Showing 26 results

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1880, wherein Digby contrasts the Geashill estate favourably with other estates in the country during this 'almost unprecedented agricultural disaster of the past season'. Reports that although the usual remittance is reduced by £1500 due to increased arrears, there was an overall net increase in rental income at £17,307.1.8.

Reports that there is an increase in the number of unskilled labour available and therefore more drainage works and land improvement projects were carried out with the result that there was hardly a person on the estate in want of work compared with other parts of Ireland where there was great distress and beginnings of famine. Notes that many of the projects are being executed under the Board of Works. To offset any failure of the potato crop on the estate, Digby reports that he has imported 50 tonnes of champion seed potatoes from Scotland and distributed among the tenantry.

Construction works included a pair of double cottages at Killeigh; a further addition to Thomas Cobbe's farmhouse at Annagharvey; a labourer's cottage for Mr Delamere at the Meelaghans; and the repair of the roof and offices at Ballymooney House. Forestry works included clearing and replanting of Scrubb Wood and new plantations at Gorteen and Derryadd.

Notes that the past year will long be remembered by every landlord and tenant 'as one of the most disastrous ever experienced', with bad weather, failure of root crops, and 'a potato crop more diseased than any since the famine years.' Warns that the Land League have seized upon the bad harvest as a means to increase agitation amongst tenants and have organised meetings the length and breadth of Ireland, and hopes that forthcoming legislation by the government will solve the Irish Land Question.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1881. Reports that the financial condition of the estate had disimproved, outstanding arrears remaining due and abandoned arrears considerably increased. Profit remitted was £8500, a decrease on previous years, although there was a net increase in the overall rental income. Also reports that the Roskeen lease was surrendered by the reps of Mr. Bailey, and that the farm at Ballydownan was surrendered by Mr Adams and now in Lord Digby's hands and set for grazing with newly purchased cattle.

In terms of land improvement, Digby reports on the completion of a number of Board of Works projects including the draining and squaring of the moors under Scrubb Wood, the deepening of the boundary stream at Cappancur and the sinking of a large main drain in Balinvally bog. Construction works included new offices for Mr Arthur of Killurin and Patrick Nugent of Ballycollin; new cottages completed at Killeigh; new cottage commenced in Geashill Village and assistance give to William Mathews to erect substantial new dwelling house in Killurin. Also reports on the thinning and replanting of Derrygunnigan Wood.

Warns that agrarian agitation is increasing encouraged by the Land League. Blames the Government for slow response to agitation. Reports on a 'monster meeting' held in Tullamore by the Land League prior to the winter collection of rents (1880) where the Geashill tenantry requested en masse Griffith's Valuation as a fair rent which was subsequently refused by Lord Digby, but who abated the rent by 10% on the half year's rent payable. Identifies William Adams as the leader of the agitation and describes the court proceedings taken against him individually. With the result of being faced with bankruptcy, Adams paid his rent and then surrendered farm at Ballydownan, with the result that all other agitation on the estate ceased and rents were collected within three weeks. Also refers to 'boycotting' occurring throughout the estate but that no acts of violence or outrages took place. A further attempt at withholding rent in May 1881 was similarly short-lived.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1907, showing a reduction in overall rent received and a slight increase in arrears due. Warns that the future of the estate must be 'prejudicially affected by the general demoralization caused by the apathy shown by the government in dealing with the new form of disorder known as "cattle driving"and by the extraordinary and immoral terms of their proposed legislation dealing with evicted tenants.' Also reports that negotiations with tenants were re-opened on the subject of the sale of the estate but with no definite result as yet.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1908, showing a slightly reduced gross rental. Reports on the general 'lawlessness' throughout the country in the form of cattle driving, boycotting and malicious injuries, but is pleased to note that the Geashill estate has been free of such incidents.

Also reports that the purchase negotiations with the tenants have been agreed and the tenanted lands in King's County and Queen's County are now to be sold under the premise of the Land Purchase Act of 1903. Warns however that due to the insufficiency of funds from the government, it will be some years before the purchase money and bonds can be paid to Lord Digby and the holdings vested in the tenants.

Annual report, accounts and rental for the year ending 1909, in which Digby describes the great state of transition in which the estate now finds itself. Reports that income has been received partly in the form of rent and partly in lieu of rent on the amount of the purchase money for the tenants holdings, with interest collected by the Land Commission. Also reports that the purchase transactions in both King's and Queen's Counties were brought to a conclusion with very little friction, the tenant purchasers having paid the installments of interest to the Land Commission in a satisfactory manner. Purchase agreements were lodged with the Estates Commissioners on behalf of all but 16 tenants who refused to enter into an agreement and will continue to pay rent. Also reports that the high red bogs were vested in Trustees appointed by the tenants for the benefit of the tenant purchasers, subject to the reservation of sporting rights by Lord Digby.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1910, in which Digby reports that rents payable by tenant purchasers to the Land Commission have been satisfactorily met with only one defaulter, and that the rents of those who refused to sign purchase agreements have also been paid punctually. Also notes that the grasslands which have for several years been in Lord Digby's occupation have been let at satisfactory rents to solvent and respectable tenants and reports that there were none of the difficulties 'which have recently attended the letting of grasslands in so many parts of this county and in Ireland generally.'

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1912, showing that rents remaining payable and interest in lieu of rents payable to the Land Commission have been satisfactorily paid. Notes, however, that several years will elapse before the purchase money can be received.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1913, showing rents payable and interest in lieu of rents payable to the Land Commission were satisfactorily paid.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1914, showing that rents were paid well. Warns however that the past year has been marked by 'great unrest and excitement' mainly due to a demand made of Lord Digby that he take up and sell the grasslands to the Land Commission which were in his occupation at the time of the sale of the rest of the estate but had since been let to 'good and solvent tenants'. As a result of the refusal of Lord Digby to take up the lands and of the occupier to surrender them, a series of meetings was held culminating in a large cattle drive of all the cattle belonging to the tenants of the lands. Also reports that a special police station has been erected in Geashill village for the protection of these lands.

Annual report, accounts and rental for year end June 1915, in which Digby describes in detail the events surrounding the Geashill Cattle Drive on the grasslands of Ballydownan in November 1914. Describes the bands and banners accompanying the drive, the injuring of several policemen, and the arrest of 46 men who subsequently pleaded guilty at the Winter Assizes in Dublin. Also notes that despite the jailing of the ring-leaders, agitation continued and boycotting and intimidation on the estate were rife. Also notes that inspection of the boundaries of the estate has been completed by the Land Commission but that the final inspection has yet to be made.