Henry Mc Ilhenney (1911-1986)

Henry Mc Ilhenney bought Glenveagh in 1937. He was an Irish-American whose grandfather,John Mc Ilhenney invented the first gas meter. For seven years before his death in 1925, he was president of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. His son, Henry, inherited his artistic instinct and art collecting became the focus of his own life. On buying the castle, he at once started to search for contents to to with the building, but his plans were interrupted by the outbreak of Second World War in 1939. He served with the American Navy for the period of the war, but by 1947, was able to return to Glenveagh and to its redecoration.

From then until 1983, he stayed for several months each year at Glenveagh, where he devoted much time to restoring the castle and developing its gardens.He was visited at his remote hide-away by leading figures of international society, including the screen actors Greta Garbo and Grace Kelly,and he carried on the 'Big House' lifestyle until his departure, though it had died out in almost all Irish country houses many years before. After Henry Mc Ilhenney retired from the museum in 1964, immediately becoming a trustee and later chairman of the board, he had more time to enjoy Glenveagh, and his summer visits often extended to five months. Glenveagh Blossomed under his watchful stewardship. Plants were sent to his garden from all over the world and new areas of the garden were planted and developed. A Swimming pool was built by the lakeside. The period in Glenveagh's history was remembered by Mr. Mc Ilhenny's guests as a golden age.

Eventually, Henry Mc Ilhenney began to find the travelling to and from Ireland too demanding, and the upkeep of the estate was also becoming a strain. In 1975 he agreed the sale of the Glenveagh estate to the Office of Public Works, allowing for the creation of a national park. In 1983, he bestowed the castle on the Nation, along with the gardens. He died unexpectedly in Philadelphia in 1986, at the age of 75. Glenveagh National Park opened to the public in 1984, while the castle was opened in 1986, a few months after its last private owner had passed away.

He had built himself a hermit's hut on Inishbofin, a small island off the coast of Donegal,and while staying on the island he went out for a walk on the shore one day and never returned. Some say he drowned others think he sneaked off to Paris, and the third theory goes that he was murdered by the local people of the island for having a love affair with one of the young ladies there!

Professor Arthur Kingsley Porter

Cornelia Adair (1838-1921)

Cornelia Adair married John George Adair in 1869 when he was forty-six years of age and she thirty-one. When her husband died in 1885 she opted to spend much of the next thirty years in Glenveagh where she bscame a society hostess of note, and became well liked in the locality, unlike her husband. She continually sought to improve the castle's comforts and the beauty of its grounds, carrying out major improvements to the estate and laying out the gardens. 

John George Adair & Derryveagh Evictions (1823-1885)

Once in possession of Glenveagh, Adair thought it wise to erect a police barracks for the Royal Irish Constabulary. Adair also built a pound for 'trespassing' livestock, even though there were no fences to stop livestock from straying, as tenants could rarely afford such a luxury. Besides collecting fines for straying animals and prosecuting a number of tenants for alleged sheep-stealing , Adair caused further ill feeling by bringing Scotsmen to work on his estate.

Adair, of Scottish descent, was a well to do land speculator from Queen's County, who, on visiting the District in 1857, observed that "He was enchanted by the surpassing beauty of the scenery" In August of that year, we learn that he made his first purchase of property in the Glenveagh area. He later acquired over 28000 acres to create the Adair Estate. This included Gartan, Glenbeagh and Derryveagh. After the initial purchase in the Glenveagh area, Adair began building up his estate gradually and in doing so he purchased what is termed "fee-farm" rights to Derryveagh. This gave him the right to receive from the grantor all the rents collected from the Derryveagh tenants, but not ownership of the land or the so called "sporting" (hunting and fowling) rights

The failure to take title to the land and obtain "Sporting Rights" triggered an incident that might have been a contributing factor in Adair's decision to clear out the Derryveagh tenants a few year later and in so doing to wipe out the hopes, dreams and fond memories of 244 human beings. It so happened that a year after he purchased the right to the rents of the Derryveagh tenants, he decided one day to indulge in his favourite sport of fowling on "his" Derryveagh property. About a dozen or so tenants resented and resisted what they regarded as a trespass on "their" land. They proceeded to beat the bushes to spoil his sport and finally created a ring of persons at 50 paces around him and maintained that ring when he would move. This action infuriated Adair and he threatened them with his fowling gun. As he left the scene, he informed the tenants that "They would pay dearly". Eventually, that prediction came true, not just for the 12 present but for the entire Derryveagh population of 47 families. In 1859, Adair acquired title to all of Derryveagh and was in a position, if he so desired, to carry out his threat.

All the heads of families in the Derryveagh District presented themselves to Adair in Glenveagh Cottage on December 20,1860 so that he might personally accept their rent. He, however, had another motive and that was to inform them, one at a time, that he was contemplating "Rearranging the farm boundaries". These dreaded words gave them the first inkling of the evictions that would occur early in the following year.

On St. Patrick’s Day in 1861, Adair obtained a Writ of "Habere" giving him the right to take possession of the land and houses in Derryveagh. The stage was set for the drama that ensued. Adair, fearful that he might meet organized resistance, demanded and received a force of a 203 man Constabulary and "Inspectors" to carry out his vicious plan. In addition, he hired a 10 man "Crowbar Brigade" from County Tyronne all for the purpose of carrying out his evictions. The terror was executed between the Eighth and Tenth of April 1861.

An eye witness , apparently a Reporter from a Local Newspaper which, in the story of the agony of the widow McAward, encapsulates the heart-rendering agony of the 47 families evicted. It reads:

"The family of the Widow Mc Award was the first to face the terror of the Crowbar Brigade. The Sheriff, accompanied by Adair's new Estate Manager, approached the house where the poor Sixty Year old woman lived with her six daughters and one son and 'Long before the house was reached, loud cries were heard, piercing the air and soon the figures of the poor widow and her daughters were observed outside the house where they gave vent to their grief in strains of touching agony. Forced to discharge an unpleasant duty, the sheriff entered the house and delivered up possession to Mr. Adair's steward, whereupon a Crowbar Brigade of six men who had been brought from distance immediately fell to with right good will to level the house to the ground. The scene became indescribable. The bereaved widow and her daughters were frantic with despair and throwing themselves on the ground, they became almost insensible, and bursting out in the old Irish wail - then heard by many for the first time - their terrifying cries resounded along the mountains for many miles. They had been deprived of their only shelter - the little spot made dear to them by association of the past - and with bleak poverty before them and with only the blue sky to shelter them, naturally they lost all hope and those who witnessed their agony will never forget the sight.'"

The official Derryveagh Eviction Report tells us that there were 46 houses from which 47 families were evicted. 159 children were put out on the road. 28 homes were unroofed or levelled with only 4 families temporarily readmitted. 11,602 acres of land were seized. The total number of persons having only the sky for their shelter was 244. The author continues to relate the sad tale:

"By two, Wednesday afternoon, the terrible work had been accomplished and a deathly silence descended over the whole area. The Derryveagh District had been cleared of people and Adair had accomplished what the ravages of the Great Famine had failed to do. The Londonderry Standard of April 10, 1861 gives us the names and townlands of the victimized families. These are:

ALTNADOGUE

• Hugh Sweeney and two sons.
• James Sweeney, his wife and eight children.
• Owen Sweeney, his wife, mother and eight children.

ARDATUR 6 families of 32 persons to Workhouse. One family found to be wandering through the ruins of house Carr Family returned to former proprietor of the estate named Mr Johnston where they had once worked.

• Daniel Mc Award, his wife and six children.
• Charles Doohan, his wife, son and two grandchildren.
• William Doohan, his wife and four children.
• John Doohan, his wife and five children.
• Connell Doohan and his wife.
• Patrick Curran, his wife and five children.

BINGORMS Hanna Mc Award, widow and six children.

• Joseph Mc McCormick and five children.

CASTLETOWN Castletown a townland named after the cashel which is still in existence had an acreage of 251 acres. Of theses 206 were mountain.11 families on the 45 arable acres. One house still standing owned by John Friel, let remain Five families were in Workhouse - one of which, John Doherty a widower aged 80, died within 1 week of admission. Remaining families in Casheltown were still in neighbourhood.Family of Robert Burke had moved in with John Friel Robert Burke's wife old and sickly, and requiring immediate attention.

• Bryan Doherty, his child, mother and sister.
• Hugh Coll, his wife and four children.
• Patrick Devenny, his wife and two children.
• John Friel, his wife and two children.
• Michael Friel, his wife and two children.
• Robert Burke and his wife.
• Charles Callaghan
• John Moore, his wife and two children.
• Manus Rodden, his brother and two sisters - all orphans.
• Bernard Callaghan, his mother and brother.

CLAGGAN

• John Bradley, his wife and three children,allowed to stay as weekly tenant, the two other families moved in with him.
• Michael Bradley, his wife and four children.
• Catherine Conaghan, widow and two children.

DRUMNALIFFERNEY 2 families named Ward. Owen Ward and family of 6 got shelter with relatives in an adjoining parish. Mary Ward and children sent to workhouse.

• Owen Mc Award, his wife and four children.
• Mary Mc Award, widow and three children.

MAGHERNASHANGAN

• James McMonagle, his wife and six children.
• John Brady, his wife and five children.
• Francis Bradley, his wife and five children.
• Patrick Bradley, his wife and four children.
• John and Fanny Bradley - deaf and dumb - allowed to remain in possession at least temporarily.
• Roger O'Flanigan, his wife, mother and four children.

SRUHANGARROW 3 families,two of which went to the Workhouse, third family named Callaghan - still in neighbourhood and stayed with relatives.

• Edward Sweeney and his three children.
• Daniel Doherty, his wife, father and two children.
• Bryan Doherty, his wife and four children.

STAGHALL

• Daniel Friel, his wife, child, mother and father.
• William McAward, his wife and two children.
• James Doherty, his wife and child.
• James Lawn, his wife and nine children.

WARRENTOWN

• Edward Coyle, his wife and child.
• Knocker Friel, his wife and six children.
• Knocker Kelly and two others.
• William Armstrong and three children.
• Alexander Lawn, his wife and four children, evicted to workouse in Letterkenny.
• Rose Dermott - Orphan -evicted and house levelled

By April 13, 1861 some of the victims had left the District. Many found shelter with neighbours in defiance of Adair's edict or with tenants on estates of neighboring landlords. Forty Two persons however, ended up at that last stop, the poorhouse or workhouse as it was called. A Mr. Michael O'Grady, a Sydney, Australia representative of the London Insurance Company, together with others, founded the Donegal Relief Committee. Funds were collected for all in Donegal who would like to start a new life in Australia with the fund paying their passage and purchasing a farm for them.

In January of 1862, many of the younger Derryveagh victims took advantage of this offer and departed for Australia, first by train to Dublin accompanied by Father James McFadden, the parish priest in Falcarragh. He later became famous as the Patriot Priest of Gweedore. Father Mc Fadden gave a moving farewell address at a dinner arranged for them in a Dublin Hotel. 143 persons from Derryveagh, now joined by 130 Gweedore residents, boarded the Steamer, Lady Eglinton, headed for Liverpool on the first leg of their journey. They later sailed to the Land of the Southern Cross where each family was given a plot of land to cultivate. Here they began a happier and successful life. Their Descendants are numerous in this land of opportunity.

The story goes that when Adair moved out the valley he came as far as the Wards house. On entering, he discovered that the house was occupied by two 'dummies' (deaf mutes). " The track of the Lords hand is on this house", he said "and I will go no further". That is apparently how the evictions came to an end.

Mr Dolan tells us that John George Adair died of natural causes in 1885 and that his wife had the face of a large rock inscribed with his name and the inscription "Brave, Just and Generous". One night, during a raging thunderstorm, a bolt of lightning struck the rock and sent it crashing in bits to the bottom of the lake. May he rest in peace.