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Geashill Old Photos
Click on a picture to get a better view.
Note that the photos are subdivided into four sections as follows,
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Gaelic Clans & Normans
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Early Digby Estate 1619-1850
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Late Digby Estate 1850-1912
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1912 to present
There is a description underneath each photo which includes a date where possible. The photos and images are listed in chronological order. If you look at them in series, they recount the history of the Geashill district over time.
Sources and copyright of images are given where possible.
Gaelic Clans & Normans
 1090 Book of LeinsterWithin the Book of Leinster dated approximately 1090, there is a large section called “Lebor Gabala Eireann” which translates as the “Book of Invasions of Ireland”. The Milesian invasion of Ireland including the brothers Heremon and Heber feature prominently. The battle at Geashill is only referred to by a paragraph describing how Palap the son of Heremon was killed with a spear by Conmeal the son of Heber, as he was struggling from water to land. This description begins [...] |  1415 Book of LecanThe book of Lecan completed in 1415 has some prose on the Battle of Geashill followed by a long poem with the title “Mag Dumach”. This title translated into English means the “Field of the Grave Mounds”. In many old documents the district of Geashill is also called Mag Dumach. So these two names describe the same location and refer to the same place. |  1565 The Cotton Map of Geashill Barony (granted to Lady lettice)A very early map of Geashill Barony (Tovo Geishel). Names include; Keleurine, Kiligh, Geisshell & Anogharve. There is a lot of forestry (green), bogland (brown) and farmland (yellow). The Tullamore river (blue), esker ridge (brown) and roads (black lines) are shown. |
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Early Digby Estate 1619-1850
 Portrait of Thomas MallinsonHe was the chief architect on the Geashill Estate from 1861 to 1875 and was responsible for many of the improvements to Geashill houses at that time. |  Picture4_editedThese maps were drawn to help transfer land from Catholic Irish to Protestant English, by Cromwell's forces. Geashill Barony is blank because the Digbys were already protestant and English. |  |
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 Inventory of Geashill CastleThis detailed inventory of all the contents of each room and outbuilding at Geashill Castle was written in 1628 and is archived in the British Museum. It is a scroll made from 13 pages of velum stitched together top to bottom with thread. The top of the scroll (left) shows the worn exterior, the centre (middle) describes the contents of the Great Chamber at Geashill Castle and the bottom of the scroll (right) is signed by several signatories. [...] |  Walls of Geashill CastleThis sketch of a portion of the walls of Geashill Castle is in the archives of Sherbourne Castle (Digby Estate). It shows different elevations such as the height of the causeway to the castle, the ground line and the top of the battlements. It might have been to calculate possible musket fire or for constructing defences. ©Sherbourne Castle Estate |  Geashill CastleAn early photo of Geashill Castle taken in 1869. The ruins of the old Geashill Castle can be seen to the right, standing on a motte hill with Norman origins dating to 1195. The new Geashill Castle or manor house on the left was built in the 1820s and was the residence of the estate agent. Both were destroyed by fire in the struggle over land and political independence, the old Geashill Castle in 1642 after Lady Lettice Offaly departed and the new Geashill Castle in 1922 at the beginning of [...] |
1565 The Cotton Map of Geashill Barony (granted to Lady lettice)A very early map of Geashill Barony (Tovo Geishel). Names include; Keleurine, Kiligh, Geisshell & Anogharve. There is a lot of forestry (green), bogland (brown) and farmland (yellow). The Tullamore river (blue), esker ridge (brown) and roads (black lines) are shown. |  1641 List of the defenders of Geashill Castle (Siege of Geashill)List of the defenders of Geashill Castle during the siege. It gives 40 names and weapons used. Locations defended include; the black castle (main castle), north battlement, walkway to the black castle, Lord’s chamber, great chamber, the nursery and parlour. © Sherbourne Castle |  1641 List of the defenders of Geashill Castle (Siege of Geashill)List of the defenders of Geashill Castle during the siege. It gives 40 names and weapons used. Locations defended include; the black castle (main castle), north battlement, walkway to the black castle, Lord’s chamber, great chamber, the nursery and parlour. © Sherbourne Castle |
 1628 The Great Chamber at Geashill Castle (Lady Lettice)Sketch of the Great Chamber in the old castle at Geashill, based on the 1628 inventory, which describes tables, chairs, stools, oriental carpets, curtains on a pole, portraits & wood carvings on the walls, fire tongs & shovel, and an armoury of pikes in the corner. © Racel McKenna |  1641 Poem “Monstrum Horendum” (Siege of Geashill)This poem about the Siege of Geashill castle was written in 1641 by a defender inside the castle walls, about the O’Dempseys attacking the castle walls. It describes the battering ram (sow pig) and cannon (great gun) used by the O’Dempseys during the siege. The manuscript is kept in Trinity College archives. © Trinity College archives. |  Portrait of Lady Lettice Baroness OffalyShe was married for 20 years to Robert Digby and had 10 children. This portrait shows her as an elderly widow dressed in black. She was granted the Geashill Estate (30,000 acres) in 1619 by King James 1st which survived for 300 years until circa 1912. Lady Lettice was the last person to live in the old castle before it was destroyed by fire after the Siege of Geashill. © Sherbourne Castle |
Late Digby Estate 1850-1912
 | Geashill CastleAn early photo of Geashill Castle taken in 1869. The ruins of the old Geashill Castle can be seen to the right, standing on a motte hill with Norman origins dating to 1195. The new Geashill Castle or manor house on the left was built in the 1820s and was the residence of the estate agent. Both were destroyed by fire in the struggle over land and political independence, the old Geashill Castle in 1642 after Lady Lettice Offaly departed and the new Geashill Castle in 1922 at the beginning of the I |  |
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 1838 Map of GeashillAll of Ireland including Geashill was mapped in the early 1830s. These maps showed great details and are a historical treasure trove of information. When you zoom into Geashill village note the following 1 Geashill Post Office 2 The pound (for impounding straying livestock). 3 Geashill Medieval Castle in ruins. 4 Geashill Castle (Manor House) 5 Gate Lodge to Geashill Castle. 6 Driveway to Geashill Castle along the esker hills from the east. 7 Tree lined driveway to Geashill Castle [...] |  Houses on the Ballinagar RoadThe improvements from the 1860s gave most houses a slate roof with decorated timber facia boards, tall chimneys and stone pillars with forged steel gates. Briscoe’s (left), Sheils (centre), Mangan’s High Chaparral (right) |  Houses on the Ballinagar RoadNeatly thatched roof houses with decorated timber facia boards. Windows are made from pivoting cast iron sashes and entrance doors have a porch towards the public street. Entrance to Quinn’s yard (right), Feery family home (centre) |
 |  1895 Geashill Castle GardensThe old gardens at Geashill Castle located behind the high wall beside the main road. A grass tennis court with children playing with a donkey can be seen in the foreground. A large copper beech located in front of the manor house and the coach house to the right has a green house on its southern side. |  |
 1905 Geashill Castle GardensThis photo shows Reginald Digby and friends during a sociable occasion in the gardens of Geashill Castle. He was Geashill Estate agent for 40 years from 1873 to 1922. He oversaw the change of ownership of estate lands, from tenant farmers to owner farmers, as directed by the land commission from 1902 to 1915. |  1902 Geashill Children’s PartyIt was customary for estates to have a children’s party every summer for the children of employees and tenants. This is a picture of such a children’s party at Geashill Castle in 1902. The local newspaper described it as a fun day for all and most enjoyable with music provided by the Daingean Reformatory Band, followed by games such as the three legged race and sac racing. The food was handed out through a window from the castle kitchen. |
Recent Photos 1912-Present
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 1922 Free State Army soldiers garrisoned in the Old SchoolThis photo shows Free State Army soldiers in the Old School during the Irish civil war. The windows and entrance are fortified with sand bags against bullets and the tricolour flag is placed on a pole over the front door. |  |  |
 |  1922 Free State Army soldiers outside the recently burned Geashill CastleThis photo shows the same Free State Army soldiers on the lawn in front of the recently burned out Geashill castle in 1922. |
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