Sir John Kirwan
Encyclopedia
Sir John Kirwan, Irish
Entrepreneur
, founder of the Kirwans of Castle Hackett
, County Galway
. 1650-1721.
origin, possibly of Conmhaícne descent. They settled in Galway around 1488 under William Ó Ciardhubháin
and within a generation had become among the leading merchants of the town. John Óge Kirwan
served as Mayor of Galway
for the term 1530-1531, followed by Thomas (1534-1535) and Richard (1550-1551), along with numerous bailiffs, sheriffs, and aldermen. In all, eleven Kirwans would be Mayor before the fall of the tribal corporation in 1654.
As a result of the Irish Confederate Wars
, the tribes had almost all of the property confiscated. Many were forced to emigrate to the West Indies as indentured servants and in this way the basis of new wealth was accrued in the succeeding generation.
with both Europe
and the West Indies. Trading in tobacco, suger, along with slaves, salted goods, hides and tallows. Branches of the family settled in Martinique
, St. Croix and Montserrat
. During Kirwan's lifetime Ireland - led by the ports of Galway and Cork
- was the principal external supply route for provisions to the islands, the annual value of beef exports in 1685 alone been 45,000 pounds.
Kirwan served as Mayor of Galway from 1686 to 1688, and as an M.P.
for Galway. He was knighted by James II
. While he supported the Jacobite
side in during the Williamite War in Ireland
, he surrendered on terms to General Ginkel, was pardoned, and was allowed to hold his property.
, while the new house of the same name was being built. It was completed in 1703. Located six miles from Tuam
, 3 story house called Castlehacket which was burned in 1923 during the Irish Civil War
. The last member of the family to bear the name, Sir Denis Kirwan Bernard, died unmarried in 1956 and was buried on the summit of Cnoc Meadha. It was inherited by his nephew, Percy Paley, who died there in 1986. The house is currently owned by Isle of Man arms dealer, Phillip Jones.
Notable descendants of Sir John were:
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, founder of the Kirwans of Castle Hackett
Castle Hackett
Castle Hackett is a 13th-century tower house located at the base of Knockma hill six miles southeast of Tuam, County Galway, Ireland.- History :...
, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
. 1650-1721.
Background
Kirwan was a member of one of The Tribes of Galway. The family were of GaelicGaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
origin, possibly of Conmhaícne descent. They settled in Galway around 1488 under William Ó Ciardhubháin
William Ó Ciardhubháin
William Ó Ciardhubháin, fl. 1488, was an Irish merchant and the founder of one of The Tribes of Galway.Ó Ciardhubháin is said to have been a native of Dunbally castle, near Dunmore, County Galway...
and within a generation had become among the leading merchants of the town. John Óge Kirwan
John Óge Kirwan
John Óge Kirwan , fl. 1530-1531, Mayor of Galway.The Ó Ciardhubháin family moved from Dunmore, County Galway to Galway town in the 1480s following a land dispute with Baron Athenry...
served as Mayor of Galway
Mayor of Galway
The office of Mayor of Galway is an honorific title used by the of Galway City Council. The Council has jurisdiction throughout its administrative area which is the city of Galway – the largest city in the province of Connacht, in the Republic of Ireland. The office was originally established by a...
for the term 1530-1531, followed by Thomas (1534-1535) and Richard (1550-1551), along with numerous bailiffs, sheriffs, and aldermen. In all, eleven Kirwans would be Mayor before the fall of the tribal corporation in 1654.
As a result of the Irish Confederate Wars
Irish Confederate Wars
This article is concerned with the military history of Ireland from 1641-53. For the political context of this conflict, see Confederate Ireland....
, the tribes had almost all of the property confiscated. Many were forced to emigrate to the West Indies as indentured servants and in this way the basis of new wealth was accrued in the succeeding generation.
Career
In the late 17th century, Galway experienced a boom in tradeTrade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
with both Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the West Indies. Trading in tobacco, suger, along with slaves, salted goods, hides and tallows. Branches of the family settled in Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
, St. Croix and Montserrat
Montserrat
Montserrat is a British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies. This island measures approximately long and wide, giving of coastline...
. During Kirwan's lifetime Ireland - led by the ports of Galway and Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
- was the principal external supply route for provisions to the islands, the annual value of beef exports in 1685 alone been 45,000 pounds.
Kirwan served as Mayor of Galway from 1686 to 1688, and as an M.P.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Galway. He was knighted by James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
. While he supported the Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
side in during the Williamite War in Ireland
Williamite war in Ireland
The Williamite War in Ireland—also called the Jacobite War in Ireland, the Williamite-Jacobite War in Ireland and in Irish as Cogadh an Dá Rí —was a conflict between Catholic King James II and Protestant King William of Orange over who would be King of England, Scotland and Ireland...
, he surrendered on terms to General Ginkel, was pardoned, and was allowed to hold his property.
Castle Hackett
It is uncertain how Kirwan acquired Castle Hackett, except it was probably sometime in the late 1690s. He would have lived in the original castle built by the Hackett family, at the foot of Cnoc MeadhaCnoc Meadha
Cnoc Meadha is a hill west of Tuam, County Galway, in Ireland.It is said in legend to be the residence of Finnbheara, the king of the Connacht fairies. Of two large cairns on the hill, one was thought to be the burial-place of Finnbheara and the other of Queen Medb, whose name may be transformed...
, while the new house of the same name was being built. It was completed in 1703. Located six miles from Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
, 3 story house called Castlehacket which was burned in 1923 during the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
. The last member of the family to bear the name, Sir Denis Kirwan Bernard, died unmarried in 1956 and was buried on the summit of Cnoc Meadha. It was inherited by his nephew, Percy Paley, who died there in 1986. The house is currently owned by Isle of Man arms dealer, Phillip Jones.
Children and descendants
Kirwan and his wife, Maria, had at least three children - Simon, Mary, Anne .Mary married Arthur French of Tyrone House; Anne married Sir Walter Blake of Menlough in 1687; Simon married Julian French, sister of Christopher French, father of Arthur, above.Notable descendants of Sir John were:
- Denis Kirwan
- Captain John Kirwan
- Major John Kirwan
- Sir Denis Kirwan Bernard