Fascinating talk on Newabbey House

There was a great turn out for the latest Kilcullen 700 Historical Talk which was on the history of Newabbey House, writes Noel Clare. The talk was given by Colette Jordan, from Maynooth University, who was commissioned to research the history of Newabbey by the current owners Prince Khalidd Abdullah.

The talk spanned from the construction of the Abbey in the 1400s right up to the present day. The many families and individuals who both owned and leased the house and lands were mentioned with particular reference to the Brereton family who owned the property for a considerably long period. Of particular interest were letters from visitors to the house — mainly from relatives of the Brereton family — in the 1900s. They gave a great description of life at the house and also in Kilcullen and the surrounding area.

One particular letter recalled a visit to Newabbey and Kilcullen on Good Friday in 1965. It recalled a town where everywhere was closed up and no food or refreshments could be found and ‘large numbers of peasants’ were observed coming out from a service in the local church.

The letters, which are important primary sources of local history, were presented to Nessa Dunlea for safe keeping in Kilcullen.

There will be no talk in August and the next scheduled talk in the series will be in September and will be about the toll road to Kilcullen.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy