John Lalor-Fitzpatrick, Ossory's Last M.P.

By Seamus Dunne

As Richard Lalor, a devoted Parnellite and former MP, lay dying in his home at Tinakill House, Raheen, in November, 1893, he placed his hand on the shoulder of an l8-years-old youth and predicted: "I have a grandson who, when he grows up, will fight on."

The prediction came true. The grandson was John Lalor-Fitzpatrick who in a by-election in the fateful Easter Week of 1916 became the Nationalist MP for the Ossory division of Queen's County. He was the last man to hold the position.

For the 1918 general election-which he didn't contest-the Ossory and Leix divisions were combined into one constituency, Queen's County. And by then, Sinn Fein, fuelled by the Easter Rising, was in the ascendant. Its candidate, Kevin O'Higgins, took the seat, vanquishing Patrick J. Meehan, Nationalist.

John Lalor-Fitzpatrick retired gracefully to private life, thus ending a family political dynasty that could be traced back to the Confederation of Kilkenny, and that had included such famous figures as the seminal revolutionist James Fintan Lalor, and Peter Lalor, leader of the miners' rebellion at The Eureka Stockade and later Speaker of the Victoria State Parliament in Australia. Until the day he died-December 8, 1956- John Lalor-Fitzpatrick adhered to his principles. To him, the constitutional path pursued by the Irish Parliamentary Party had been the correct one and he admitted to a feeling of sadness when he thought of "the might have been."

He was born in 1875 at Bolton Lodge, Naas, Co. Kildare, the son of Dr John Fitzpatrick and Anne Fitzpatrick (nee Lalor). Dr Fitzpatrick, who was disinteresed in politics, died as a young man.

Anne Fitzpatrick was a daughter of Richard Lalor of Tinakill. An MP from 1880 to 1892, he was a brother of James Fintan and Peter Lalor. Their father, Patrick, had also been an MP, in 1833/34. He had taken a prominent part in the tithe war, which eventually led to the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland. He was one of the first Catholics to become a Justice of the Peace (JP), and he served as a Poor Law Guardian and Grand Juror.

Richard Lalor, a farmer and civil engineer educated in Trinity College, remained fiercely loyal to Parnell after the "split" and obviously exercised a strong influence on his young grandson, John. Richard's reputation as a landholder was not without controversy: in 1884, he was accused of harshly treating the orphans of one of his tenants. He vehemently denied the charge.

To return to John Lalor-Fitzpatrick: after attending Patrician College. Mountrath, he took up fanning at Colt House, Abbeyleix. In the 1916 Ossory by-election, caused by the death of William Delaney, he was the official Irish Parliamentary (nationalist) Party candidate. His opponent was an independent nationalist, James J. Aird, a Maryborough businessman. Following a lively campaign, Mr LalorFitzpatrick-as we shall call him henceforth- polled 2,003 votes. MrAird's tally was 1,616. The electorate numbered 4,785.

Mr Lalor-Fitzpatrick made 40 speeches during his two years in the House of Commons, and he and his colleagues carried on a protracted battle against the implementation of the Military Service (conscription) Act in Ireland. They were ultimately successful, for the First World War was nearing its end by the time the Act became operative in this country.

Twice married, Mr Lalor-Fitzpatrick's first wife was Kathleen Carroll of Carmhill, Kilteely, Co. Limerick. Following her death, he in 1930 wedded Elizabeth Clare from Ballynulty, Co. Wicklow. Neither union produced issue.

His last official public appearance was in Market Square, Portlaoise, in 1949, at a James Fintan Lalor Centenary meeting.

Mr Lalor-Fitzpatrick's grave is in Deansgrange cemetery in Dublin.

O'Lalors of Dysart

The Lalors (0' Lalors) go back a long way in politics. Denis O'Lalor, born in Ballymoney, Queen's County, was a member of the Confederation of Kilkenny and kinsman of Most Rev. Dr. Robert O'Lalor, Apostolic Administrator of Dublin, Kildare and Ferns during the reign of Elizabeth 1.

Following Denis' execution by Col. Daniel Axtell, his estate was confiscated. Jeremiah O'Lalor, a son of Denis, was born in Dysart Castle, between Maryborough and Stradbally and within hailing distance of The Rock of Dunamaise, in 1626. He eventually settled on an estate at Cregg, Carrick-on-Suir.

One of his descendants, Thomas Lalor born about 1830, served as a Justice of the Peace for Waterford, Kilkenny and Tipperary. In addition, he was High Sheriff and Vice Lieutenant for Tipperary.

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