1785 – Clonbrock House, Ahascragh, Co. Galway

Constructed for Robert Dillon, and took five years to complete. Later porch from the 1820s by John Hampton. A fire in 1984 destroyed the intricately detailed interior. Though now ruined, this imposing country house retains its sense of grandeur and the high level of design and craftsmanship is evident in the remaining fabric, such as the ornate entrance porch and the finely tooled stone window surrounds.

Unusually the house remained in the possession of the Dillon family for almost 200 years. It was sold in 1976 when the last member of the Clonbrock family, Miss Ethel Dillon, moved out and the contents of the house auctioned off. The National Library of Ireland acquired the estate papers in the auction which are now a valuable insight into the management of a large Irish country house.