Martin Haverty was born in Strand, Rahoon, Co Galway in 1809. He received his education at the Irish college in Paris. ‘he came to Dublin in 1836 and joined the staff of the Freemans journal in 1837 where he worked until 1850.
He bought 237 acres of the Royce estate, Nantenan in 1853. He designed and built Kilbeha house on the land using stones quarried from the farm. The house has a Swiss/French design presumably influenced by his time spent studying abroad.
While resident in Kilbeha he wrote a very comprehensive ‘History of Ireland, Ancient and modern,’ which was used in schools and colleges for years. On his return to Dublin, he was made sub-librarian of the Kings Inns, where he remained for a quarter of a century.
He was obviously a very kind landlord as can be seen from this newspaper article
https://www.dropbox.com/s/sg53fsuvy0owjoa/a%20good%20landlord%20%281%29%20%281%29.pdf?dl=0
He married Catherine Mary Rogers. They had 2 daughters. One who inherited Kilbehy, named Lina (Selina). She married an Italian water colour artist named Onorato Carlandi. She was his second wife. She herself was quite an accomplished artist. His second daughter was Eileen but I have yet to discover anything about her.
It also appears he had a daughter Mary from an earlier marriage, but that too, needs more research.
He died on Jan 18th, 1887 and is buried in Glasnevin cemetry. He has expressed a wish to be buried at Kilbehy Muire where he already had a Celtic Cross erected.
Joseph Patrick Haverty, painter of the ‘Blind Piper’, was his step brother
More from my other page on Kilbehy Muire
cappaghasenseofplace.com 