
Edward Philip Collins of Victoria Cottage, Osborne, Isle of Wight and George
Thompson Gream of Upper Brook Street, Middlesex. The estate and representation
of the O'Byrnes, of Cabinteely, passed to her heir, William Richard O’Byrne of Grove
House, Hayes Middlesex. In 1865 her will was contested as a second will had
been found in which she appointed the Deveroux's her executors, and left her
entire personal property to Eliza Sarah Burke, the wife of James R Burke, her
steward. The personal estate amounted to over 42K, but this case failed as the
real estate was not in her disposal to bequeath, having been made in settlement.
William Richard O'Byrne was was the author of 'The Naval Biography' and other
meritorious and popular works. He lived at Cabinteely House and was appointed JP and
Sheriff of Co Wicklow. He was later an MP. He gave half yearly entertainment to the
tenants on his failing estates in Wicklow. Most of the lands were sold through the
Encumbered Courts. W R married but had no issue and died in July 1896 aged 73 leaving
little in the way of personal estate.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - April 2023