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| Ruins of Portland House in 2007 | Photo circa 1995 |
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| Ruins of Portland House in 2007 | Photo circa 1995 |
Portumna (Port Omna in Irish - meaning port of the oak) is a town in County Galway, Ireland, on the border with County Tipperary, at the point where the River Shannon enters Lough Derg. This historic crossing point over the Shannon river between counties Tipperary and Galway.
Portumna is currently served with a five-span road bridge over the river. This was designed by C. E. Stanier of London, and completed in 1911, with a central section resting on Hayes's Island which divides river into two channels. The steel structure of the main bridge and pivotting swing bridge over the navigation channel are of technical and engineering interest, and it is the largest early-twentieth century swivel bridge in Europe. The Shannon at this point consists of two channels divided by Hayes Island, the one on the North Tipperary side being about 260 ft wide, and that on the Galway side being about 240 ft wide. Each channel is spanned by three pairs of mild-steel plate girders (either 80 ft or 90 ft in length) resting on 9 ft diameter concrete-filled cast-iron cylinders.
The town is famous for Portumna Castle which both King James I and Queen Elizabeth I of England visited, and for the lords that lived there. The great semi-fortified house at Portumna was built before 1618 by Richard Burke or de Burgo, 4th Earl of Clanricarde. It was the main seat of the de Burgo family for over 200 years, until it was gutted by fire in 1826.
There was a fire at Portland Park (now Portland House) on May 10/11 1936 which destroyed the house. I think it was rebuilt as the hotel, which was still open in 1995, but had itself burnt down by 2007.
Portland House, now derilict, was owned by the Butler Stoney family. My great-great-great-grandfather Charles Piper, worked for them, probably as a land steward.
An 1890 directory of families records :- Stoney, Thos Butler of Portland Park, Co. Tipperary, oldest son of Richard Falkiner Stoney, of Portland Park, by Jane, daughter of James Butler, of Castlecrine, Clare; married 1837, Sarah, daughter and co-heir of Robt. Fannin, of Dublin and has with other issue, Walter Charles, educated at St John's College, Cambridge; born 1846; married 1872 Ellen C, 3rd daughter of Rev Chas. Kemble, and has with other issue, Thomas Butler, born 1875. Mr Stoney was Lieut. 19th Regt, is J.P. for Tipperary and Galway.
The Stoneys had several properties in North Tipperary, including Emmell Castle and Portland House as well as an estate in Gortlandroe, Nenagh. George Stoney who may have lived in Greyfort House, Borrisokane,commanded the Borrisokane Volunteers in the year 1779.