Origins of Newport
The Barony of Burrishoole stretches from Kilmeena to Achill. Burrishoole and Murrisk were once O'Malley territories, but were taken over by the Butlers, Earls of Arran. In the seventeenth century, Charles Butler sold the 70,000-acre Burrishoole Estate to Thomas Medllycott.The only town on the estate had developed around the Dominican Friary and the De Burgo Castle at Burrishoole, about two miles west of the present site of Newport. Although Burrishoole was a small settlement, it was a thriving trading port.
Around 1700, the Meddlycotts leased the land to Captain John Pratt, a clerk of the Treasury. Captain Pratt decided to build a new town at Baile Uí bhFiacháin, a green site on the estuary of the Black Oak River. He chose this site because of its harbour and because the surrounding land was suitable for growing flax. He modestly called the town Newport Pratt. Click HERE for information on the O'Donels |
Captain Pratt encouraged a community of Quaker weavers to settle in the town. He may also have encouraged other Protestant settlers. Except for some tradesmen, locals do not appear to have settled in the town. A listing of names of Burrishoole residents from Griffiths Valuation underlines the difference in family names between the town and countryside. Landlords at the time were very anxious to acquire Protestant tenants. Quaker tenants, in particular, were welcomed, as they were noted for their honesty, industry and sobriety.
The Quakers lived in Meddlycott St. where they struggled to survive. They never managed to set up a meetinghouse or buy a graveyard and relied on the support of Quakers in Dublin and Belfast. They also lost children because of the lack of medical facilities. When their surviving children came to a marriageable age, they realised that their community was too small for them to be able to marry within their own religion. They left Newport around 1750 because of the combination of poverty and isolation. Captain Pratt also struggled to survive. Despite his efforts, the linen industry did not thrive. It was too far from Castlebar, the main trading centre and the industry in Ireland was going through a period of recession. Pratt went bankrupt and his lease reverted to the Medlycotts. They employed James Moore as their agent, a very astute man. He re designed the town and encouraged trading and for a number of years Newport thrived. The Medlycotts then got into financial difficulties, probably following the death of James Moore in 1765. They sold the estate to John Browne, Lord Altamont of Westport, who leased it back to them in perpetuity. The Medlycotts then sold that lease to Sir Neal O'Donel in 1785 for the huge sum of £33,589. The O'Donels settled in Seapoint House in Melcomb Bay, an inlet situated a mile east of Newport Harbour. (Click here for more on the O'Donel family) |