On Thursday, 23^rd July, 1896, Mrs Gorringe, wife of the Fintra estate owner, laid the foundation stone of the new clock tower and stables. The evening was given up to a supper, followed by music and singing for the estate workmen, the constabulary, and the Killybegs railway staff.

As landlords the Gorringes kept on good terms with their Fintra tenants. The Fintra estate was made up of the townlands of Coolnagoppoge, Gortnamuck, Gortnagolan, Tullig, Island, and Lisnacleha. The 90 tenants of the estate paid rent to their landlord, T. J. Gorringe.

Having built new out-offices, including a meeting hall, Gorringe decided, in 1896 to add an ornamental tower, which would include a clock, and be surmounted by a weathervane. He arranged a formal laying of the foundation stone, and at the same time, threw a party for his tenants.

The celebrations started on Monday, July 20^th, 1896, and lasted over three days. On the first evening he invited all the elderly or principal tenants. They all sat down to a feast of beef, mutton, and vegetables, followed by plum pudding, and whiskey or water to drink. The ladies of the manor had decorated the dining space with bunting, evergreens and plants. These women were Mrs T. J. Hamilton Gorringe and Mrs Twigg, helped by their daughters. (Annie Wilhelmina Hamilton of Fintra House married John B. Twigg of Dublin in September 1866).

During the speeches which followed the meal, a toast was made by Mr McGinty, who proposed the health of the landlord, wishing him health and prosperity. Mr Gorringe, returned thanks to McGinty and the Fintra tenants. He said he was very pleased and delighted to meet them all on such an occasion, and hoped in the future he would have the pleasure of meeting them all there again.

James Hegarty then proposed the health of Arthur Parsons-Guy, the agent to the Fintra estate, speaking well of his energy and interest in the welfare of the tenantry. Guy, responding, said that a better lot of tenants than those on the Fintra estate he could not do business with; he always found them honest. He was proud to say there were very few arrears on the estate, and by next year he hoped to see everyone clear.

The toasts over, the evening passed off very successfully with singing and music, the latter aided by a large musical box placed on the platform of the hall.

Pipes and tobacco were provided for the men, and for any of the old ladies who indulged in the nicotine habit, while several accepted the packets of snuff from Mrs Gorringe herself.

The following evening the sons and daughters of the tenants, numbering 102, came in for their share of the festivities. Tea was laid on in the hall and afterwards the tables were removed and dancing began. The music was provided by two violinists specially hired from Strabane, and dancing was kept up till 3.30.a.m. During the evening the whole frontage of the residence was brilliantly illuminated with hundreds of fairylights, and a display of fireworks was given, to which all the neighbourhood was invited.

Finally, the foundation stone, with a suitable inscription, was laid by Mrs Hamilton Gorringe. Underneath a hole was cut, and papers of the day and coins of the year were placed inside.

On the Saturday afternoon the gala week concluded with a tea and magic lantern entertainment, to which all the little children on the Fintra estate were invited.