Moorehall is situated on the shores of the beautiful Lough Carra approximately two miles from the village of Carnacon. It was named after the Moore family who occupied it since it was built in 1795. The Moores played a major role in the history and politics of Ireland. It was occupied until 1910 and then unoccupied, on and off, until 1923 when it was burned down during the Irish Civil War by the IRA and never restored.
Irish Civil War
It is the ancestral home of John Moore who was proclaimed the President of the Republic of Connacht by General Humbert in 1798 after The Races of Castlebar which was a battle that took place just 10 miles away, where the combined forces of the general's troops and the Irish rebels defeated the British Redcoats and took control of the town. It was also home to the famous Irish writer, George Moore with guests such as Lady Gregory and W.B. Yeats visiting Moore Hall. He was involved with the setting up of the Abbey Theatre and The Gaelic League. Another Moore, George Henry Moore, has a huge interest in horses (he had a brother, Arthur Augustus, who was killed after a fall from 'Mickey Free' in the 1845 Aintree Grand National). The Great Hunger hit Ireland in 1845, but it is noted that no one died on the Moore estate during the famine and no evictions were ever recorded. In 1846 George Henry's horse Corunna won the Chester Cup. He won £17,000. £500 was used so that every one of his tenants should receive immediate relief and another £500 went to the poorest people in Moore Hall in the form of a cow or some article of necessity.
British Red Coats
George Augustus Moore
Lady Gregory
William Butler Yeats
Abbey Theatre
George Henry Moore
Other notable members of the Moores are; George Moore (estate builder who was admitted to the Spanish Royal Court in the 1760s and made his money in wine and brandy, from his business operated from Spain), and Maurice Moore (who served with the Connacht Rangers in the Boer War and became involved in human rights issues).
Maurice George Moore
Connacht Rangers
South African War Memorial
There are conflicting opinions as to why Moorehall was burned down in 1923. Some say that an anti-treaty forces wanted to prevent pro-treaty forces from using the house as a military barracks. It was also anti-treaty policy to burn the houses of senators. They believed the senators had taken the side of the pro-treaty government by accepting a nomination to the Senate. The burning was a huge loss and a huge piece of Irish history went up in flames.
Mayo County Council has bought the estate and there is incredible work going on there at present. They are currently producing a master plan for the area which includes a 500-acre site and will see serious development for the whole area including the opening of new walks, development of the walled garden, and many more amenities for the community and will be a driver of tourism for the area.
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