Curraghchase Forest Park

Curraghchase is a 774-acre (3 km2) forest park located in County Limerick. It is 20 km from the city of Limerick, between the towns of Adare and Askeaton. The land was the Hunt/de Vere family estate for 300 years (1657–1957), including the period of the de Vere baronets, also serving as the home of renowned poet and critic Aubrey Thomas De Vere.[1][2]

Curraghchase Forest Park
Entrance
Location in Ireland
LocationKilcornan, Limerick, Ireland
Coordinates52°35′40″N 8°52′15″W
Area774 acres (3 km2)
Governing bodyCoillte

Archaeology

In the park area there are 8 classified sites; 1 cairn, 2 enclosures, 3 ringforts, 1 standing stone and the 18th century house probably built on the site of Curragh Castle which is mentioned in Desmond Roll.[3]

Environment

The park consists of mainly broadleaf and mixed woodland with some mature conifer stands, parkland with some of the area under water. The woods occur on low limestone ridges. Conservation of rare Yew (Taxus Baccata) core area has also been ongoing together with other conservation initiatives including the development of a new Summer Bat Roost area for the Lesser Horseshoe Bat.[4] The hawfinch, generally a very scarce bird in Ireland, is a regular winter visitor, forming flocks of between 15 and 30 birds.

History

Curragh House (Curraghchase explained below) was built in 1657 by Vere Hunt, an officer in Oliver Cromwell's army and a descendant of the Earl of Oxford, who traced their lineage to Aubrey de Vere I, a tenant-in-chief in England of William the Conqueror in 1086.[5] Hunt was granted the land, which consisted of 380 acres (1.5 km2) originally owned by John Fitzgerald, as one of the Cromwellian plantations.

The estate remained home of the Hunt/De Vere family for over 300 years.[1] The existing house dates from the early nineteenth century, rebuilt by Sir Aubrey (Hunt) de Vere, 2nd Baronet.[6]

The estate was originally called Curragh (meaning 'marshy plain' in Irish). When the 2nd Baronet changed his surname by royal licence to de Vere in 1833 to reflect his de Veres of Oxford lineage, he also changed the name of the property from Curragh to Curraghchase. The 2nd Baronet was a noted poet, and his third son, Aubrey Thomas De Vere, is a renowned poet and critic.

The younger Aubrey recalled that the lake at the bottom of the house was rich meadow when he was in his youth. A slender stream divided this meadow. Across the lake a monument to the de Vere family stands on a small hill. Near the house, there is a small cemetery to the de Vere's family pets.

Tennyson spent some time as a guest at Curraghchase and wrote the poem Lady Clara Vere de Vere to show his close friendship with the family.[7]

The house was accidentally destroyed by fire in December 1941.[8] The grounds at Curraghchase were bought by the State in 1957 and the property is now used as commercial timber. Some of the state forest is used as a public amenity and includes tourist trails, camping and caravan park facilities, which make the area a popular tourist attraction.

Lady of the Lake legend

On the eastern side of the house is an artificial lake. Historic maps display a Lady's Island within this lake.[9] During a visit, Tennyson told of seeing the mystic arm of the Lady of the Lake thrust above the waters. A century later during a Christmas party at the house, rose a cry of acute anguish and of such force that even above a storm occupants of the room heard it distinctly. Looking out to the lake they saw a figure of a woman, redly aglow as if sheathed and point with arm outstretched, toward Curragh Chase. It was this storm that caused a limb to crash through one of the windows, knocking over candelabra and creating a fire that destroyed the house. On every Christmas Eve thereafter, the burning figure of a woman was seen floating on the waters of the lake.[10]

Other notable born here

Henry Hunt (1707-1796), the first to hold the titles of State Apothecary and Governor of the Apothecaries Hall of Ireland (son of John "of Glangoole" Hunt and his second wife Margaret Bowles)

Contra Burke’s Landed Gentry, his wife was Elizabeth Kiernan married 1742 rather than Grace Forsyth in 1747. As State Apothecary, he was succeeded by his son James, his nephew George Kiernan followed by Thomas Hunt. James and George also served terms as Governor.

References
  1. "Curraghchase House & Woods". Ask About Ireland. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  2. "Curraghchase Forest Park". Failte Ireland. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  3. "Archaeological Survey Database Currahchase Townland". National Monuments Service. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  4. "Curragh Chase Forest Management Plan" (PDF). Coillte. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  5. John Burke, A General and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire (Volume 1, H. Colburn, 1833), 351.
  6. "Sir Aubrey de Vere" (PDF). Limerick City and County Council. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
  7. Joyce, Mannix (1964). Adare and Its Poets (PDF). The Capuchin Annual. p. 330.
  8. "Archaeological Survey Database SMR No LI011-119". National Monuments Service. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  9. "Historic Map Series". Ordnance Survey Ireland. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  10. Reynolds, James (4 August 1957). "Scorched Spirit of Curragh Chase". St Petersburg Times.
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