Knockdrin
Encyclopedia
Mullingar
Mullingar is the county town of County Westmeath in Ireland. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act of 1542, proclaimed Westmeath a county, separating it from Meath. Mullingar became the administrative centre for County Westmeath...
, in County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It is home of the Westmeath Hunt, and its most notable building is Knockdrin Castle.
Castle
Knockdrin Castle is an eighteenth century neo-Gothic castellated mansion, and currently the home of the von Prondzynski family. The current owner, Ferdinand von ProndzynskiFerdinand von Prondzynski
Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski is the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland. He is known as a lawyer, a legal academic, a high profile public commentator and a university leader in Ireland and Scotland...
, was President of Dublin City University
Dublin City University
Dublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland...
from 2000 to 13 July 2010, and is now Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Robert Gordon University
Robert Gordon University
Robert Gordon University is located in Aberdeen, Scotland. Building on over 250 years involvement in education, it was granted university status in 1992. Robert Gordon University currently has approximately 16,407 students at its two campuses at Garthdee and the City Centre, studying on over 145...
, Aberdeen, Scotland.
Until the 18th century the main residence on the estate was a Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
castle which was destroyed by fire. The main part of the present castle was built in the late 18th century by Sir Richard Levinge, Lord Lieutenant of Westmeath
Lord Lieutenant of Westmeath
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Westmeath. The office was created on 23 August 1831.* George Nugent, 1st Marquess of Westmeath 7 October 1831 – April 1871...
, although there were further alterations and additions that were completed by the mid-19th century. The Levinges came to Ireland with the Williamite
Williamite
Williamite refers to the followers of King William III of England who deposed King James II in the Glorious Revolution. William, the Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, replaced James with the support of English Whigs....
s, in the late 17th century. The first Sir Richard Levinge was Lord Chief Justice of Ireland
Lord Chief Justice of Ireland
thumb|200px|The Four CourtsThe headquarters of the Irish judicial system since 1804. The Court of King's Bench was one of the original four courts that sat there....
and a member of the Lords Commissioners, who were appointed by the crown to settle all the land questions which had arisen in Ireland after the Cromwellian conquest
Cromwellian conquest of Ireland
The Cromwellian conquest of Ireland refers to the conquest of Ireland by the forces of the English Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Cromwell landed in Ireland with his New Model Army on behalf of England's Rump Parliament in 1649...
, the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
and the Williamite Wars
Williamite war in Ireland
The Williamite War in Ireland—also called the Jacobite War in Ireland, the Williamite-Jacobite War in Ireland and in Irish as Cogadh an Dá Rí —was a conflict between Catholic King James II and Protestant King William of Orange over who would be King of England, Scotland and Ireland...
. Sir Richard took advantage of his position to purchase Knockdrin Estate from the Tuites
Risteárd de Tiúit
Risteárd de Tiúit was a member of Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke's Irish invasion force, and Lord Chief Justice of Ireland...
, who were the Norman-Irish
Hiberno-Norman
The Hiberno-Normans are those Norman lords who settled in Ireland who admitted little if any real fealty to the Anglo-Norman settlers in England, and who soon began to interact and intermarry with the Gaelic nobility of Ireland. The term embraces both their origins as a distinct community with...
owners up to that time. At the time there were over 12000 acres (48.6 km²).
The present estate of about 1000 acres (4 km²) was laid out as a hunting ground. Lord Randolph
Lord Randolph Churchill
Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill MP was a British statesman. He was the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough and his wife Lady Frances Anne Emily Vane , daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry...
and Lady Churchill, parents of Winston
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
were frequent visitors. Jennie Churchill declared that the foxes were as wild as the locals. Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
himself privately visited the castle during the War of Independence.
During World War II, the castle was taken over for troop accommodation and was occupied by a company of the 6th (Dublin) Infantry of the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
. The Army left in 1945 and handed the castle back to the Levinges.
The Levinges owned Knockdrin until 1946, although the last Sir Richard Levinge (later a Director of Guinness
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
) had by then not lived there for some time. In that year the estate was sold to Paddy Dunne-Cullinan, who remained there until 1961 when he in turn sold the estate to Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
Hans and Baroness
Baroness
Baroness is the female equivalent of the nobility title Baron.Baroness or The Baroness may also refer to:* Baroness , a metal band from Savannah, Georgia* Baroness , a fictional villain in the G.I...
Irene von Prondzynski from Germany. The arable land is now leased but the family continues to live in the castle. Until the mid 19th century the castle and estate were called "High Park". The property was then renamed Knockdrin, after a hill on the estate; the name is also related to Lough Drin, a small lake on the estate. The Irish name for the locality is "Muine Liath which means Grey Shrubbery.
Other Westmeath Castles
- Ballinlough CastleBallinlough CastleSituated in an area of County Westmeath, near the rural town of Clonmellon is Ballinlough Castle. This old castle is perched upon a hill overlooking two of the Westmeath lakes. The 17th century castle is the home of Sir Nicholas and Lady Nugent....
- Delvin Castle
- Killua CastleKillua CastleKillua Castle, and the nearby Raleigh Obelisk, are situated near Clonmellon town, in north County Westmeath. The castle and the obelisk are separated by some 200 m to 300m, and belonged to the Chapman family more than two centuries ago, beginning with Captain Benjamin Chapman, patriarch of the...
- Tullynally CastleTullynally CastleTullynally Castle is a castle situated some 2km from Castlepollard on the Coole village road in County Westmeath, Ireland. The famous British Army general, Sir Edward Pakenham GCB, was born and raised in the house...
- Tyrrellspass CastleTyrrellspass CastleTyrrellspass Castle, dating back to circa 1411, is situated in the town of Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath, on the west side of the village. It is the only remaining castle of the Tyrrells, who came to Ireland around the time of the Norman Invasion....