Ballyoughter
Encyclopedia
Ballyoughter is an 18th century house and park situated about 1.5 km south of Elphin
, County Roscommon
, Ireland
.
The earliest historical reference to Ballyoughter is in the Annals of Connaught
which records that in 1542 Ulick Burke of Clanrickarde ‘took’ the residence of O Flannigan at Ballyoughter while on a military expedition in ‘Lower Connaught’.
The Goldsmith family acquired land at Ballyoughter sometime in the 17th century. Charles Goldsmith the father of the poet, playwright and novelist Oliver Goldsmith
was born at Ballyoughter in 1690. Oliver Goldsmith
lived at Ballyoughter with his uncle John Goldsmith for two years in the 1730s while he attended Elphin Diocesan School. It is believed that it was at Ballyoughter that he heard the blind harpist and composer Turlough O'Carolan
often referred to as the last of the Irish bards.
The Goldsmiths continued in possession of Ballyoughter until 1883 when another John Goldsmith sold the property.
Also in the parish of Elphin is Smith Hill
where Oliver Goldsmith
's mother Anne Jones was born.
Elphin, County Roscommon
Elphin, sometimes spelt Elfin , is a village in north County Roscommon, Ireland. It forms the southern tip of a triangle with Boyle and Carrick-on-Shannon to the north west and north east respectively. It is at the junction of the R368 and R369 regional roads...
, County Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
, 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...
.
The earliest historical reference to Ballyoughter is in the Annals of Connaught
Annals of Connacht
The Annals of Connacht, covering the years 1224 to 1544, are drawn from a manuscript compiled in the 15th and 16th centuries by at least three scribes, all believed to be members of the Clan Ó Duibhgeannáin....
which records that in 1542 Ulick Burke of Clanrickarde ‘took’ the residence of O Flannigan at Ballyoughter while on a military expedition in ‘Lower Connaught’.
The Goldsmith family acquired land at Ballyoughter sometime in the 17th century. Charles Goldsmith the father of the poet, playwright and novelist Oliver Goldsmith
Oliver Goldsmith
Oliver Goldsmith was an Irish writer, poet and physician known for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield , his pastoral poem The Deserted Village , and his plays The Good-Natur'd Man and She Stoops to Conquer...
was born at Ballyoughter in 1690. Oliver Goldsmith
Oliver Goldsmith
Oliver Goldsmith was an Irish writer, poet and physician known for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield , his pastoral poem The Deserted Village , and his plays The Good-Natur'd Man and She Stoops to Conquer...
lived at Ballyoughter with his uncle John Goldsmith for two years in the 1730s while he attended Elphin Diocesan School. It is believed that it was at Ballyoughter that he heard the blind harpist and composer Turlough O'Carolan
Turlough O'Carolan
Turlough Carolan, also known as Turlough O'Carolan, was a blind, early Irish harper, composer and singer whose great fame is due to his gift for melodic composition. He was the last great Irish harper-composer and is considered by many to be Ireland's national composer...
often referred to as the last of the Irish bards.
The Goldsmiths continued in possession of Ballyoughter until 1883 when another John Goldsmith sold the property.
Also in the parish of Elphin is Smith Hill
Smith Hill (house)
Smith Hill or Smithhill is an early nineteenth century house situated about 1.5 km east of Elphin, County Roscommon, in Ardnagowan. It is believed that the poet, playwright and novelist Oliver Goldsmith may have been born in an earlier house on the site while his mother, Ann Goldsmith , was...
where Oliver Goldsmith
Oliver Goldsmith
Oliver Goldsmith was an Irish writer, poet and physician known for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield , his pastoral poem The Deserted Village , and his plays The Good-Natur'd Man and She Stoops to Conquer...
's mother Anne Jones was born.