The Rt. Hon. Joseph Hutchinson, Lord Mayor of Dublin

By Frank Meehan
Extracted from "Laois Yearbook" 1989

The Rt. Hon. Joseph Hutchinson was born in 1852 in Borris-in-Ossory. At the age of 15 he went to seek his fortune in Dublin. In September 1877 with eight other men he established the Irish National Foresters Benevolent Association, which later spread throughout the whole English speaking world. In 1881 he became the trustee of the Society and 1844 Treasurer. Two years later he became General Secretary.

In 1890 he entered politics and was elected a Councillor for the Merchants Quay Word of the Dublin Corporation and served on various committees for over 23 years. He became Governor of the Richmond Asylum for thirteen years and was a member also of the Dublin Docks Board.

On the Corporation he devoted himself to getting pensions for Corporation workmen when they retired and with the assistance of other Councillors and Aldermen Joseph Clarke, Alderman Timothy Harrington, M.P. Lord Mayor of Dublin 1901-1903, Alderman Joseph Nannetti, M.P. Lord Mayor of Dublin 1906-1907 a bill passed in the House of Commons granting pensions without the men having to make contributions towards it. Dublin, thanks to him and the Nationalist Party was the first city in the Empire to gain this privilege.

In 1896 he was appointed High Sheriff for Dublin for that year.

In 1904 he was elected Lord Mayor of Dublin and held that position till 1906. During his first year in office he received the Papal Legate Cardinal Vanuttelli on his arrival in Dublin and was present with the Papal Legate at the Consecration of St. Patrick's Cathedral.

The Annual Convention of the Irish National Foresters was held in 1905 in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone and Alderman Hutchinson was presented with an illuminated address and Gold Chain of Office, a facsimile of the Civic Chain of the City of Dublin. The only difference being that on the medallion the insignia of the order was stamped instead of the head of King William III.

Alderman Hutchinson died at his residence Ivy Cottage, Hollybank Road, Drumcondra on 17th of October 1928. His wife died the day before.

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