Dorothea Coote

She was the second daughter and co-heiress of her father Hugh Cuffe, of Cuffe's Wood, co. Cork.

Castle Cuffe was two miles west of Clonaslee, beside the old slí or highway was, according to Lewis' Topographical Dictionary, built by the first Sir Charles Coote in Elizabeth's time on the lands of the Dunnes which had been granted to him. Sir Charles married Dorothea, daughter of Hugh Cuffe of Cuffe's Wood, Co. Cork, a planter and he, presumably, as was customary with some of his fellow-grantees and planters, introduced the name "Castle Cuffe" as a token of esteem for Dorothea and her people. . The castle was a castellated mansion built by the first Sir Charles Coote on lands obtained from Tadgh o’Dunne about the year 1560. It was a mansion of considerable size, as the existing ruins prove. The mortar is tough because it was mixed with the blood of oxen, specially killed for the purpose. In the course of time the castle was strongly fortified with a balliam and outworks, still easily traceable. Castlecuffe is particularly unique because of its tall chimneystacks.

Dorothea Cuffe is the 9xgreat grandmother of Diana Frances (Lady) Spencer, through her daughter Laetitia.