The Kirwan family has a well established history in Galway city and county. They were one of the ‘Tribes of Galway’, merchant families who effectively ran the town of Galway from the 15th to 17th centuries. The fourteen families were mainly of English or Welsh origin (part of the original Anglo-Norman settlement) with the Kirwans and Darcys of Gaelic origin. They later had a number of houses throughout the county.
Denis J. Kirwan of Churchfield, Tuam and Carnaun, married Louisa Birmingham in 1866, having previously purchased the Dalgin estate near Milltown, Co. Galway from her brother Michael in 1863. In 1884 Denis J. Kirwan inherited the Millbrook part of the Dalgin estate from the renowned astronomer John Birmingham as he had no heir, and the Kirwans lived at Dalgin until the mid 20th century when they moved to Dublin and sold the estate. The house was subsequently demolished.
Three of the seals have the Kirwan crest which consists of a raven standing on a branch – the Kirwans were the only family amongst the Tribes of Galway of Irish origin. The fourth seal has the Birmingham family crest which consists of a shield and an antelope.
Information from www.landedestates.ie
