James Comyn SC (Senior Counsel) was indeed the brother of Michael Comyn KC (King’s Counsel). Both were prominent Irish barristers from County Clare, known for their nationalist leanings and legal work in the early 20th century. They were born to James Comyn, a tenant farmer, and Ellenora Quin in Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare.

• James Comyn SC (father of Sir James Peter Comyn) was a barrister who, along with his brother Michael, advised Éamon de Valera and used their family home, Beaufield House in Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, as a safe house during the Irish Civil War. The brothers had a falling out with de Valera before 1932, impacting their legal careers. James’s son, Sir James Peter Comyn (1921–1997), born at Beaufield House, became a distinguished English High Court judge after being sent to England following the rift with de Valera.
• Michael Comyn KC (1871–1952) was a barrister, Fianna Fáil Senator (1928–1936), and Circuit Court judge. He was called to the Irish Bar in 1898, became a KC in 1914, and was involved in high-profile cases, including defending republican prisoners during the Irish War of Independence and Civil War. Notably, he represented Erskine Childers and was part of the legal team in the Clifford and O’Sullivan case (1921), which saved 42 men from execution. Michael married Marcella Blake-Forster in 1924, and they had two daughters.

The brothers worked together on cases like the Bloody Sunday (1920) inquiry, representing the family of Jane Boyle, a victim at Croke Park. Their legal prominence waned after their dispute with de Valera, with Michael being overlooked for Attorney-General.

Clareville was the name of the house in Ballyvaughan and it appears that a James Comyn married into the O’Loughlin family who owned Clareville and James Comyn, antecedent, lived there. By the time of the eviction the Comyn’s were no longer living in Clareville but they were tenant farmers to land in Clareville, Ballyvaughan. In the 1920’s there is land registered to James and Michael Comyn in Clareville. Sir James Comyn held some of that land until 1997 when he died.

Thank you for providing additional details about the Comyn family and their connection to Clareville in Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare. Based on your information and available records, here’s a clarified and concise summary addressing the points you raised:

• Clareville House and the O’Loughlin Connection: Clareville was the name of the house in Ballyvaughan associated with the Comyn family. It appears that an earlier James Comyn, an antecedent of James Comyn SC and Michael Comyn KC, married into the O’Loughlin family, who owned Clareville. This marriage likely established the Comyn family’s connection to the property. The O’Loughlins were a notable family in Co. Clare, and such marriages often linked families to specific estates or lands.
• Tenant Farmers at Clareville: By the time of any eviction (possibly during the 19th century, as evictions were common during the Land War or earlier), the Comyn family was no longer residing in Clareville House itself. Instead, they were tenant farmers on land associated with the Clareville estate in Ballyvaughan. This aligns with historical patterns where families of some means, like the Comyns, held leases as tenants rather than owning large estates outright.
• Land Ownership in the 1920s: In the 1920s, records indicate that James Comyn (likely James Comyn SC’s father or the brothers themselves) and Michael Comyn KC held land registered in Clareville, Ballyvaughan. This suggests they either retained or acquired land in the area, possibly through inheritance, purchase, or redistribution under land reforms like the Irish Land Acts, which facilitated tenant purchases in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Sir James Comyn’s Connection to the Land: Sir James Peter Comyn (1921–1997), son of James Comyn SC, maintained ownership or rights to some of this Clareville land until his death in 1997. As a distinguished English High Court judge, Sir James was primarily based in England, but his retention of the Clare land reflects the family’s enduring tie to Ballyvaughan, likely through inheritance from his father, James Comyn SC.

The Comyn family’s history with Clareville illustrates their deep roots in Co. Clare, transitioning from tenant farmers to landowners, with their legal prominence (James SC and Michael KC) and nationalist activities further cementing their legacy. If you have specific details about the eviction event, the O’Loughlin marriage, or land records, I can help refine this further or search for additional sources to corroborate.

James Comyn 1830 approx. lived in Clareville House, Ballyvaughan have you any details of the property and ownership

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Information about a James Comyn born around 1830 and associated with Clareville House, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare, is limited and requires some clarification based on available records. Below is a detailed response addressing the property (Clareville House), its ownership history, and any connection to a James Comyn from that period, incorporating the context you provided and relevant historical sources.

Clarification on James Comyn (c. 1830)

There is no definitive record of a James Comyn born around 1830 specifically residing in Clareville House, Ballyvaughan, based on the provided sources or standard historical records. However, your query suggests a James Comyn, possibly an antecedent of James Comyn SC and Michael Comyn KC, who may have lived at or been associated with Clareville House through marriage or tenancy. The Comyn family’s connection to Clareville is well-documented in later periods (e.g., James and Michael Comyn in the early 20th century), but earlier records are less clear.

One possibility is that you are referring to a James Comyn from the broader Comyn family in Co. Clare, potentially linked to the O’Loughlin family through marriage, as you mentioned. Alternatively, the date (1830) might refer to a birth year or an approximate time of activity, and the individual could be confused with other Comyns in the region, such as those associated with nearby properties like Holywell/Hollywell House or Kilcornan, where Comyns are noted in historical records.

Clareville House, Ballyvaughan: Property Details

Clareville House is a notable property in Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare, with historical significance tied to prominent landowners and later uses. Here are the details based on available information:

• Location and Modern Use: Clareville House is located on the N67 road in Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare (Latitude: 53°7’7.82″ N, Longitude: -9°8’34.22″ W). Today, it houses the Ballyvaughan Medical Centre, operated by Dr. Liam Glynn and Dr. John O’Dea. This indicates the building remains extant and has been repurposed for community use.
• Historical Context: In the 19th century, Clareville House was associated with significant landowners, particularly the Annaly (White) family. William Lane Joynt (1824–1895), a barrister and land agent for the first Baron Annaly, resided at Clareville House for part of each year, particularly during summers. Joynt managed the Annaly estates, and Clareville was described as Annaly’s mansion in Ballyvaughan. The Annaly family were the largest landowners in Co. Clare during this period, and Clareville served as a key residence for their agents or family members.
• Improvements and Legacy: Joynt, while at Clareville, persuaded Col. Charles White (son of Baron Annaly) to invest £2,500 in a free water supply for Ballyvaughan tenants, commemorated by a public water fountain erected in 1875. This reflects Clareville’s role as a hub for estate management and community engagement. However, Joynt also represented the Whites in a legal case that limited tenant protections under the Land Acts for Burren farms, impacting local tenant farmers like the Comyns might have been.

Ownership and Comyn Connection

The ownership history of Clareville House and its associated lands in the 19th century does not directly name a James Comyn as a resident or owner around 1830, but the Comyn family’s ties to the area and your specific details suggest a connection through tenancy or marriage:

• Pre-1830 Ownership: Clareville House was likely part of the estates controlled by major landlords, such as the O’Loughlins or later the Annaly family, before it became a residence for land agents like Joynt. Your mention of a James Comyn marrying into the O’Loughlin family, who owned Clareville, is plausible, as the O’Loughlins were a prominent Clare family. Such a marriage could have linked the Comyns to Clareville’s lands, possibly as tenants or leaseholders, though no specific record confirms a James Comyn residing in the house itself around 1830.
• Comyn Family as Tenants: You noted that by the time of an eviction (likely in the 19th century), the Comyns were no longer living in Clareville House but were tenant farmers on land in the Clareville estate. This aligns with historical patterns where families like the Comyns leased land from larger estates. The Landed Estates Database mentions Comyns in nearby properties (e.g., Holywell/Hollywell House, occupied by George Comyn in 1814 and T.F. Comyn in 1837, valued at £5 by Griffith’s Valuation in the 1850s). While not Clareville, this shows the Comyn family’s presence in the Ballyvaughan area, possibly as tenants under landlords like the Annaly family or Bindon Scott.
• Post-1830 and 1920s Land Ownership: By the 1920s, James Comyn (likely the father of James Comyn SC and Michael Comyn KC) and Michael Comyn KC held registered land in Clareville, Ballyvaughan. This could stem from land purchased or inherited through earlier family connections, possibly facilitated by the Irish Land Acts (1870–1909), which allowed tenants to buy their holdings. Sir James Peter Comyn (1921–1997), son of James Comyn SC, retained some of this Clareville land until his death in 1997, indicating a long-term family connection to the area, though not necessarily to Clareville House itself.
• O’Loughlin Marriage: Your reference to a James Comyn marrying into the O’Loughlin family is significant, as the O’Loughlins were major landowners in Clare. For example, the Macnamara family records mention intermarriages with Comyns (e.g., Dorothy Macnamara marrying David Comyn of Kilcorney, whose son Peter Comyn was involved in a notable 1830 arson case). While this does not directly tie to Clareville House, it supports the idea of Comyn-O’Loughlin ties through marriage, potentially granting access to Clareville lands.

Challenges and Gaps

• No Direct Evidence for 1830: The sources do not explicitly confirm a James Comyn born or active around 1830 living in Clareville House. The house was more closely associated with William Lane Joynt and the Annaly family during this period. A James Comyn may have been a tenant or relative linked to the O’Loughlin estate, but primary records (e.g., deeds, leases, or Griffith’s Valuation) would be needed to confirm this.
• Eviction Reference: You mentioned an eviction, but no specific eviction event tied to the Comyns at Clareville is documented in the provided sources. Evictions were common in Clare during the 19th century (e.g., during the Land War or earlier under landlords like Bindon Scott, who clashed with tenants like Peter Comyn in 1830). If you have details about the eviction’s date or circumstances, I can narrow this down further.
• Land Records: The Landed Estates Database and National Library of Ireland hold estate records (e.g., for the Wynne, O’Donel, or Dillon estates) that might include Clareville’s ownership details, but these are not specific to a James Comyn in 1830. Accessing Griffith’s Valuation (1850s) or earlier tithe applotment books (1820s–1830s) for Ballyvaughan could clarify Comyn landholdings.

Summary

Clareville House in Ballyvaughan was a significant property, likely owned by the O’Loughlin family or similar landlords before passing to the Annaly family, with William Lane Joynt residing there as a land agent in the mid-19th century. A James Comyn (c. 1830) may have been connected to Clareville through marriage to the O’Loughlins, positioning the Comyns as tenant farmers on the estate’s lands rather than residents of the house itself. By the 1920s, James and Michael Comyn held land in Clareville, with Sir James Comyn retaining some until 1997. The lack of direct evidence for a James Comyn in Clareville House around 1830 suggests he may have been a tenant or relative in the broader Comyn family network in Ballyvaughan.

Recommendations for Further Research

• Primary Sources: Check Griffith’s Valuation (1850s) or tithe applotment books (1820s–1830s) for Ballyvaughan to identify Comyn landholdings. The National Library of Ireland’s estate records (e.g., Reference #3573 or #3384) may include Clareville leases.
• Local Archives: Clare County Library or the Clare Genealogy Centre may have parish records or O’Loughlin family papers mentioning a Comyn marriage.
• Eviction Details: If you can provide the approximate date or landlord involved in the eviction, I can search for related court or estate records.
• O’Loughlin Connection: Marriage records from the early 19th century in Ballyvaughan parishes could confirm the Comyn-O’Loughlin link.

If you have additional details (e.g., the specific James Comyn’s birth/death dates, the eviction event, or the O’Loughlin family member involved), please share, and I can refine the response further. Alternatively, I can search for specific land records or local history sources if you confirm the focus.Ask Grok to search deeper

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