Garrett Dillon

Garrett (or Gerard or Gerald) Dillon (c.1640-c.1696) was an Irish judge, politician and soldier, who held the office of Recorder of Dublin. He is mainly remembered today as one of the signatories of the Treaty of Limerick, which he helped to negotiate. The refusal of the Irish Parliament to ratify the Treaty led to his downfall. He fled abroad and died in exile in France. Background He was born in County Westmeath, the son of Theobald Dillon of Portlick Castle and his wife Marcella Browne. Theobald was the son of Garrett Dillon of Feamore, County Mayo, a cousin of Theobald Dillon, 1st Viscount Dillon. Portlick had been in the Dillon family for centuries. The younger Garrett inherited both Feamore and Portlick, and acquired other estates in Westmeath, Roscommon and Mayo. All his estates were forfeited in the 1690s. His eldest son Theobald held on to some of the family estates, but not Portlick Castle, which was acquired by the Smyth family, who lived there until 1955. The castle is still in private ownership. Career