Ardo Castle

This house had a long history being mentioned as far back as the "Civil Survey 1654-56". At that time the property consisted of 280 acres and was valued at £23. The history of the house begins in the 17th century. It passed through the FitzGeralds and Prendergasts eventually coming into the possession of the Coghlan family in 1718. The Coghlan family occupied it in the 18th and 19th century. The Coghlans were descendants from an ancient Irish family, Ó'Cochlain. There are many early 18th century references to the Coghlans in relation to trade with Bristol, Waterford and Newfoundland. In the 19th century Ardo was occupied by the Lawlor family who added further towers to the building. The next owner was Sir Joseph Neale McKenna who is buried along side his wife in a mausoleum by the entrance gate. Ardo House was at its best during the years 1860-1900. By the end of the 19th century Ardo was passed to Marshal McMahon, first President of the Third French Republic. It was later sold but remained unoccupied and eventually the roof collapsed and so fell into ruin in 1920's.

Marhsal MacMahon's family came from the western peninsula of County Clare, where the MacMahons were Gaelic lords of Corco-Bhaiscinn. Marshal MacMahon's family were a branch of the senior MacMahon family, the Lords of Clonderlaw, the Marshal's family being Lords of Feenish and Rinanagh. Ultimately the Marshal was descended from Mahon, the son of Muirchertach Ua Briain, King of Ireland who died in 1119 AD, who in turn was a great grandson of the famous High-King of Ireland, Brian Boru. According to Chevalier O'Gorman's research the Marshal's family were 'descended, branched off from the House of Clondirala, about the year 1490: this branch was also despoiled of its inheritance about the same time by Cromwell'. For his research into the MacMahon family O'Gorman used medieval Gaelic genealogical manuscripts preserved in Trinity College Dublin, as well as the Book of Lecan, which O'Gorman referred to as 'highly esteemed by the savans of Ireland', and which was 'deposited in the Irish library at Paris', at the time, as well as a collection of Co. Clare genealogies compiled in 1698 'by an historiographer of Thomond'.

Source: http://www.familyhistoryireland.com/genealogy-ancestry-search-services