Annaghmore — Annagh More (leyny By.)

Annagh More (Annaghmore) was the principal seat of the O'Haras in the later medieval period, though the 'auncient house' which stood there was described as 'being demolished' in 1684 (Ó Muraíle 2002, 240). The O'Haras of Annaghmore were the only family of Gaelic origin in Sligo to survive as landowners through the 17th century (O'Dowd 1991, 138; Bartlett 1982). Little is known about the house which replaced the 'auncient house', but in c. 1820 a new house was built and this was enlarged c. 1860-70 by C. W. O'Hara to the design of James Franklin Fuller (Bence-Jones 1988, 4). According to the present owner of this house, its predecessor lay a short distance to the NW where there is now no trace of it. The 1838 OS 6-inch map shows the present house at the NE end of a long linear avenue (SL026-176----). This avenue consists of a central earthen platform (Wth c. 6m) flanked by a wide drain (D 0.4m) with an outer earthen bank (Wth c. 3m; ext. H c. 1m). There is a similar avenue at Ballindoon House (SL034-213----) and both are probably late 17th/early 18th-century in date. Ardcree Bridge (SL026-172----) is at the S end of the demesne. A bullaun stone (SL026-049001-) is situated opposite the front door of the present house. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008