Maria Lady Kinfauns
About
Maria, Lady Kinfauns
Matriarch of Newhall · Businesswoman · Patron of Heritage and Education
LADY KINFAUNS Maria Commane (The Much Honoured Maria, Lady Kinfauns) is the wife of Fergus, The Much Honoured Lord Kinfauns, and the matriarch of Newhall House and Estate, County Clare. A woman of formidable intellect, quiet determination, and practical vision, she is the driving force behind what is widely regarded as the largest private restoration project in Ireland in the last decade — a cultural and spiritual revival centred on Newhall and its sacred heritage.
Born in London as the second youngest of seven daughters, Maria was raised in a household shaped by tradition, discipline, and resilience. Her father, a devout Catholic and veteran of the Second World War, had served as an anti-aircraft gunner in Scotland, defending Britain from the Luftwaffe. Descended from the ancient house of Warzęta Korwin z Ślepowrony (c. 1224) and bearing the Ślepowron coat of arms, he upheld the values of faith, service, and honour. Family oral tradition holds that their lineage extended back to Marcus Valerius Corvus, a Roman general famed for valour and leadership. Though he had long hoped for a son, it was Maria — with her quiet will and strong sense of responsibility — who inherited his mantle.
Unable to return to Soviet-occupied Poland after the war, he was offered opportunites anywhere in the British Empire — but chose to remain in London, where he met and married a local English woman. Their union shaped Maria’s early life: one grounded in Catholic values, wartime legacy, and a deeply instilled sense of duty.
At just 18 years old, Maria married her first love, Fergus Commane — later recognised as Lord Kinfauns — who founded the construction recruitment firm Site Masters PLC and acquired the ancient Newhall Estate. While Fergus provided the vision and capital, it was Maria who built the company, serving as Managing Director from 1987 to 2021. Through her hands-on leadership, shrewd judgement, and tireless work ethic, she grew Site Masters into a respected national firm—commanding respect in an industry long dominated by men.
From 2017 to 2019, she served as Governor of Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital School — a charitable, unpaid role — where she championed the educational rights of children with complex mental health needs. Her work there reflected a lifelong commitment to service, particularly in safeguarding the vulnerable.
While her professional achievements were considerable, her most enduring contribution has been at Newhall. Though Fergus acquired the estate, it is Maria who has led the restoration, overseeing the work in close collaboration with her long-time project manager, Alan Foudy. Under her care, Newhall House, Killone Abbey, the Holy Well of St John the Baptist, and the surrounding historic landscape have been gradually and respectfully brought back to life.
Her approach is guided not by public recognition, but by a quiet sense of spiritual duty — a belief that she answers, above all, to God.
Newhall remains first and foremost a private family home, but under Lady Kinfauns’ direction, parts of the estate are being sensitively developed into a wellness retreat — a long-term project intended to share the serenity of the landscape and the spiritual legacy of Killone Abbey with others. The vision reflects her belief in quiet restoration, reflection, and stewardship of sacred space.
She resides at Newhall and is regarded by those who know her as someone who embodies Irish values — spiritually grounded, self-effacing, and deeply committed to family and tradition. Though she prefers to remain behind the scenes, her leadership has been instrumental in preserving the estate for future generations.
There is a certain poetic symmetry to her life: her father served in Scotland during the Second World War, and today she bears the title of Lady Kinfauns — a connection she has acknowledged with modest reflection.
Maria’s approach to giving has always been instinctive. Over the years, she has supported causes close to home and heritage, reflecting an enduring commitment to kinship, continuity, and quiet service. Her charitable giving is instinctive, personal, and never publicised. She has often noted with quiet reflection that “Kinfauns may have had something to do with my father in Scotland” — a subtle, poetic symmetry between her husband’s title and her father’s wartime service.
The recent revival of Clan Ó Comáin has also carried personal resonance. Family and close friends recognise the influence of her late son, Ronan, who had always expressed a wish to bring the extended family together. His spirit and sentiment quietly informed the reawakening of the clan’s identity. His death, following a tragic episode of hospital malpractice, remains a private grief — one met with resilience and grace.
Above all, she is a mother — a deeply devoted and exceptional mother of three children, each raised with faith, dignity, and pride in their family name. The Commane household reflects her constancy, strength and depth of care.
In 2025, the ancient Gaelic lineage of the family was formally affirmed when Clan Commane was recognised under the patronage of the President of Ireland by Clans of Ireland, and her husband installed as Taoiseach, becoming Chief of Clan Ó Comáin. As matriarch of the clan, Lady Kinfauns continues to play a steady and discreet role, supporting its cultural, charitable, and historical mission.
Her interests include sacred landscape preservation, classical garden design, Marian devotion, and traditional Irish crafts. She supports cultural initiatives quietly and consistently, guided by principle rather than recognition.
Those who work with her speak of a woman of integrity and resolve — discreet in manner, exacting in standards, and unwavering in commitment to her family and the land. Her influence continues to shape the quiet renewal of a historic place with deep roots in Irish history.