John Lowry-Corry, 8th Earl Belmore
Encyclopedia
John Armar Lowry-Corry, 8th Earl Belmore (born 4 September 1951) is an Irish peer and the son of Galbraith Lowry-Corry, 7th Earl Belmore
.
in Enniskillen
, County Fermanagh
at the school's preparatory department and then at his father's alma mater Lancing College
, followed by two years at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. He had succeeded his father at the age of 9, and following his education he returned home to the family seat at Castle Coole
to help manage the house and estate, which had been transferred to the care of the National Trust
in 1951.
His most important acquisition was a painting of the ‘heavenly twins’ Castor
and Pollux
by Giovanni Battista Cipriani
. Dated 1783 it was one of three paintings commissioned for Houghton Hall
in Norfolk
and was purchased by Lord Belmore in 1990. The painting is so large that it had to be brought into the house through the breakfast room window and without its frame.
Another important purchase was ‘The Leslie Conversation Piece’ by J.H. Mortimer, which had previously been at Castle Leslie
in County Monaghan
. Painted by Mortimer in 1770, the picture portrays some of the most colourful and prosperous landowners of the day, including Lord Mornington who was ennobled by the king for his music making and is seen in the picture entertaining the company at the piano. The painting now hangs in the state bedroom which the 2nd Earl had decorated in a lavish style for a planned visit by King George IV, who never came, preferring to dally with his mistress Lady Conyngham
at Slane Castle
instead.
Lord Belmore was also on the board of the National Gallery of Ireland
for five years, including a period as vice chairman.
Lord and Lady Belmore and their family live at the Garden House at Castle Coole, while their son Viscount Corry often uses private apartments at the main house.
Galbraith Lowry-Corry, 7th Earl Belmore
Galbraith Armar Lowry-Corry, 7th Earl Belmore was an Irish peer and the son of Major Adrian Lowry-Corry, himself the son of Admiral the Hon. Armar Lowry-Corry ....
.
Early years and education
Lowry-Corry was educated first at Portora Royal SchoolPortora Royal School
Portora Royal School for boys, and some 6th form girls, located in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, is one of a number of 'free schools' founded by Royal Charter in 1608, by James I...
in Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
, County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
at the school's preparatory department and then at his father's alma mater Lancing College
Lancing College
Lancing College is a co-educational English independent school in the British public school tradition, founded in 1848 by Nathaniel Woodard. Woodard's aim was to provide education "based on sound principle and sound knowledge, firmly grounded in the Christian faith." Lancing was the first of a...
, followed by two years at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. He had succeeded his father at the age of 9, and following his education he returned home to the family seat at Castle Coole
Castle Coole
Castle Coole is a townland and a late-18th-century neo-classical mansion situated in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.Set in a 1200 acre wooded estate, it is one of three properties owned and managed by the National Trust in County Fermanagh, the others being Florence Court and the...
to help manage the house and estate, which had been transferred to the care of the National Trust
National Trust
National Trust most commonly refers to an organization dedicated to preserving the cultural or environmental treasures of a particular geographic region. They generally operate as private non-profit organizations, although some receive considerable support from their national government...
in 1951.
Castle Coole
Lord Belmore developed a good relationship with the trust and has spent the past two decades adding to the collection of art at Castle Coole. He commissioned Enniskillen-born artist T.P. Flanagan to produce a series of watercolours and oils of the house.His most important acquisition was a painting of the ‘heavenly twins’ Castor
Castor
Castor derives from the , meaning "beaver", or "he who excels". It originally referred to Castor, one of the Dioscuri/Gemini twins of Graeco-Roman mythology.Castor or CASTOR may also refer to:-Science and technology:...
and Pollux
Pollux
Pollux may refer to:Astronomy*Pollux , *Pollux, a crater on the Saturnian moon EpimetheusFictional characters*Pollux Black, a pureblood wizard, grandfather of Sirius Black in the Harry Potter universeGames...
by Giovanni Battista Cipriani
Giovanni Battista Cipriani
Giovanni Battista Cipriani , Italian painter and engraver, Pistoiese by descent, was born in Florence.-History:His first lessons were given him by a Florentine of English descent, Ignatius Hugford, and then under Anton Domenico Gabbiani...
. Dated 1783 it was one of three paintings commissioned for Houghton Hall
Houghton Hall
Houghton Hall is a country house in Norfolk, England. It was built for the de facto first British Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, and it is a key building in the history of Palladian architecture in England...
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
and was purchased by Lord Belmore in 1990. The painting is so large that it had to be brought into the house through the breakfast room window and without its frame.
Another important purchase was ‘The Leslie Conversation Piece’ by J.H. Mortimer, which had previously been at Castle Leslie
Castle Leslie
Castle Leslie, home to an Irish branch of Clan Leslie, is located on the 4 km² Castle Leslie Estate adjacent to the village of Glaslough, north-east of Monaghan town in County Monaghan, Ireland.-Architecture:...
in County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
. Painted by Mortimer in 1770, the picture portrays some of the most colourful and prosperous landowners of the day, including Lord Mornington who was ennobled by the king for his music making and is seen in the picture entertaining the company at the piano. The painting now hangs in the state bedroom which the 2nd Earl had decorated in a lavish style for a planned visit by King George IV, who never came, preferring to dally with his mistress Lady Conyngham
Elizabeth Conyngham, Marchioness Conyngham
Elizabeth Conyngham , Marchioness Conyngham , was an English courtier and noblewoman, and the last mistress of George IV of the United Kingdom.- Early life :...
at Slane Castle
Slane Castle
Slane Castle is located in the town of Slane, within the Boyne Valley of County Meath, Ireland. The castle has been the family home of the Conyngham Marquessate since the 18th century....
instead.
Lord Belmore was also on the board of the National Gallery of Ireland
National Gallery of Ireland
The National Gallery of Ireland houses the Irish national collection of Irish and European art. It is located in the centre of Dublin with one entrance on Merrion Square, beside Leinster House, and another on Clare Street. It was founded in 1854 and opened its doors ten years later...
for five years, including a period as vice chairman.
Family
Lord Belmore was married on 8 September 1984 to Lady Mary Jane Meade (b. 12 July 1952), second daughter of John Charles Edmund Carson Meade, 6th Earl of Clanwilliam by his wife Catherine Loyd, third daughter of Colonel Arthur Thomas Loyd OBE, of Lockinge, Wantage, Berkshire, and has issue:- Hon. John Armar Galbraith Lowry-Corry, styled Viscount Corry (born 2 November 1985)
- Hon. Montagu Gilford George Lowry-Corry (b. 30 March 1989)
- Lady Martha Catherine Lowry-Corry (b. 27 May 1992)
Lord and Lady Belmore and their family live at the Garden House at Castle Coole, while their son Viscount Corry often uses private apartments at the main house.