Thomas Kavanagh, The MacMurrough

Burke's Peerage

THOMAS KAVANAGH, of Borris House, MP for the City of Kilkenny in the last Irish Parliament and subsequently representative for Co Carlow in the last two Parliaments of GEORGE IV. and 1st WILLIAM IV.;

born 10 March, 1767;

married 1st, 24 March, 1799, Lady Elizabeth Butler, daughter of John, 17th Earl of Ormonde, and by her (who died 1822) had issue, a son, Walter, who died 1836, and nine daughters.

Mr. Kavanagh married 2nd, 28 Feb 1825, Lady Harriet Margaret Le Poer Trench, daughter of Richard, 2nd Earl of Clancarty (see BURKE'S Peerage, CLANCARTY, E), and left at his decease, 20 Jan 1837,

• 1a THOMAS, of Borris. who Died unmarried in Australia March 1852, succeeded by his brother
• 2a CHARLES, of Borris.born 28 Jan 1829; died unmarried Feb 1853, and was s by his brother,
• 3a ARTHUR MACMORROUGH, of Borris.
• 1a Harriet Margaret; married Col W. A. Middleton, CB, RA; died 7 May, 1876.

"Thomas Kavanagh of Borris was a rather opportunistic lad and married Lady Elizabeth Butler, daughter of the Earl of Ormonde. Through Elizabeth, Thomas came into the Ballyraggett estate (the fascinating castle is still there, now used to store fertilizer). Elizabeth died after producing 9 daughters.

Thomas then married Harriet de Poeur Trench the daughter of the Earl of Clancarty, a desirable marriage at that time as Thomas then had land and money and the lady had an English title. One of their children was the famous Arthur Kavanagh, whose middle Christian name was MacMurrough. Arthur was born without arms and legs, but succeeded in living a full and successful domestic and political life.

Arthur then gave all of his sons a middle Christian name of MacMurrough. His daughters were simply named Kavanagh, the family name, with typical feminine Christian first and middle names. With the true Chief of the Kavanagh Clann transported, sold or transplanted… but definitely out of the picture… Arthur’s son applied to the College of Arms and took upon himself the title of Chief of the Name MacMurrough-Kavanagh. He was not making any claim to Chief of Clann Kavanagh, only to his line name."

From http://www.kavanaghfamily.com/articles/2002/20021101jfc.htm

Other References

• "KAVANAGH, Thomas (1767-1837), of Borris House, co. Carlow", The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1820-1832, ed. D.R. Fisher, 2009
• Burke, Bernard, Sir. A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Great Britain & Ireland 6th ed. London : Harrison 1879. Vol I. page 888