Newhall is a 17th century country estate near Ennis in County Clare in Ireland, historically held by members of the Irish landed gentry.

[4][5] The estate's demesne includes a holy well,[6] gate lodges,[7][8] woodlands, parklands, lakes, Killone Abbey,[9] a national monument (founded 1190 by Donald Mor O’Brien King of Thomond, for nuns of the rule of St. Augustine)[10] and has an associated folklore legend concerning a mermaid.

Inspired quote by Bernard Burke, A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, 1855 book (public domain):[13]The mansion is a convenient, and not unpicturesque edifice, built of red brick with cut limestone accents, and stands upon an eminence, commanding a magnificent view of the River Fergus and broad waters of the Shannon.

In the distance are the noble mountains of Tipperary, completing the striking landscape.In 1544 King Henry VIII of England granted Kilone Abbey and the parish of Killone, including Newhall, and much other property in County Clare, to Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond.

This occurred after Murrough offered the kingdom of Thomond to the King of England, and received his lands and titles back as a feudal subject (a process known as surrender and regrant).

[19][20] During the late 17th century, the MacDonnell family purchased Newhall and established connections through multiple marriages with the O’Brien dynasty and the Viscount Clare.

of Kilkee, was a Jacobite who supported the Catholic king, James II, serving as a captain in Lord Clare's regiment of dragoons.

In 1702, he became a joint purchaser of the confiscated estates of his cousin, the 3rd Viscount Clare, who forfeited his lands for high treason and later went into exile in France as part of the Flight of the Wild Geese.

Under Charles MacDonnell MP, the original house underwent significant expansion, including the addition of a new Georgian Queen-Anne Style front, likely designed by Francis Bindon.

It was later occupied (and rented) by cousin Robert and Florence Vere O'Brien in the 1890s, although Slater's Directory notes it was a seat of a Charles R. A. MacDonnell in 1894.

[33] The abbey's history is marked by notable figures, such as Slaney O'Brien, daughter of King Donogh Carbreach of Thomond, who served as abbess until her death in 1259.

[34] Also located on the grounds of Newhall, Saint John the Baptist Holy Well, known as Tobar Eoin in Irish, has long been a site of local religious significance.

Traditionally associated with Saint John the Baptist, the site includes remnants of historical stone structures and features a natural spring.

Determined to uncover the thief, he stayed awake one night and discovered that a mermaid was swimming from the lake through an underground passage to steal the wine.

[37][38] Stories of encounters with the mermaid, including sightings by fishermen and tragic events connected to the lake, have been passed down through generations, becoming a significant part of County Clare's rich tapestry of folklore.

[39][4] In recent years, local heritage groups and schoolchildren have played an active role in reviving the legend of the mermaid of Killone Lake.

This effort not only celebrated the rich cultural history of the area but also encouraged a deeper connection between local youth and the folklore of County Clare.