Rafter, Majella
(1997)
The History and impact of the de Vesci family of
Abbeyleix, Queen’s County, from 1698 - 1884.
Masters thesis, National University of Ireland Maynooth.
Abstract
‘Whatever their origins, geographical location or original functions, a
crucial factor in the development of many settlements during the eighteenth and
early nineteenth centuries was association with a particular landowner.’(l) What
this thesis sets out to undertake is an examination of one such area, considerably
influenced not in this case by the efforts of one individual alone, but rather by the
combined efforts of generations of one individual land owning family. The
location of interest is Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, the seat of each consecutive viscount
de Vesci from 1776-1995. Abbeyleix, a town in Co. Laois, situated on the main
Cork - Dublin road, became home to the de Vesci family in 1698 when Sir Thomas
Vesey obtained the estate there through marraige (2) The estate remained in the de
Vesci hands until 1995 when it was sold for a sum in excess of three million
pounds.
The name de Vesci has been synonymous with Abbeyleix for centuries
during which time ‘under the encouragement of the de Vesci family the
neighbourhood was relatively fortunate.’(3) As this work unfolds it will, I hope,
progressively highlight the reasons why Abbeyleix and its surrounding areas were
fortunate to have this family as patrons. Its purpose is to document the story of
the de vesci family during the period 1698 - 1884 and to throw light on the aspects
of local social, political and economic history.
| Item Type: |
Thesis
(Masters)
|
| Keywords: |
de Vesci;
Abbeyleix; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Arts,Celtic Studies and Philosophy > History |
| Item ID: |
5259 |
| Depositing User: |
IR eTheses
|
| Date Deposited: |
31 Jul 2014 13:44 |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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