Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Moore Hall

I recently wrote about the novel The Year of the French.  Important characters in the book (and in the revolt of 1798) were the George and John Moore, brothers, Catholics, and landed aristocracy in County Mayo.  When the French landed, young John, an ardent supporter of Irish independence, was named "President of the Government of the Province of Connaught" by General Humbert.  When the rebellion quickly collapsed John faced the death penalty but was saved by the behind the scenes intervention of his older brother who had influential friends in London, instead being sentenced to transport to Australia.  Unfortunately John took ill before he could leave Ireland and died at Waterford.

Moore Hall remained in the family into the 20th century.  During the Irish Civil War, George Augustus Moore supported entering into the treaty with England and the creation of the Irish Free State.  Anti-treaty forces burned down Moore Hall on February 1, 1923.

I've come across this photo of the ruins of Moore Hall, which now stands in a large public park, on the twitter feed of Abandoned Places.

No comments:

Post a Comment