Droughtville

The Droughtville townland in the historic barony of Ballyboy is named after the Drought family who settled there. It was the seat of Thomas Drought, Esq., in 1786,^[13] and the principle residence of the Drought family in the middle of the 19th century.^[14] It was commonly called The Heath.^[15][2]

The townland, once considered a place of note, contained a house and demesne.^[16][17] The demesne was composed of peculiar groups of conical hills, forming a scene described as 'picturesque and pleasing'.^[14] To the end of the demesne was a marsh named 'Muddy Lake', which had the colloquial name of 'Island Lough'.^[18] On the north side of the marsh were the remains of Kiltubrid Castle.

Droughtville is contiguous to Lettybrook and Kinnitty Castle.^[17] In 1656, Captain Thomas Armstrong Drought of Cromwell's army was awarded a substantial chunk of confiscated land in Kinnitty, near Birr.^[6] He became the local sheriff, tasked with keeping the populace down, and built a fortified house on the site known as Moneyguyneen House, which sits on the estate of present-day Kinnitty Castle.^[19][20]

The land near Droughtville was considered some of the best pasture ground in the barony.^[14] Also in the vicinity of Droughtville was the ancient church of Drumcullin.^[21]

Within Droughtville remains a house known today as Heath Lodge, which was built c. 1750.^[22] The limestone house contains a decorative bat wing fanlight, and other elements of architectural significance, such as limestone sills and tall timber sash windows. Although no longer used, the principle avenue to the house with decorative cast-iron gates and railings flanked by limestone piers and gate lodge in the past provided a grand entrance to the estate.

Lettybrook

In the 20th century, the Drought family of Lettybrook were said to have often entertained visitors from England, especially retired army officers, who would spend a week grouse shooting on the mountains. In 1920, during the Irish War of Independence, the Drought's Lettybrook home was successfully raided by the Cadamstown IRA unit for weapons. Twenty rifles, ten revolvers, and a quantity of ammunition were taken. Later, Captain Drought requested the return of one of the guns, which had belonged to their son who had been killed in the Great War. Upon returning the rifle, Captain Drought was thankful, and let it be known that there were additional weapons in the house, which were duly collected.^[23]

Around 1860, respected Gothic-style architect Benjamin Woodward sketched potential alterations for gothicising a Georgian country house which closely resembles Lettybrook, however the work was not undertaken.^[24] The name Captain Droght [sic] occurs in one of Woodward's notebooks held by the National Gallery of Ireland.

Captain Alexander Drought of Lettybrook died in 1859. In 1862, architect Thomas Newenham Deane, who was a partner to Woodward, designed a house for Drought's first cousin, William Henry Head of nearby Derrylahan Park, father of Lieutenant–Colonel Charles Octavius Head.^[25]

The Droughts of Lettybrook were said to be distantly related to George Gresson of Glencairn, a wealthy Dublin lawyer.^[24]

Whigsborough

The Drought family built a house known as Whigsborough House in 1714, near Parsonstown, and lived there for 250 years, modifying the home in 1780 and again in the early 1800s to add a ballroom.^[26] It is said to have been built on the previous site of an O'Molloy castle.

Queen's County (County Laois)

In around 1800, the Drought family built an estate called Oldglass (now Granston Manor) in Ballacolla, County Laois.^[27][28]

The Droughts were succeeded there by the Whites family, from whom the place passed by purchase to the late Richard Fitzpatrick, Esq., who bequeathed the manor to his brother, Lord Castletown, who then made it his family mansion.^[27]

The mansion was partially burned down in the late 20th century.^[28]