What ever happened to the old Estates?

THE rise and fall of Landed Estates in the north west will be the topic under the microscope at Sligo Field Club’s annual conference this weekend at the Sligo Park Hotel.

A number of expert historians will take to the stage for a series of lectures including Professor Raymond Gillispie of NUI Maynooth, Economist Desmond Norton and Dr. David Fleming of UL.

Talks will include the transfer of land from Celtic Lords to Landlords in the 16 th and 17 th centuries and ‘Life in the Big House.’ By the 18th century when Catholic Irish held a mere 5% of land, new ownership and its power were expressed in the building of great houses. In this respect the role of the Temple and Wynne families in Sligo and their powerful influence will also be discussed.

That power would not, however, last and following the economic downturns of the 1800s, bankruptcies and tenant agitation inevitably led to collapse and the assisted purchase of their land by in excess of 80% of tenants.

That transfer will be considered by Prof. Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh in Land Agitation, Land Acts and social change in Ireland 1870-1914. The survival of some will be discussed by Country House Historian David Hicks in Chronicles for Change.

His lecture will focus on the survival of estates such as Lissadell and Glenveagh. The conference fee will be €60.00 Further details are available at www.sligofieldclub.com and on Facebook