1907 Death of Captain Anthony Morgan (1825-1907). Bunaulin/Bun na Lon: Caheragh/Skibbereen. Magistrate 40 years. Landlord, Crimea war, Glowing Tributes at Skibbereen Petty Session Court. Significant Local Employer. Master West Carbery Hounds 1859. His son Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Hickman Morgan, unsuccessful as Unionist Candidate for Isle of Wight Constituency, UKhttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1sox-v3IFXp1SlOxvBobuMcQbA10fp0gjsIEx5QTHyTQ/edit
As a child I remember my father talking about Father Kearney. As my father was born in 1921 clearly Father Kearney had entered the folk history.
Rev Michael Kearney P.P. of Durrus 1835-1897, attended Diocesan College Cork and Maynooth from a substantial farming family in Manch, Dunmanway, Durrus 9 Feb.1886-1897 built a new church Kilcrohane 1895. The Skibbereen Eagle reported in September 1865 on his move as a curate from Kilcrohane to Inchigeela that his move was universally regretted by all denominations. He preached in Irish. He bought or rented Durrus Court from Lord Bandon. He featured in some of the Ballydehob Presentments for road building at Rossmore with Thomas Shannon in May 1896 and appeared before the Bantry Poor Law Guardians appealing for relief for a blind evicted tenant in Kilcrohane. He is reputed to have been a major purchaser of land on his own account and there are a number of properties in Rossmore and Brahalish listed in the 1901 Census as being owned by William Kearney, Manch, his brother. One of these are lands (25 acres held yearly from the Bandon Estate) at Rossmore which he acquired by mortgage from Mary Evans of £88 5s in 1887. She acquired the interest from her late husband William and paid off another mortgage in favour of George Rawlings, shopkeeper, Bantry and it is possible that Fr. Kearney advanced the money for this. Attending funeral, Bantry Jane Dillon nee Roycroft (1843-1892)
His land expertise was called upon by the Dukelow family in Brahalish to divide a farm between two brothers to ensure both had water and access did not interfere with the others This he did to both their satisfaction this is the holding of the late Richie Dukelow and Pat McCarthy.
He was lampooned by a local poet, part of the words referred to his brother who married a Protestant (one of Luther’s breed) perhaps reflecting the then thinking.
In 1885 he was a nominator with Father T. O’Leary, C.C. to James Gilhooley, Bantry who was elected. Gilhooly was returned unopposed as an MP for West Cork and Father Kearney was his assentor.
William Kearney also owned Cummer farm which was put up for auction in 1898 and
consisted of 250 acres with 80 good acres yielding 31/2 tons of hay to the acre. He acquired Durrus Court and various lands from the Earl of Bandon in 1894 by way of lease for 99 years from 29th Sept 1894 at a rent of £25 he died on the 2nd July 1897 and let his interest to his successor Parish Priest of Durrus Daniel Foley he in turn assigned his interest to his successor Timothy O’Leary. On his death the Bantry Poor Law Guardians adjourned for a week.
In a court case in Bantry June 1908 arising from the burning of hay ricks belonging to his brother William, who gave evidence that he had acquired two farms (one at Gearameen one at Rossmore, the lands on which the hay ricks had been acquired from Mr Moss and were near the village) from his brother Michael in his will. One at Gerahameen his brother had acquired from the Evans family and he had made provision for Evan’s daughter in his will, however when William Kearney tried to sell that farm the child’s grandfather O’Connell turned up and said he had no right to sell and there were no bids, the implication was the grandfather considered that Father Kearney’s acquisition may have been improper.
He appears in the folklore of Coomhola as collecting money for church building. He died in the Mercy Hospital in Cork and the funeral leaving Bantry was described as one of the largest seen in years with a cortège over a mile and a half to Kilcrohane and 159 vehicles. The contents of his house in Durrus Court were auctioned off the following month. There is a memorial plaque to him at Kilcrohane Church.
Probably the donor of £500 in his will toward the building of the new church in Durrus
Henry Wintrop ‘The O’Donovan’ (1812-1890), TCD, MA, DL. Pre 1910, Clann Cathal, Lis Ard, Skibbereen, son Rev. Morgan, Cork ed Dr. Coughlan, m Amelia d ‘The O’Grady’, Courcy O’Grady, Kilbollyowne, Co.Limerick. Son Colonel Morgan William MA, J.P., ‘The O’Donovan’ and Alicia Jones. 1869 Public Appeal for Mr. Patrick Walsh, Skibbereen and His Family Whose Flax Mill Destroyed by Fire. His Landlord The O’Donovan had Encouraged him., 1864 Cattle Show West Carbery Agricultural Society, Lissard, Skibbereen held in his grounds. Attending 17 Grand Jury presentments. Supporter Nicholas Leader, Conservative, 1865 County Cork Election. Interest in antiquities. Donor to the church bell fund, 1869, St. Nicholas, Cork. (Cork Daily Southern Reporter 26th March 1869). 1884, signed a protest against the dismissal of Lord Rossmore, head of Orange Order, Monaghan. Probate to Morgan O’Donovan, Lissard, Bishop Gregg, Cork, John Carson, Fellow Trinity College Dublin, £30,292.
West Cork History 