When an effigy of Lord Lucan was burned in Castlebar

THE distinguished author, Cecil Woodham Smith, in her excellent book, The Reason Why, has some harsh words to say about the Lucan family, who were landlords in Castlebar for close on 500 years, writes Johnny Mee.

She was particularly tough in her treatment of the Third Earl of Lucan. Tales were told of the earl galloping madly through the streets of Castlebar, the hooves of his mighty horse striking sparks from the cobblestones.

On one occasion, believing the Third Earl to be safely in England, the inhabitants of Castlebar were burning his effigy on the Mall when suddenly the clatter of his great black horse was heard and the earl galloped madly into the midst of the huge crowd, shouting wildly in terror: 'I’ll evict the bloody lot of you.'

When the Third Earl of Lucan died in 1888, aged 88 years, he was not a rich man. High living, drinking and gambling had whittled away his vast fortune. However, time had not mellowed the earl in his old age. He was as stubborn as ever and refused to allow any changes that might improve the quality of life for the people of Castlebar.

Cecil Woodham Smith visited Castlebar on several occasions when she was gathering material for her book. She was a close friend of Michael J. Egan, L.L.B., Mountain View, Castlebar, and John O’Donnell, Newport Road, Castlebar, county secretary to Mayo County Council.