Mayo history: James Fitzgerald-Kenney, S.C., of Clogher House
By Tom Gillespie
MY late uncle, Bernie Gillespie, introduced me to court reporting in 1970. In his day he would have covered many high-profile trials in Castlebar Courthouse.
He was always loud in his praise of one senior counsel, James Fitzgerald-Kenney, who frequented the Western Circuit, and who was an orator of note, a skilled defender whose verbal acrobatics saved many a person from incarceration.
James, a former Minister for Justice, resided at Clogher House, Clogher, Claremorris, until his death in 1956.
His obituary appeared in The Connaught Telegraph on Saturday, October 27, of that year, probably written by Bernie Gillespie.
It was headed 'Passing of Noted Mayo Man Mr. James Fitzgerald-Kenney, S.C.' and read as follows:
The death has taken place in a Dublin nursing home of Mr. James Fitzgerald-Kenney, S.C., who was Minister for Justice from 1927 until 1932.
Born in Clogher, on April 30, 1878, Mr. Fitzgerald-Kenney was the second son of the late Mr. James Christopher Fitzgerald-Kenney, Kilclogher, Co. Galway, and his wife, Helena, who was daughter of Major P. Crean-Lynch, of Clogher House and Hollybrook, Co. Mayo.
He was educated at Clongowes Wood College and University College, Dublin, from whence he graduated in 1898 with a degree in history, political economy and jurisprudence.
He was called to the Irish Bar the following year, and at once joined the Connaught Circuit, where he came into prominence as a defender of prisoners.
His forensic abilities, combined with a very wide knowledge of law, soon acquired for him a very extensive business in all courts.
He was called to the Inner Bar in 1925.
He was one of the earliest pioneers of the Gaelic League in his native county, and took a prominent part in the affairs of that association, being founder and chairman for many years of a successful branch in his own district.
Mr. Fitzgerald-Kenney joined the Irish Volunteers in 1914, and for a period was inspecting officer for south Mayo.
A striking speech, delivered by him at Frenchill, Castlebar, which is still spoken of by those who heard it, stirred up a great deal of enthusiasm among the local volunteers during the early days of the Irish movement. He remained a follower of Mr. Redmond right up to the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty.
He was elected to the Dáil as a Deputy for South Mayo in June 1927 and shortly after the disappearance of the late Mr. Kevin O’Higgins from the political scene, was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Justice, a portfolio then held by the President of the Executive Council, Mr. William T. Cosgrave.
After his re-election to the Dáil, in the September General Election of 1927, he was appointed Minister for Justice. He defended his seat in 1932 and remained a Dáil Deputy until 1944.
When appointed Minister he was, as the least experienced member of the Cabinet, for a time a constant target of the opposition. His training as a King’s Counsellor served him well, however. He proved quite imperturbable and met the most difficult attacks with a bland smile and unfailing good humour. He also showed himself to be a possessor of an invaluable gift for framing impromptu answers to questions hurled at him by way of interruption so awkwardly for his opponents that they could neither accept them nor entirely disagree with them.
In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Fitzgerald-Kenney, who was enormously popular in his constituency, devoted much of his time to farming the land at Clogher House, which he inherited from his mother.
His last connection with political life in this country was when, in 1944, the Council of the Bar of Ireland nominated him for election to the Senate. He thanked the members of his profession for paying him this honour, but withdrew his candidature and retired to his farm.
Historian Brian Hoban and Corina Kelly have carried out extensive research into Fitzgerald-Kenney and Clogher House.
Clogher House, originally known as Clogher Lynch, was built in 1770 by the Lynch family. The house was set in 640 acres of land and consisted of 28 rooms, incorporating a library and chapel. The rooms had ceilings of Adamesque plasterwork with the front hall featuring an amazing curved ceiling.
The Lynches were popular landlords. However, the last of the Lynches, Marcella, married Major Crean who came from Hollybrook outside Claremorris. Major Crean was a ruthless landlord, hated by his tenants.
The original house was a three-storey building, roofed with 'Greek flags'. On January 6, 1839, 'The Night of the Big Wind', the house was left roofless. This disaster was, however, welcomed as it gave reason to remodel the house - a further storey was added and it was roofed with more modern slates.
Helena Mary Crean, who inherited the estate from her father, married James Fitzgerald Kenny in 1870. James Fitzgerald Kenny died prematurely after only seven years of marriage, however the couple had five children.
Master Harry, the eldest son, inherited the house and estate. Having been orphaned at an early age he grew up wild and conceited and like most of the aristocracy at the time he was fond of horses and loved hunting and racing. On one occasion, when Master Harry was returning from the Ballinrobe races, he called into Higgins' public house in Carnacon, where he met Captain Blake from Towerhill. After several rounds of drinks Captain Blake asked Master Harry if he would allow his eldest sister to marry him and an argument followed as Master Harry regarded himself to be of a far superior class than the Blakes. Two hours later Master Harry was found dead in suspicious circumstances. The cause of his death was never established. It was said likely due to a fall from his horse but more likely related to the incident earlier in Carnacon. He was only 23.
Clogher House passed to James Fitzgerald-Kenney. After his death the house and estate were sold to a timber merchant in the late 1960s. In 1970 a fire destroyed the building. The Land Commission later took over the estate and it was divided locally.