10,000 acres of land in Sligo comes into the possession of Sir John Temple of East Sheen, Attorney General of Ireland

Sir John Temple dies, his son Henry inherits his estate

Henry Temple is created the first Viscount Palmerston of Palmerston in County Dublin

1st Viscount Palmerston dies and is succeeded by his grandson

2nd Viscount Palmerston dies and is suceeded by his son, Henry John Temple the 3rd Viscount Palmerston.

3rd Viscount also known as Lord Palmerston visits his Sligo estates for the first time and plans improvements in Mullaghmore and its harbour

Building begins at Mullaghmore harbour. The project, designed by Alexander Nimmo, is funded by Lord Palmerston and government grants

Short pier and jetty at the northern end of Mullaghmore harbour is completed

Harbour is officially opened and plots of land in the vicinity are available for warehouse sites

Mr Kincaid, Lord Palmerston’s Sligo agent, is concerned at progress of harbour extension. It is costing £500 per month.

Extension to Mullaghmore Harbour is completed

Carrick of Whitehaven, the first of nine ships carrying émigré tenants from Lord Palmerston’s Sligo estates, sinks off the Canadian coast.

Lord Palmerston becomes British Prime Minister

Lord Palmerston becomes British Prime Minister for the second time

Lord Palmerston dies. His holiday home, Classiebawn Castle at Mullaghmore, is inherited by his stepson, William Cowper-Temple, later 1st Baron Mount Temple of Mount Temple

Classiebawn Castle, designed by the architect, J Rawson Carroll, is completed

William Cowper-Temple, 1st Baron Mount Temple, dies. Classiebawn inherited by his nephew, the Rt. Hon. Evelyn Ashley

Rt Hon Evelyn Ashley discusses transfering Mullaghmore harbour to the Board of Works in Dublin

Rt. Hon. Evelyn Ashley dies. Classiebawn inherited by his son, Lt. Col. Wilfrid Ashley, later 1st Baron Mount Temple of Lee, Southampton

The Castle is commandeered by the Irish Free State Army

During the ‘Cliffoney Land Fight’, five local IRA men are convicted of unlawful assembly for ploughing and cultivating Lt. Col. Ashley’s grazing land

Top level IRA plans to destroy Classiebawn are aborted in the face of vehement opposition by local active IRA members

Letter to Lt. Col. Ashley is seized by Sein Feiners, endorsed with “passed I.R. censor” and delivered

Rt. Hon. Lt. Col. Ashley MP asks the British Prime Minister for protection of Classiebawn. Later reports of ‘destruction’ to the Castle

IRA hold three hostages at Classiebawn in response to three IRA volunteers imprisoned in Derry under sentence of death.

Marriage of Lord Louis Mountbatten and Edwina Ashley, elder daughter of Rt. Hon. Lt. Col. Wilfrid Ashley MP

Rt. Hon. Lt. Col. Ashley MP closes up Classiebawn

Local Republican volunteers are detained in Classiebawn by Freestate Army pending transfer to Finner Camp in County Donegal

Rt. Hon. Lt. Col. Ashley ‘mothballs’ Classiebawn and arranges distribution of its contents

Lt. Col. Ashley dies. His daughter, Edwina Mountbatten, inherits Classiebawn

Edwina Mountbatten visits Classiebawn

Edwina Mountbatten starts a programme of renovations

Edwina Mountbatten and her family visit Classiebawn; renovations are underway

A generator is installed providing light and power

Renovations are complete

Edwina Mountbatten appeals to the Irish Government for aid after flooding of the peat bog. She encourages cutting of estate bushes for fuel

Edwina Mountbatten dies. Her husband, Lord Mountbatten (Louis), inherits Classiebawn.

Shadow V is built at McCanns’ boatyard in Moneygold from timber felled in Classiebawn Woods. She is delivered to Mullaghmore for sea trials

Unsubstantiated report in UK’s Daily Express alleging a threat from the IRA for flying the Union Jack at Classiebawn

Lord Mountbatten offers Classiebawn Wood to the Minister for Lands, Irish Government

Classiebawn is let to summer visitors

Lord Mountbatten writes two Guide Books to Classiebawn and surrounding area.

Shadow V is suspiciously holed and sinks in Mullaghmore Harbour

Mains water is piped to the castle

At the request of Lord Mountbatten the cabin of Shadow V is rebuilt

Garda security for Lord Mountbatten’s visit is increased from 8 to 12 in view of internment being introduced in Northern Ireland, 3 on duty all the time

Garda security for visit of Lord Mountbatten and his family is increased to 15

Garda security for visit of Lord Mountbatten and his family is increased to 24

Lord Mountbatten offers Classiebawn to the Irish State, rent free. The Taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave, refuses.

Irish businessman, Hugh Tunney, leases Classiebawn

Lord Mountbatten, Nicholas Knatchbull & Paul Maxwell die aboard Shadow V. Doreen, The Dowager Lady Brabourne dies in Sligo Hospital the following day.

Thomas McMahon is convicted of the murder of Lord Mountbatten

Provisional Sinn Fein protestors hang a banner and the Irish tricolour from a window at Classiebawn in support of Republican hunger strikers

Body of Margaret Perry is found in woods close to Classiebawn. She was murdered in 1991 by her associates who were IRA and Special Branch informers

Incendiary device is discovered at the front door of Classiebawn. It preceeds a visit by Prince Charles to the Republic the next day

Thomas McMahon, convicted of the murder of Lord Mountbatten, is released from prison under terms of the ‘Good Friday’ Agreement

Local residents hold a ceremony at Classiebawn’s gates to commemorate the events of 1979

During an official visit to Ireland, Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, make a private visit to Classiebawn Castle. They are joined by Timothy and Isabella Knatchbull.