These
included Menlo, Ardfry, Ballyglunin, Castlegrove and several
others. The family became one of the Tribes of Galway
and are still well represented in around County Galway.
The name
is derived from the Saxon, Blac, a colour; yet, Debrett,
in his Baronetage, says, "they are traditionally descended
from Ap-lake, one of the knights of King Arthur's round
table," and adds, "that in the reign of Henry II, one of
this family accompanied Strongbow, and after many exploits
built himself a castle, at
Menlo, near Galway." --- Richard Caddell surnamed Blake,
from whom, the Blakes of Galway are descended, was sheriff of Connaught, Vicecomes Conacioe, he was
also sheriff in 1306.
The
arms of this family were first borne by Richard Caddell and descended to
his posterity. The family of Ardfry, descended from Sir
Richard Blake, who chairman of the assembly
of the confederate catholics of Ireland, at Kilkenny, in
1647, was raised to the dignity of the peerage, in the year
1800, in the person of Joseph Henry Blake, Esq. He was then
created Lord Baron of Wallscourt, in Ireland.
The name Blake is at present
common in Ardfry,
Ballyglunin, Belmont, Castlegrove, Corbally, Forbough, Frenchfort, Hollypark, Killeencastle, Mace, Menlo, Merlinpark, Moorfield, Orancastle, Rahara or Annbally, Renville, (formerly of Lehinch, in Mayo,) Tully, Waterdale and Windfield, in the County of Galway; and Ballinafad, Brookhill, Garracloone, Milltown and Towerhill, in County Mayo.
|
![](http://www.galway-ireland.ie/"images/m18.gif"){kind=small}
