Orme Estate Gate Lodge

This now disused house, was the original gate lodge guarding the entrance to the Orme estate of Millbrook (renamed Owenmore in the early 1840's). It was built in the very early 19th century and reputed to have been the home a transgressor of the protestant Orme gentry family who had a child with Catholic servant girl. His new family were favoured with a large holding with the Gate Lodge, but as Catholic lost their gentry status. The family continued in occupation, even as the last Orme landlords left in 1923, down to the present day.

The Orme's originally arrived in North Mayo from Staffordshire, England, in the latter half of the 17th century and through guile and fortuitous alliances with powerful English colonists, built up a vast estate centred on the parish of Moygownagh. They were a powerful Mayo family, providing county sheriffs, magistrates and resident landlords for over two centuries. The Ormes also had a good reputation as landlords being involved in famine relief efforts and organising a local farmer's co-op. The last landlord, Christopher Guy Orme inherited the estate from his brother - who died unexpectedly at the turn of the last century. Guy Orme as he was known brought home his skills learned on the ranches in America and built up a superb farm specialising in pedigree stock and modern farming methods. He introduced electric powered saw mills and farm machinery, powered by one of the first rural hydroelectric generators on the adjacent Owenmore River. However, despite this, he led his family in their removal to England after the War of Independence. Of the four 'big' estate houses of the family in Moygownagh, two survive today - Owenmore and Glenmore, both in private hands (and not available for public viewing).