Newpark Country House - The Levinge Family

The Levinge family had originally arrived in Ireland in the 1600's when Sir Richard Levinge, Knight & Baronet, was appointed Solicitor general for Ireland. In 1860 Newpark House was destroyed by fire as reported in the 'Westmeath Independant', It was then bought by a levinge descendant Marcus Anthony Levinge, J.P. for Roscommon & Westleath who lived at Newpark until his death in July 1908, he was 90 years old. Marcus was suceeded by his son Frederick who took over until his death in 1933, who then left the property to his niece Emma who was married to Col.Andrews of the British Army, they resided in England. As a Protestant estate with connections to the British army, this unfortunately had consequences for the house once more, as In 1938 an attempt to blow up Newpark was made with a bomb placed in a window, which luckily caused little damage.

Marcus' Levinge eldest daughter married Charles Seymour in 1871, who lived at Ballymore castle, Lawrencetown, Nr. Eyrecourt, Co.Galway. (The Seymour family are mentioned in famed Irish -Australian author Thomas Kineally's best-seller 'The great Shame' in 1998)

This is a link of interesting Irish books based on history along with the 'Great Shame' by Thomas Keneallys' who also wrote 'Shindler's List'
Newport Irish Museum Book CatalogTitle: The Great Shame: And The Triumph Of The Irish In The English -Speaking World. Author: Keneally, Thomas. Publisher: New York : Nan A. Talese
www.newportirishhistory.org/bookList.html


1939 there was a Land Sale of Newpark - organized by the Irish Land Commision on the basis of an absentee landlord. The land owned by Newpark was subdivided and sold on, the parcel of land with Newpark house itself was sold in 1940, the new owner had the roof and slates removed, the front door entrance pillars and flagstones sold off, leaving the house a derelict and roofless ruin, this was done so as to avoid paying rate charges & taxes.

Assassination of Mrs. Smyth of Newpark Country House

In 1830 Newpark House had passed back to Elizabeth the daughter of Mathew Lyster as she had become his sole heir, she married Ralph Smyth, and after her death the property passed to her second son Henry Mathew Smyth J.P of Barbavilla & Newpark.

The Rev. H.L.L.Denny, in his memorials of 'An Ancient House' , notes that Henry M. Smyth, was the target of an assasination attempt. Reading the memorials it appeared that Mr Smyth was one of the most popular landlords in the heart of Ireland, and a group of assassins chose him as their target in the hope that it would send out the message that nothing could save the landlords in Ireland from extermination.

On the 2nd April 1882, driving back to Newpark from the local parish church at kiltoom in their brougham carriage with a guest, a group of assassins waited in the woods close to the gatehouse of Newpark, Mr Smyth and his wife had exchanged seats to accomodate their guest, the brougham carriage was a small four wheeled covered carriage, that could comfortably carry two guests but could be addapted to carry extra passengers with foldaway seating as it had a narrow space underneath the drivers seat, obviously the assassins had assummed Mr. Smyth would be sat in his usual seat of the carriage and therefore fired their shots with this intention in mind, the consequences of this event was the murder of Mrs.Smyth.

After this tragedy Mr.Smyth sold the property to Murtagh the Miller who later sold it to Marcus Levinge in 1879 who refurbished the building after it had been gutted by fire in 1860.

Newpark Country House - The Lyster Family

John Lyster came to Ireland as Secretary to Judge Osbaldson built the original structure of Newpark House 1692 after the battle of Aughrim in 1691. (The Jacobite army of James 11 comprised of Old Irish & English, and was heavily defeated by the Williamites led by William of Orange.) Newpark still has the remains of the Jacobite ruins of the old courtyard & arched carriage rooms, with a secret passage & escape tunnel that travels under the fields to rise up the hillside and emerge at one of the Newpark lodge gate houses, this expressing the fear and subterfuge that was needed during this period of history and civil unrest for Newpark House.

After the death of John Lyster the estate of Newpark passed to his son Walter, who married Miss Blood, they had five children, his wife and all his children were murdered during the 1641 rebellion by the Irish. Anthony later remarried a catherine kilkenny and had two sons named Thomas & John, the younger son John leased the lands of Newpark from his elder brother Anthony, and then bought them in 1722, after his death Newpark was then inherited by Anthony Lyster who was married to Mary the daughter of Bryan Geoghegan the Chief of the ancient sept of McGeoghegan, their eldest son Mathew succeeded to the Estates of Newpark. Mathew Lyster was a Captain of the 9th Dragoons. In 1750 he became a justice of the peace, and in 1779, he died twenty years later in 1799, he was the last of the direct line of Lysters to live at Newpark.

O'Kelly Clan - hereditary treasures to the O'Connor Kings of Connacht

Newpark Country House stands on the ancient grounds of the O'Kelly Clan. In 1351 the O'kelly Chieftan William Boy (Bui-meaning golden haired), a prince of unbound munificence, held a great feast and invited a host of musicians and poets to spend Christmas with him at Galey Castle, on the bank of Lough Ree, just north of the present Newpark House. This grand gesture gave rise to the the expression 'Failte Ui Cheallaig', indicating a warm and hospitible welcome. In 1353 he founded the magnificent abbey of Kilconnel, the ruins of which are still well preserved.

The photo above is taken from the back of Moyvannan castle and shows The white building of Newpark behind and Lough Ree

The O'Kellys were said to be hereditary treasures to the O'Connor Kings of Connacht, and owned several castles throughout Eire including the local castles of Mote near Roscommon town, & Moyvannan castle located just above Newpark House. Moyvannan's earliest remaining link of its Celtic past is the Ringfort, known locally as the Fairy Fort, the remnants of which are on the drive up to the castle.

The O'Kelly Chieftans were to remain at Moyvannan castle, until the Tudor conquest of Ireland began in 1534 with Henry V111, and then further onslaught from Elizabeth 1 slowly crushed the Gaelic resurgence. As a consequence the best lands were confiscated for settling with Protestant English owners or Tenants. In 1643 Edmund Og O'Kelly was disposed of Moyvannan Castle his lands and estate for his part in the 1641 rebellion of the Old Irish. (part of his land was the Estate of Newpark House) Many castles were destroyed by Cromwells artillery, but Moyvannan survived possibly as it was used by Cromwells forces during the eleven years war, as a consequence of Cromwellian disposession, From the 17th & 18th century many O'Kelly's had been made paupers, and they were no longer affluent members of this major Clan of Ireland, and many of them left with the Wild Geese after the seige of Limerick, creating new careers and distinguishing them selves on the battle fields of Europe, usually fighting against the English.

Newpark Country House Kiltoom Eire

NEWPARK COUNTRY HOUSE Kiltoom in County Roscommon Eire, was reborn from the ashes of fire in 1860 and rebuilt in the Georgian style, but the original old Jacobite Courtyard and cellars beneath this house, still hold feelings of mystery and suspense, where an escape tunnel can be found and an old smoke room for preparation of food. The old map taken from our house records, shows the location of Newpark house to Moyvannan Castle (the ancient castle of the O' Kelly Clan), Lough Ree and Hodson Bay.

Inside the old Cellars beneath the house, which was originally the kitchens and lead into the old Jacobite courtyard, we are creating an atmosphere reminisant of the ancient celts, our bar will be renamed 'The Morrigan' in honour of the Celtic Goddess Morrigan who morphed into a crow and flew over the ancient battle fields, when she was known as Babd Catha, the battle Crow. Our function room will be redesigned also embracing the ancient celts, and will be named 'The Boar Hunt Banquet Hall' as the ancient celts hunted the wild boar through the forests of Eiru to feast on them on their banquet halls. We will also offer this exciting concept of a celtic banquet with a feast of a Hog - spit roast to cater for special events, weddings birthdays etc. We would like to think that one day someone would like to get mnarried here in our garden in the center of our stone circle surrounded by the love of their family and friends.

The work within the house courtyards and gardens have been a labour of love for the Zerbe family, it is a home that that they have embraced, repaired, and with help of friends thoughtfully infused with Celtic Georgian and Jacobite inspiration bringing together the periods that this house and its lands has lived through, from our gardens you can find a re-connection to your Celtic soul, here we have taken inspiration from the dolmain stones of Les Carrow a short journey from the house, and we have created our own stone circle known as the Seven Hathors, as seven is a symbolic mystical number. Huge boulders have been un-earthed from the grounds and we have used these to create our celtic garden. We have also started to create an organic garden and a herb garden.