Newhall Estate
Newhall estate circa 1890
General information
Location	Near Ennis, County Clare, Ireland
Website
https://www.newhall.ie

Newhall is a historic country house and estate near the town of Ennis in County Clare, Ireland. It was built in 1650 on the site of an old castle. In 1765, a new Georgian front was added. The estate has walled gardens, woodland, two lakes, a holy well and the ruins of an old abbey.^[1] For many years, it stayed with the same family of Irish landed gentry. Burke’s Peerage notes, that in 2025, it is the family seat for Lord Kinfauns the chief of Clan Commane.^[2]

Although Kinfauns and the Commane family bought Newhall House in 2016, Burke’s Peerage also notes that he was born in the townland of Newhall on his parents’ own land. The Commane family have owned land there for generations which was once part of the larger Newhall Estate. John Commane, of Newhall, is recorded in 1828.^[3]

Newhall House is close to the parish of Killone, a short distance from Ennis. The house stands above Killone Lake. The grounds also include the remains of Killone Abbey, which was built in the 12th century.^[4]

The land around Newhall was granted in 1544 to Murrough O’Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond. A house was built on the site around 1650 for Lord Clare. In the 1760s the MacDonnell family married into the same family and bought the estate. They added a new Georgian front to the older house creating a long T shape.

It was bought in 2016 by the Commane family, who began restoring the house and grounds.^[5]

There are several local stories linked with the area. One tale speaks of a mermaid said to live in Killone Lake. Another old legend tells of an underground river somewhere between Ennis and Lisdoonvarna.^[6][7]

Killone Abbey stands on the edge of the estate. It was founded in 1190 for Augustinian nuns. The ruins include the church walls, tower, and small burial ground. The abbey is visited often by walkers and local people. Nearby is the Holy Well of St John the Baptist that is said to help bad eyesight.^[8][9]

In November 2025, planning permission was granted to convert old stables on the estate into a mindfulness and wellness retreat, with a reception, ten new apartments, studios, treatment rooms, courtyard, kitchen and cafe.^[10]

• Ennis
• County Clare

1. ↑ "The Times - Co Clare Mansion once hosted dazzling balls and fox hunts". 15 May 2016. Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
2. ↑ Burke's Peerage notes the family seat for Commane - Burke's Peerage Revised Families. Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd. Updated 2025
3. ↑ John Commane, of Newhall, Ballyea townland, Killone parish: Tithe Applotment Book 1828. National Archives of Ireland. Ballyea and Killone are contiguous with the Newhall demesne. https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/tithe_applot/killone_tab.htm https://www.ocomain.org/pedigree#modern
4. ↑ "Killone Augustinian Abbey (Nunnery) | Monastic Ireland". Retrieved 2025-11-18.
5. ↑ "Newhall House". Clarecastle Ballyea Heritage. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
6. ↑ "A Folklore Survey of County Clare: Rocks, Caves and Stones". www.clarelibrary.ie. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
7. ↑ "A Folklore Survey of County Clare: Water Spirits and Mer-folk". www.clarelibrary.ie. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
8. ↑ "Killone Augustinian Abbey (Nunnery) | Monastic Ireland". Retrieved 2025-11-18.
9. ↑ Monahan, Fintan (2019-06-24). "Pilgrimage to St. John's Well, Killone Abbey". Killaloe Diocese. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
10. ↑ "Wellness retreat to be built within historic Clare estate as plans approved". www.independent.ie. 2025-11-18. Retrieved 2025-11-18.