The redbrick house shown above was built by Thompson BROWN(E) in 1883 and is just above the main Monaghan-Armagh road. The house that preceeded it was a typical Irish bungalow, probably built with a thatched roof. The orchard shown to the west of the house was removed in the mid-1960's and is now planted in productive pasture. Edgar & Amanda KNOX, the current co-owners, remember the trees being very old and non-bearing.

The property is still bordered by the old "March Hedge" - the name given to the hedge that the owner or his hired help would walk around as part of ensuring the safety of their property.

I was told that before 1835, the time of this map, the old Monaghan Road had run behind the house at the top of the property and past the home to the east that would have belonged to the MENARY family. I cannot corroborate this. I was also told that there was a hill called "School Hill" to the north of Killynure House. The oral history is that a school there had been started by the Jackson sisters (I know nothing more of this enticing bit although the number 276 is likely roughly where it was). Nanogh Hill was also North-East of the House. The fields which surrounded the house were called "Orchard Field" (where the orchard was) and the part that was east of the lane at the front of the house was called "Bush Field" with "Marlow Field" to the west of the lane.

"Cousers Corner" is in the south-west corner.

The soil that the KNOX family currently raise their cows and cattle on is exceedingly fertile. Edgar said that they get three times the yield of crops that an equivalent acreage would yield in most of England. They also graze their cows on nearby fields leased from other owners - just as the OLIVER family did years before them and likely some of the same fields in Enagh and other neighbouring townlands. Using of all these fields, they currently raise about 150 milking cows as well as 350 assorted cattle. It is a 365 day a year undertaking - a job with little mercy for those days when a back might ache, or a body feel the chills. In spite of the advantages of contemporary mechanization, it is likely that earlier genererations experienced much of the same ongoing labour and fears over the vagarities of the markets, weather and such. Still and all, to feel the soft muzzle of a new born calf, or to watch the sun pull the mist up from the early morning fields, it is a job and a place with its own particular glories.

The house that Thompson BROWN built was certainly built to last. The pitch-pine used in the original window casement has never rotted. In fact, there isn't a bit of dry rot anywhere. I can attest to the fact that even to this day the stairs don't creak - a testament to a well built house. Over the years, some changes have been made. I am told that the lead roofing that can be seen on the earlier black and white photo was removed during WWI so it could be melted down for bullets. The room that was the maid's working area is now a small family den. Family memories of the house at Killynure include a toilet with a delft blue pattern and bell pulls for the maids in all of the bedrooms. The remnants of the bell pulls can still be seen.

Samuel Munarry, Presbyterian
(Townland of Kellenure)

ERECTED
IN LOVING MEMORY
JOHN COUSER, KILLINURE
WHO DIED 6th NOVEMBER1885
AGED 57 YEARS
ALSO HIS WIFE
MARGARET
WHO DIED 17th FEBRUARY 1922
AGED 78 YEARS

Photographed in 2006 at St. Marks, Armagh.
John COUSER (1828-1885)
Margaret McKEW (1844-1922)

Letitia Couser, b. 8 Jan 1869, Father: John Couser, Mother: Margaret McKew, Killynure, Co. Armagh

HAY TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION
On Saturday, the 30th of August, instant, at
Lisdrumard and Killynure, about two miles from Armagh,
(by order of Messrs. Thomas and William Oliver,)
ELEVEN LARGE PIKES of PRIME WELL-SAVED
FORCE GRASS HAY, the growth of the years 1843,
1844, and 1845. Sale to commence at Lisdrumard, at eleven o’clock.—
Terms at Sale. DANIEL M’ALLEN, Auctioneer.
Killynure, 19th August, 1845.

Armagh Guardian December 3, 1844
NARROW ESCAPE.--As William Maunsell, Esq., of Killinure House, was out with the harriers on Saturday last, near Athlone, he charged what he thought was a four foot wall, but at the other side was a deep pit. Owing to the goodness of his mare his life was saved, for she made an extraordinary spring, and reached the bank with her fore feet, so that he was able to throw himself on the bank; she fell back into the pit, from which she was extricated, but much injured.