Our Story so far

Adare Manor derives its name from a feudal system introduced after the Norman invasion in Ireland around 1170. Rather than referring to a house, the term “Manor” designated a local administrative landholding. The lands of a Manor were divided between rented farms and the “demesne”, a reserved area for the landholder’s house and personal use. The Manor in Adare was granted to Geoffrey de Marisco, the king’s chief representative in Ireland. He then fell out of favour. When he died in exile his land was surrendered to Maurice Fitzgerald, his stepson.

The Quin family settles in Adare. The first recorded member of the family in the village was Donagh Quin (d. 1671) He was buried in the Franciscan Abbey, a sign that he was a highly-placed and well-respected member of the community. At the time of his death, his landholdings were relatively modest, producing about £100 a year in income. While this was a respectable living for the time, it was very far from a grand estate.

Valentine Quin, Thady’s eldest son, inherited his father’s property and leased land in Adare. He built on his father’s accomplishments and followed in his footsteps, buying the leased land outright and purchasing more in the 1720s. He also married a wealthy heiress, Mary Widenham of Court, Kildimo. Valentine probably built the first documented Quin family house in Adare. Built on the former manorial demesne, it was simply named “Adare House”. The two-story house faced south, with seven bays, a three-bay pedimented breakfront, and tall chimney stacks with a steeply pitched roof. The house faced over a plain garden with strict geometric topiaries, and the surrounding estate was dominated by formally laid out avenues and tall boundaries of trees.

Windham Quin’s eldest son, Valentine Richard Quin, married Lady Frances Muriel Fox Strangeways, daughter of the 1st Earl of Ilchester in 1777, by whom he had four children. He became a British Baronet in 1781 and was raised to the peerage in 1800 as Baron Adare.

Windham Henry Quin married Caroline Wyndham, the only surviving child of a wealthy Welsh entrepreneur and fellow MP, Thomas Wyndham of Dunraven Castle, Glamorganshire, South Wales. She saw her role as one of duty towards those less fortunate. The young couple settled in London at first. After the birth of their first child, Edwin in 1812, Windham and Caroline returned to live on the family estate in Adare. She established a School of Needlework during the years of the Irish Famine to provide training for local women.

Valentine Richard Quin, still living in England, was created Viscount Mount Earl.

The 1st Earl, Valentine Richard Quin, died, passing the title onto his son, Windham Henry Wyndham Quin, the 2nd Earl of Dunraven.

The 2nd Earl travelled to England and was once again inspired by the sublime architecture of the country houses and towers he saw. He also brought home advice from L.N. Cottingham, an architect who would become one of the most important contributors to Adare Manor. Cottingham, like the 2nd Earl, was a member of the Oxford Society for Promoting the Study of Gothic Architecture. He was engaged to assist with the interior design of the new building, although he had never visited Adare. By 1840, Cottingham was an integral member of the design team.

The 2nd Earl of Dunraven died, passing the Earldom onto his son, Edwin Richard Wyndham Quin. He married Augusta Charlotte Goold in 1836, her father was Master of Chancery in the Law Courts of Dublin. Following his succession to the family title, Edwin saw it as a duty to complete the rebuilding of the family home begun by his parents. There was still much work to be done to complete his father’s vision. As Lord Lieutenant from 1864 until his death in 1871, he acted as The Queen’s representative in County Limerick.

The 3rd Earl of Dunraven passed away. His son Windham Thomas Wyndham Quin became the 4th Earl of Dunraven. Windham served as a Lieutenant in the 1st Life Guards, a Cavalry regiment, later becoming a war correspondent for the London Newspaper: ‘The Daily Telegraph’. He married Florence March Kerr. They had three daughters: Florence, Rachel and Aileen. Windham presided over the Land Conference in 1902, which led to the Land Act a year later, a piece of legislature which enabled tenants to purchase land from their landlords under favourable conditions. He is shown here wearing the blue sash of the Order of St Patrick, painted in 1922, two years before his death. The galleon in the background recalls his interest in sailing. He was a challenger for the America’s Cup in 1893 and 1895.

As the 4th Earl of Dunraven died without a male heir, the Earldom passed to his cousin Windham Henry Wyndham Quin, who was the son of the 2nd Earl’s youngest son. Windham, the 5th Earl, had a distinguished military career, serving in the first and second Boer Wars. In the background of his portrait is a bronze sculpture of a mounted cavalry officer. A reference to his role as Commander of the Glamorgan Imperial Yeomanry: a volunteer cavalry regiment of the British Army. Windham Henry was elected as MP for South Glamorganshire in 1895 and again in 1900. He married Eva Constance Aline Bourke in 1885 She was the daughter of The Earl of Mayo of Palmerstown House, Naas Co Kildare. They had four children: Richard, Valentine, Olein and Kathleen.

After the death of the 6th Earl of Dunraven, the title is inherited by his only son, Thady Windham Thomas Wyndham Quin. He married Geraldine McAleer in 1969 and they have one daughter, Lady Ana. He devoted his life to the running of the Estates and campaigning for the disabled in Ireland; Thady had contracted poliomyelitis as an adolescent and was a wheelchair user for the rest of his life. He held the honour of Patron of the Irish Wheelchair Association for twenty years. With no male heir, the Earldom and his other titles became extinct on his death in March 2011.