Timothy O’Donovan JP to Dr. John O’Donovan on The Real Irish Greyhound not the wolf dog called the …..‘Guire Mac Fhira’ the Irish Grey Hound is called ‘Conn’ and was spelled Gre-hound, this breed is quite smooth silk like satin it is a mistake to confuse the rough or wiry dog being of Scotch descent and never could compete with the real Irish in Fleetship or Beauty, Richard Hungerford Evanson, Coursing at Dromreagh in the 1864.

The O’Donovans were clearly into dogs, his brother Doctor Richard placed an ad in a newspaper in the 1827 for a lost bitch ‘Lily’ at Ahakista. The House at O’Donovan’s Cove had a large area devoted to kennels

https://durrushistory.com/2015/07/06/1827-lost-beagle-bitch-answers-to-name-of-lily-belongs-to-dr-odonovan-odonovans-cove-durrus-reward-to-person-if-poor/

Richard Hungerford Evanson, Friendly Cove, held coursing meeting in Dromreagh in the 1870s which appear in the Skibbereen Eagle.

https://durrushistory.com/2015/07/01/29th-october-1864-coursing-meeting-of-friendly-cove-coursing-club-carrigboy-durrus-met-at-dromreagh-by-invitation-of-richard-evanson-esq-owner-the-ground-was-long-known-for-hares-being-strict/
Gaming in the hills was popular Lord Bandon maintained Durrus Court as a hunting lodge.

O’Donovan’s Cove
December 20th, 1860

Many thanks my dear friend for your recent collection and very handsome present, which I value highly, and my young friend, I shall it have properly framed, and ornamented with name of the artist.
I hope the book arrived safely . In some of the old Coats of Arms of the O’Donovan family I have seen the motto was ‘Ver Super Hostem”. I could not account for this crest was always the same ..
The Carbery O’Donovan I regret to say are wearing
he is at present abroad and is now fourteen. His father has been in Germany for 3 years and was very reckless and extravagant but his property fortunately was strictly entailed the land is secured to his family. His wife is grand daughter to Daniel O’Connell, the mother of my wife was a Miss Lavellan, Co. Limerick, a daughter of Philip Lavellin of Water park in the County of Cork. Her sister was married to Mr. Puxley of Dunboy Branch?. The grandson the present Mr. Puxley is a man of immense wealth the principal owner of the famous Allihies Mines in the Barony of Bere
I return Count McDonnell’s letter which is very interesting such as may be expected from one of the ancient race. I also return the other letters, with the Crest of the Wexford Donovans and your own. I hope to hear sometime from you at your pleasure and look forward with hope to our meeting in the ensuing.
…….papers and the pleasure when of my young friend, your son, I would accompany you.
I have still … of the real Irish Greyhound not the wolf dog called the …..‘Guire mac Fhira’
the Irish Grey Hound is called ‘Conn’ and was spelled Gre-hound, this breed is quite smooth silk like satin it is a mistake to confuse the rough or wiry dog being of Scotch descent and never could compete with the real Irish in fleetship or beauty.

Wishing you and yours every prosperity and happiness I remain your obliging friend an affectionate clansman,

Timothy O’Donovan

I also return the very pleasing testimonial of the merits of your son Edmund from Sir Bernard Burke.

Footnotes:

Latin ‘A man above his enemies”
The Cork Levellins were of Norman descent some of the family conformed to the Church of Ireland.
Elsewhere Dr. O’Donovan comments on the Wexford branch who may have come from West Cork purchasing Cromwellian Debentures in the 1840s the incumbent was described by Dr. O’Donovan a a ‘Bigoted Orangeman’

Timothy O’Donovan (1790-1874), 1818, O’Donovan’s Cove, in ruins 1875, Durrus, listed 1838, son of Richard Esq. and Jane d Alexander O’Donovan, Squince.  Present at enquiry Skibbereen 1823 into enquiry into fatal affray at Castlehaven caused by Rev. Morritt’s tithe extraction. Correspondent with Antiquarian Dr. John O’Donovan re O’Donovans of Carbery.  Brother of Dr O’Donovan and Richard O’Donovan JP and uncle of Richard O’Donovan JP. His son’s wife is grand daughter to Daniel O’Connell, the mother of his wife was a Miss Lavellan, Co. Limerick, a daughter of Philip Lavellin of Water Park in the County of Cork.  Her sister was married to Mr. Puxley of Dunboy Branch. The grandson the present (1860) Mr. Puxley is a man of immense wealth the principal owner of the famous Allihies Mines in the Barony of Bere.  Signed public declaration in Skibbereen to Alexander O’Driscoll on his removal as Magistrate 1835 with Lord Bantry, Simon White, John Puxley, Arthur Hutchins, Thomas Baldwin, Samuel Townsend Junior and Senior, Thomas Somerville, Richard Townsend Senior, Rev. Alleyn Evanson, Richard Townsend, Lyttleton Lyster. 1835 Subscriber Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1837.  In 1838 in the Liberal interest where at Bantry voter registration 15 were registered as opposed to 6 ‘Orangemen’ the tenants of Timothy O’Donovan JP were chiefly among those who registered.  Among these were probably McCarthys of Tulig later prominent in Nationalist politics of whom John Mccarthy (1859-1931)became a leading  in Nebraska and wrote a poem in praise of Timothy O’Donovan.  Attended Great Meeting in Bantry 1840 re Poor Laws.  Chaired 1846 distress meeting Bantry on proposition of Father Michael Barry PP Bantry. Landlord and political organiser. Member Election Committee, Rickard Deasy, Clonakilty (later Attorney General) 1855  Member election committee McCarthy Downing, Skibbereen. Juror Cork Spring Assizes 1863.   Land record, 1870, Kate O’Donovan, O’Donovan’s Cove, 1,940 acres and Reps Timothy O’Donovan 1,940 acres. 1874, Death at 85 of Timothy O’Donovan, J.P., Esq, O’Donovan Cove, Durrus, West Cork, The Last Survivor of the Ancient House of O’Donovan Bawn or Clann Cahill, Justice of the Peace since 1818 Probate to daughter Mrs Anne Barry, widow, effects £2,000.