With the rising popularity of Smithwicks, a word on the origin is in order. While dining in the Restaurant Pierre Gilbaud, Lower Baggot St., Dublin, with then-US Ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy Smith, I asked her to attempt to obtain for me a piece titled "The Sullivans of Kilkenny." She was gracious enough to put her staff to work and forwarded the piece as re-printed below. I trust I have transcribed it accurately.
“ In the Old Kilkenny Review, year unknown, Peter Smithwick, K.M., Solicitor, wrote that the tradition of Kilkenny is that Sullivan’s Brewery was founded in 1702. He was unable to trace the Sullivans with any certainty beyond William Sullivan, who died in 1818, who was at least 70. Smithwick felt sure, however, that William was the grandson of Daniel Sullivan, allegedly a Protestant, who bought property in the early eighteenth century. He purchased this in trust for Pierse Bryan of Jenkinstown, who was a Catholic but prohibited by the Penal Laws from buying land. The property was on the West side of High Street, "standing backward in James’ Street." It is believed that this was the site of Sullivan’s Brewery, the forerunner of Smithwicks.
Smithwick reported that in 1727 Daniel Sullivan bought house property and twenty years later a Protestant informer got a decree declaring himself the owner of the property.
The Liber Primus records show that in 1497 John Sullivan was received as a fellow burgess. It also refers to William and Lawrence Sullivan in the early 16th century.
The pedigree in the Kilkenny Review begins with William Sullivan, who died in March 1818. Admitted as a freeman of the city in 1812, he was one of the earliest Catholic freemen and took a leadership role agitating for Catholic emancipation. Shortly before his death he founded the Kilkenny Savings Bank. At the time of his death the Catholic Curate of Castlecomer announced his death by writing, "You are also requested to pray for the repose of the soul of Mr. William Sullivan of Kilkenny, in whom the poor have certainly lost a friend, and the pious and well disposed an ornament and an example."
William Sullivan married Margaret Renchan. Their marriage produced three sons. Their eldest, Richard, 1797-1855, lived in Castle Bamford. Elected as a freeman of the city in 1819, he was also elected a Common Councilman circa 1828. He was considered a Repealer, a man of moderate views, and fair-minded. When he was suggested as a Repealer candidate for the city in 1833, O’Connellites objected because he was a member of the City Corporation. Notwithstanding, he was returned unopposed for the city. He disputed with O’Connell in Parliament two years later and as a result, beer from the Sullivan Brewery was boycotted in Kilkenny. O’Connell later wrote Richard Sullivan: "My dear friend. I am unseated that is I will be on Monday. On Tuesday you will return me. Tell the boys of Kilkenny that it is my firm intention as long as I remain in Parliament to solicit, and I hope retain, their suffrages, and theirs alone." O’Connell was elected to the next parliament for Dublin and never represented the same constituency in two successive parliaments.
By 1837 Richard Sullivan was a Borough Magistrate and elected Mayor. There was considerable agitation against the Corporate of 36 common Councilmen. Complaints against the system went back to 1772 when ads appeared in the Leinster Journal which read, "Was not the estate of the Corporation of the City of Kilkenny granted by H.M. predecessors by H.M. to the Mayor and Citizens of the same city and not to the Mayor, Aldermen and Councilmen of the Same? Ought not the surplus to be divided amongst the landlords, i.e., the poor tradesmen, inhabitants and citizens?"
Richard Sullivan, M.P., was a owner of tanneries, flour mills and various warehouses and was a substantial landowner. His son Francis inherited considerable holdings . Richard’s brother Michael owned 4,800 acres. During the famine, in 1849, Richard set up a soup kitchen in his brewery. He also sheltered evicted tenants of the Browne-Clayton family of Browne’s Hill, who had opted against their landlord’s choice in a County Carlow election.
Richard’s first wife was Catherine Hackett, daughter of Cork’s James Hackett. They had two sons, William, who died as a young man in 1849, and Richard. Richard’s second marriage was to Miss Frances Byrne. After his death she ran the business for a while then became Benedictine nun, Dame Mary Joseph, at Rossano near Florence. The eldest son of this marriage was Francis of Castle Bamford. He married Margaret Mulhallen of Baurnafea. The eldest son of Richard’s (M.P.) second marriage was John, born in 1833. He became a Benedictine monk like so many of his family. Professed at Subiaco, Italy, he was Master of Novices there before returning to Ireland.
He next lived at the monastery and agricultural college at Leopardstown. He soon went to England as Visitor or Provincial. Three years later he set sail for New Zealand where he was superior of a community there and was in charge of a parish at Auckland. He visited America and returned to live at Buckfast Abbey. He died in 1930. One of Dom Adalbert’s (John) cousins was a monk at Leopardstown who had been a soldier in the American Civil War.
When Francis of Castle Bamford died in 1880, his widow Margaret and children went to live at Orchardton. One son, Richard, moved to Canada and worked as a confectioner. He died unmarried in 1956. The other son Edward also died unmarried in London, 1950. The only daughter married a Canadian and her mother accompanied the married couple back to Canada. The daughter died giving birth to a child, which also died. Both her husband and mother died shortly after.
Another son of Richard Sullivan, M.P., was James, of Lacken hall, which he inherited from his uncle Michael. He revived the old Kilkenny Races at Danesfort. In 1869 he married Ms. Elizabeth O’Connell, daughter of John O’Connell, M.P. and grand-daughter of the Liberator. Their children were James Sullivan, Dublin, Mrs. Burden of Bellevue and Miss Adelaide Sullivan.
After James passed on, the brewery was sold to E. Smithwick and Sons Ltd. The last male descendant of this family was Mr. James O’Connell-Sullivan, who lived in Sandymount. There are descendants in New Zealand and New Caledonia and the female line is represented by Mrs. Anne Smithwick of Birhfield. Most will recognize the Smithwick (prounounced Smithick) as a tasty and best-selling beer in Ireland and England.
Richard’s brother Michael lived at Lacken Hall and was an M..P. from 1847 to 1865. He married Margaret Sabina Cormac of the family of brewers and barristers. The marriage was childless. Richard’s youngest brother James was mayor in 1870 and never married.
The eldest son, Richard, emigrated to New Zealand and re-assumed the O in the surname. He ran a school there and became Clerk to the Provincial Legislature of Auckland and was later Secretary of the New Zealand Board of Education.”
So, as you lift your glass of Smithwicks, toast to the Sullivans of Kilkenny!
No comments:
Post a Comment