Bantry House, Bantry Ireland - The White family still live in this house. The Bantry Desmesne has been in the White family since the mid 1700′s. It has always been lived in and has a very special feel to it.

More history on the estate can be found here and a piece written by Geoffrey Shelswell-White in 1951 can be downloaded here

A snapshot of history

1690 Captain Richard White and family live on Whiddy Island

1701 Richard White (later Counsellor White) is born on Whiddy Island

1765 Richard White (Councillor White) purchases Bantry House (then called Blackrock House).

1767 Birth of Richard White (First Earl of Bantry).

1796 Attempted invasion of Ireland by the French, led by Wolfe Tone.

1797 Richard White created Baron Bantry.

1800 Birth of Richard White (Second Earl of Bantry).

1801 The title of Baron Bantry is advanced to Viscount Berehaven.

1801 Birth of William White (Third Earl of Bantry).

1816 Richard White elevated to the peerage (1st Earl of Bantry).

1820 to 1840 Richard White, Viscount Berehaven travels extensively and creates his collection.

1840 to 1860 The Famine. Major works on the demesne in progress.

1854 Birth of William White (Fourth Earl of Bantry)

1876 Birth of Edward Leigh White

1905 Birth of Clodagh Leigh White

1922 Irish Civil War. Bantry House used as a hospital for 5 years.

1933 Birth of Egerton Shelswell-White

1939 to 1945 Second World War. During the war years, the house and stables were occupied by the Second Cyclist Squadron of the Irish Army.

1946 House opens to the public.

1956 Sale of eight important paintings by F. and G. Guardi. Two of which, “Erminia and the Shepherds” and “Carlo and Ubaldo Resisting the Enchantments of Armida’s Nymphs”, are now at the National Gallery in Washington D.C., U.S.A.

1978 Egerton Shelswell-White inherits the house.

1987 The East Wing of Bantry House was restored to be used as Bed and Breakfast accommodation

1997 The very extensive Archive was donated to UCC,www.booleweb.ucc.ie. You can find a link to our archives here

1998 Bantry House hosts the first West Cork Music Festival

1998 The garden undergoes major restoration – find out more here

2001 Archaeological findings (conducted by University of Ulster) of a medieval Gaelic village and a 17th century deserted English fishing settlement on the west lawn.

2010 Sophie Shelswell-White becomes General Manager

9th December 2012 death of Egerton Shelswell-White