My ancestors - Nolan - Contents

Waterpark House, near Shanagolden, Co.Limerick

Waterpark House, Shanid Lower, Kilmoylan par, SW of Shanagolden, Co.Limerick.
Sometimes written as "Parkwater".

The Nolan house, Waterpark House, SW of Shanagolden, Co.Limerick.
Photo c.1900.
See larger and full size. Image 5814 in Humphrys glass negatives. Light-adjusted. See original.
See other copy.

Oliver Stokes is listed as holding 69 acres at "Waterpark and Gortavally" in [Rental of the Manor of Mount Trenchard, 1747].
Oliver Stokes is listed as holding "Parkwater" (Waterpark) in [Map of Mount Trenchard estate, 1770].

[Donovan, 2010] says the present Waterpark House dates from 1780 (in the time of old James Nolan).
Thomas Nolan said it was built around 1780 and the builder was Mr. Rose of Askeaton.
[NIAH] says it was built 1800-1820 (in the time of James Nolan who was born 1770, died 1833).
It was built at the site of a small ruined castle.
(Not to be confused with the ruined Shanid Castle a short distance to the S in Shanid Upper.)

Waterpark was the home of James Nolan (died 1833) as at [Tithe Survey, 1833].
His widow Catherine Donovan (died 1858) is listed here in [Griffiths Valuation, 1852].
She also held the land containing the ruin of Shanid Castle in Shanid Upper.

Waterpark was inherited by their son James Nolan.
James Nolan is listed as owning 85 acres at Waterpark in [Owners of Land, 1876].
He died at Waterpark in 1897.
Inherited by his son Thomas Nolan. He died there 1936.

[Donovan, 2010] says Waterpark had "a large kitchen with an arched doorway leading to the cobble-stoned yard."
Nolan family lived in Waterpark House until 1982, when they moved to a new house.
Waterpark House fell into ruin.
The front entrance is now overgrown.
Still owned by Nolan family.
Waterpark House is on the Limerick County Council Record of Protected Structures but that did not prevent it falling into ruin.

"Parkwater Quarter" (Waterpark) in "Lower Shannitt" (Lower Shanid) on [Map of Mount Trenchard estate, 1770].
"Parkwater" is held in 1770 by "Oliver Stokes", "good feeding pasture".
N is to the right (note location of Shanagolden).
Looks like there is an old house and a castle at Waterpark.

Waterpark House on 1829 to 1842 map.
Note small ruined castle (not Shanid Castle).

Plot no.12 in Shanid Lower (Waterpark House) and plot no.1 in Shanid Upper (Shanid Castle) in [Griffiths Valuation, 1852].
From askaboutireland.ie.
"Catherine Nolan" is listed in [Griffiths Valuation, 1852] as holding:

Plot no.12 in Shanid Lower, 97 acres, with by far the biggest house in the townland, renting from Thomas Spring Rice, 1st Baron Monteagle. It has one small building that she rents out.
Plot no.1 in Shanid Upper, 35 acres, also renting from Lord Monteagle. It has some small buildings that she rents out.
It can be seen from the map that plot no.1 contains the ruin of Shanid Castle.

Waterpark House on 1887 to 1913 map.

Waterpark House on modern map.

Waterpark House.
From satellite view.
See also street view of the overgrown front entrance and the side entrance.

Waterpark House.
Photo 1985 (shortly after Nolan moved out).
See larger and full size.

Waterpark House, now derelict.
From images at NIAH.
See terms of use.
(todo) try main record.

Waterpark House in ruins, 2013 photos

The front (the S).
See full size.

The front (the S).
See full size and other shot and SW corner.

The W side.
See full size and NW corner.

The NW corner.
See full size.

The NW side.
See full size.

The rear (N side).
The red bricks show the (later bricked up) archway between the yard and the kitchen.
See full size and wider shot.

The farm yard.
See full size and other shot.

The building to the E side of the farm yard.
See full size and other shot.
See also the building to the W side of the yard.

Spring-Rice estate
- Waterpark House