History of Estate

Kiltanon Home Farm is on the grounds of the Kiltanon Sport Estate and is 1,000 meters south west of Kiltanon House and Estate which can trace its history back to the seventeenth century when Ireland was first settled under the  ‘Plantation Policy’ of the English Government.

The folklore history of the Kiltanon Estate is that the lands were given to a Cromwellian soldier as payment for his services in the Cromwellian Army. After arriving in Galway Harbour, he began his journey on foot and crossing the mountain from Gort heading south for Tulla with the newly signed property deed on his person, he stopped a member of the Maloney clan at Laughan Bridge to ask directions to his estate.

‘Is the lands of Kiltanon as bad as all of the land around here? The soldier asked.

‘It’s worse’ said Maloney, pointing to the snow covered rocks and heather that formed part of the mountain and was many miles from the fertile Kiltanon lands.

Then I have no business being here’ replied the soldier, ‘do you want to buy it from me?’

Accepting what money Maloney had in his pocket as payment, he handed over the deed to Kiltanon Estate and returned to Galway. Thus, as local folklore has it, the property came into the Maloney family

‘The Houses of Clare’ book by Hugh W. L. Weir states that it was a James Maloney of Ballinahinch and Kiltannon who served in O’Brien’s regiment of foot in support of King James 11 (1633 – 1701) of England.

His property was saved at the Treaty of Limerick by a clause which exempted those from within the city walls. The Treaty of Limerick ended the Williamite Wars in Ireland between the Jacobites and the supporters of William of Orange. The Treaty really consisted of two treaties which were signed on 3 October 1691. Reputedly they were signed on the Treaty Stone, an irregular block of limestone which once served as a mounting block for horses. This stone is now displayed on a pedestal in Limerick City, because of the Treaty, Limerick is sometimes known as the Treaty City.

These articles dealt with the treatment of the disbanded Jacobite army. Under the treaty, Jacobite soldiers in formed regiments had the option to leave with their arms and flags for France to continue serving under James 11 in the Irish Brigade. Some 14,000 Jacobites chose this option and were marched south to Cork where they embarked on ships for France, many of them accompanied by their wives and children. Individual soldiers wanting to join the French, Spanish or Austrian armies also emigrated in what became known as the Flight of the Wild Geese.

Kiltanon Home Farm was built for Marcus Moloney J.P. son of James Maloney J. P. D. L. of Kiltanon who married Christina Emma of neighboring Tyredah Castle and acted as land agent for the family estate which comprised of 10,095 acres as per the ratable valuation (2,596.00 Pounds) of 1878.

Colonel Willie Moloney (1875 – 1960) of Kiltanon was the last of seven direct decedents to own Kiltanon. In 1922, during the War of Independence, Kiltanon House was burned to the ground and the Moloney family ousted but Kiltanon Home Farm was left un-touched.