The concentration of Garveys in the parishes of Clonallan and Newry shown in the Griffith Valuation (map below) is the result of more than 1000 years of Garvey history in that area. The Garveys are mentioned in a poem from the 1300's (by O'Dugan) as being one of the ruling septs (along with the Hanveys) in the Iveagh area of Co Down. The Annals of the Four masters also mention a "Garvey, Lord of Iveagh" who died at the Battle of Crew Hill in 1003 A.D. In addition, some Garveys of Archbishop Garvey's line may have been granted land in the area in the 1600's. Rosemary Garvey writes that Patrick Garvey, the youngest brother of Archbishop John Garvey (1527-1594), acquired land in the townland of Aughnagun, Clonallan Parish, Co Down. She also mentions that Patrick was the forebearer of the line of Garveys that went to Spain in the 1700's and founded the Garvey label of wines: Bodega de San Patricio Garvey. However Rosemary also says that the details of the life of Patrick Garvey of Aughnagun are quite a bit foggier than for his brother the Archbishop.
Teri Garvey writes that the present day Co Down Garveys are recognized as being a distinct line of Garveys from those in southern Co Armagh. Teri says that Patrick Garvey had been the secretary to Marshall Bagenal of the army of Queen Elizabeth I, and was responsible for the building of Newry town. She adds that a descendant of Patrick (named John) later moved back to Co. Kilkenny. The William Garvey who moved to Spain in 1756 was from this Kilkenny line of Garveys (Rosbercon, Co Kilkenny - just across the bridge from New Ross, Co. Wexford).
Another branch of Patrick's descendants moved to Rouen, France in the 1730's and ran a shipping business. This French Garvey shipping firm made a brief appearance in US historical archives by the chance occurrence of handling freight for both Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin in the 1780's.
According to the Office of Arms (Dublin Castle), the Garvey "Coat of Arms" shown on the home page were granted on 17 June, 1760 to the descendants of Patrick Garvey of Aughnagun. (The descendants of Archbishop John Garvey have a different coat of arms).
The Most Reverend Anthony O'Garvey mentioned in the surname historical account lived during the days of the anti-Catholic Penal Laws (early 1700s). Father Anthony Garvey held secret masses at the Garvey home in Aughnagun, and clandestine "mass houses" were setup in the area during his time of administering to the Clonallan and Newry areas. Rev Garvey received his doctorate at the University of Paris, and took up duties as Vicar-General of Dromore in 1728. He became Bishop of Dromore in 1747 and served in that position till his death on August 24, 1766. He is buried at St. Mary's in Newry (see photo of his tomb at the bottom of this page).
Ros Davies has Aughnagun Townland in website's Place Names listings as:
Aughnagon, Aughnagun, Aghagun- means 'field of the smiths';
- 509 acres; 3km SW of Mayobridge village; near Derryleckagh Lough;
- originally belonged to O'Garvey family
- then owned by Hugh Magennnis, and then Edward Trevor by 1661
- a Hedge School here c. 1800
Ros Davies' webpage provides an excellent map of the townlands of Clonallan Parish.
The Rath Barn may be on or near the land the Garveys have occupied in Aughnagun for more than 400 years (Fr. Anthony Garvey's house is just next door). If you zoom (+) far enough in on the map on this page you can see the position of the Rath Barn on the edge of Derryleckagh Lake. Just let Gerry Quinn (owner of The Rath Barn) know if you're going to be in the area - and I'm sure he'll be happy to welcome you back to the Garvey ancestral home!
