Southern Reporter and Cork Commercial Courier 24 November 1825

1825.  Wanted an Active Young Man Conversant with the Linen Business, Apply John O’Connell, Bantry or Henry O’Regan, South Main St., Cork,  Must Speak the Irish language.

John O’Connell is probably the person involved with Father Barry in Anti Tithe agitation and the name of O’Regan also appears.  Both are probably quite wealthy.

John O’Connell Esq., Bantry.

Gave evidence to 1844 Commission Law and practice in respect to the occupation of land in Ireland. Landlord in fee, middleman, agent to proprietor abroad, merchant, farmer. Property in Skibbereen. Probably the John Connell referred to in evidence of Father Collins to Parliament Commission as opulent Bantry excluded from Quarter Session Jury as he was a Catholic.  The name appears in Bantry rental for 1837 receiver of Estate rents as a lease of 1796 for 3 lives and 31 years in the town at a rent of £5 5 shillings fairly substantial among other rents.  1826 Rent charge assigned 1833 from John Jagoe (probably the Liberal Protestant) over Glounathana also named Morgan O’Connell, Merchant, Liverpool, James O’Connell, Merchant, Cork Attorney, Timothy Collins.  Around 1830 purchased around 700 acres from Lord Riversdale probably his O’Donovan in-laws estate at Ardahil, Kilcrohane.   Tenants most refractory men in the country, prize fighters, and the head of a faction, they paid no rent, rent in arrears by four years. Forgave three, encouraged tenants who previously were prize fighters.  Now model farmers.  Adopted system from Sir William Beecher for cottiers of fixing the rent for an acre of ground at 10s, the rent for the potato garden, the turf bog, the cabbage garden  so as to give them the opportunity of rearing a pig.  Took 1838 assignment of Warner of Reendesert lands at Cappanaloha witnesses Edmond O’Sullivan, Draper, and Jeremiah O’Connell, Gent.

In 1838 noted for being indefatigable in the Liberal interest where at voter registration 15 were registered as opposed to 6 ‘Orangemen’ the tenants of Timothy O’Donovan JP were chiefly among those who registered. Presented Address of West Carbery and Bantry to Liberator at Cork Banquet attended by 550 with Fathers Barry, Freeman, McCarthy Downing, Solicitor, Skibbereen, Daniel Welply of Skibbereen.  1841 election vote based on £50 freehold at Glaundart.  1847 organised petition re Board of Works in activity of 1,400 of 4,000 with John Shea Lawlor and was Secretary to meeting at Bantry Chapel with Revs Michael Barry, Freeman, Roger Downing, Dr. Michael Burke.  Assisting 1848 Henry J. Fawcett, Practical Instructor on Husbandry of Visit to Bantry brought his to his estates and at a public meeting promised his tenants seeds.  1860 letter from Timothy O’Donovan JP, Durrus to Dr. John O’Donovan, Antiquarian:  In reply to your queries I  have to mention Timothy O’Donovan … who was married to a grand niece of Daniel O’Connell died some years ago. leaving a numerous family he left a considerable fortune in land and money. The lands were let by his sons to the late John O’Connell of Bantry and are now in the proprietorship of his brother Mr. James O’Connell of London.

James O’Regan.  

Wanted 1824, an Active Young Man Conversant with the Linen Business, Apply John O’Connell, Bantry or Henry O’Regan, South Main St., Cork,  Must Speak the Irish language. Possibly the same O’Regan family.  1829 Application May 1829 at Bandon Quarter Sessions by James O’Regan, Draper, Cork, to register Freehold over profit rent at Kealties, Durrus, under lease from Warham Atkins for two lives. O’Regan, James, Cork. Profit rent out of the lands of Kealties, Parish of Durrus, held for 2 Lives under the late Warham Atkins  £20.  Probably part of delegation from Bantry Committee with Sullivan, O’Connor and M. Connell attending Catholic Rent meeting at Durrus Chapel presided over by Father James Quin and a Committee appointed there. James and Patrick O’Regan listed at The Strand, Bantry in Pigot 1824. James O’Regan and Charles O’Regan may be associated with Timothy O’Donovan Magistrate of nearby O’Donovan’s Cove in collecting Catholic rent.