Strokestown Park House And Its Military Connections

Strokestown Park House

Strokestown Park House in Co. Roscommon is an example of 17th century Palladian architecture associated with the German architect Richard Cassels, who was are sponsible for such notable houses as Russborough in Co. Wicklow.

Built on the site of an earlier tower house and a bawn house, the Park House and estate remained under the guardianship of the Mahon and subsequently Pakenham-Mahon family from mid-1600s until 1981 when the last family member resident there, Olive Pakenham Mahon died.

Nicholas Mahon, who had been loyal to Cromwell and Charles II, came into ownership of 2,700 acres of land in Strokestown, in the mid-1600s. Subsequent generations of Mahon’s rebuilt, renovated and extended the House, leaving us with the Palladian mansion that we have today. Now a historic house museum and the location of the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park and its inhabitants have had long and sometimes controversial military connections.
As was tradition amongst the Anglo-Irish, many of the young men of the Pakenham-Mahon family served with the British military, contributing to imperial campaigns and both World Wars. Their experiences reflect a wider pattern among the Anglo-Irish gentry where service was seen as a duty – a means of securing social standing and a sense of identity – when many did not feel fully Irish nor fully British. In fact, the Irish landed classes was one of the main sources of officers (or ‘feeder group’) for the British military (Perry, 2011).

In the entrance hall of Strokestown Park hang portraits of two brothers Hercules and Edward Pakenham of Tullynally Castle in Co. Westmeath. In 1806, their sister ‘Kitty’ married Dublin-born Arthur Wellesley, who was to become the first Duke of Wellington, thus linking the family to one of Britain’s most distinguished military leaders. This was a connection of which the family was immensely proud; there are many representations of the Duke throughout Strokestown House, but only one small drawing of Kitty.

A print depicting the Battle of Waterloo hangs in the entrance hall, and identifies the Duke and his brother-in-law, Edward. In 1815, Major General Sir Edward Pakenham lost his life at the Battle of New Orleans, when his troops were defeated by the future US president Andrew Jackson.

Another of the Pakenhams of Tullynally, Henry Pakenham was to marry into the Strokestown Estate in 1847, bringing about the name change – and that’s a whole other story!

Let’s fast forward to the early 20th century and the eve of the First World War.
In July 1914, Olive Packenham-Mahon, the young heiress of Strokestown, married Edward Stafford-King-Harmon of Rockingham Estate at The Royal Military Chapel, Wellington Barracks, London. Within weeks, Europe was plunged into war. Edward, alongside other young men from all strata of Irish society, would be required leave Ireland to serve for King and country. Tragically, he was killed in action on November 6, 1914, at Klein Zillebeke on the Western Front, and he is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Photos of Edward are still found throughout the house. After her tragic loss, Olive who was about to give birth to their child, continued in the war effort and worked as a nurse while living at the family’s London home.

A difficult time in Irish history, the War of Independence (1919- 1921) saw British military forces stationed at Strokestown House and this of course was met with significant local resistance. The estate served as a garrison for approximately 150 soldiers from the 9th Lancers and the East Yorkshire Regiment, under the command of Captain Roger Grenville Peek. It was during this time that Olive met the soldier who would become her second husband, Major Stuart Hales.
Major Wilfred Stuart Atherstone Hales Pakenham-Mahon (1897–1980) had a notable military career. He rejoined the military in 1939 and was part of a military mission to North-West Europe in April 1940, returning to England in June 1940. On ending his service in 1946, he returned to Ireland.
Throughout Strokestown House there are so many reminders of the military history and associations of this Anglo-Irish household, from imposing military portraits and proudly held war memorabilia, to the more poignant and personal accounts of heartbreak, sadness and loss; of families torn asunder, young lives lost and futures destroyed.

A visit to Strokestown Park can include a guided tour of the House, and self-guided tours of the Famine Museum, with audio guides available in several languages. There are 6 acres of walled gardens including one of the longest herbaceous borders in the country, as well as woodland walks and the Woodland Café. Dogs are welcome to visit the grounds and a warm welcome is always extended to well behaved pups in the Café.
In fact Strokestown Park is a recent finalist in the Petmania Ruby Heart Awards - Dog-Friendly Venue 2025 Category!
If you would like to find out some more about Strokestown or indeed the National famine Museum located in its former courtyards, you can visit the website here. Strokestown Park.