Biography: The Rt. Hon. Arthur McMuorrough Kavanagh 1870-1954
Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives
Carlow Index
Biographies
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Contributed by: Susie Warren  susieissassy@gmail.com
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THE BIOGRAPHY OF A REMARK ABLE PERSONAGE.
Many of your readers have heard and read about the Right
Honorable ARTHUR MCMUORROUGH KAVANAGH who for many years
represented Carlow in the House of Commons, and did not
lose his seat until the growing power of the National
League made it well-nigh impossible for any landlord to
retain the confidence of his constituency. Mr Kavanagh
enjoyed all the advantages of birth and fortune-he was
descended from a historic family, and he inherited a
considerable landed estate. But there were few of the
humblest cotters on his broad domains who would have cared
to change places with him. Born without arms or legs, a
mere trunk, he managed by years of patient exertion to
triumph over physical disadvantages which would have
crushed most men. He was thoroughly well educated, a crack
shot, a daring horseman, and a model landlord. He managed
to lead an honorable and useful life. He could only ride by
being strapped on to the saddle, he could only shoot by an
ingenious arrangement of straps and hooks, he could only
enter into a house on the shoulders of a servant. But he
managed to become a great social favourite, and to lead
quite as active a life as the majority of Irish country
gentlemen. His biography by his cousin, Mrs L. L. Steele,
is as interesting and exciting as a novel.  During the
Smith O'Brien rising, when he was little more than 18, he
was staying with his great aunt, then Dowager Marchioness
of Ormonde, at Garrycricken near Slieve-na-Man. Mr Kavanagh
went out to reconnoitre the rebels, but was discovered and
pursued by some of their mounted men. But he galloped
across country which they dared not follow, and put his
horse to fences which his pursuers were afraid to take.
After the collapse of the Smith O'Brien rebellion in the
historic cabbage garden, Mr Kavanagh went abroad and
travelled through Russia to Persia and India, where he
remained some time, but eventually returned to Ireland, and
in 1854, when only 24 years of age, succeeded to the family
property, through the death of his brother. In the
following year he married his cousin, by whom he had seven
children, none of whom inherited his physical defects. He
improved his property, assisted in building a railway
towards New Ross, and devoted himself to the welfare of his
tenants. During the Fenian rising of 1866 he showed the
same courage and loyalty which he had displayed in 1848 and
he gave the most valuable assistance to the Government. In
the same year he defeated Sir John Pope Hennessy for
Carlow, and three years afterwards took part in a debate in
the House of Commune on the second reading of the Poor law
(Ireland) Amendment Bill. He made an admirable speech and
created a most favourable impression. From that date he
took part in many discussions, and was regarded as a great
authority on Irish affairs, although his views, of course,
were those of his class. In the settlement of the business
affairs of the church of Ireland he displayed great
shrewdness and sagacity, as well as extreme generosity and
liberality. In 1880 he lost his seat, but he subsequently
took a leading part in all the movements initiated by the
Irish land lords, was a member of the Bessborough
commission and drew up a separate report, which in the
debates on the Land Act was " repeatedly referred to as the
ablest exposition of the landlords' case that had eve',
been put forth.' He initiated defensive associations, the
Irish Land committee, the emergency committee and the Land
Corporation. I do not wish to be regarded as approving his
politics. But I had the greatest respect for Mr Kavanagh as
a man. Never shall I forget my astonishment during the
debates on the first Irish Land Bill, seeing a stalwart man
march into the House of Commons, bearing in his arms an
extra ordinary looking object, which at first sight seemed
scarcely human. But when it was deposited in its seat I at
once realised that it was a man, and one both clever and
masterful. His deficiencies were scarcely observable when
he was seated, although the places where should have been
arms and legs were mere excrescences, something like the
tutts that ladies now wear upon the shoulders of their
dresses. I could see that he was popular with the members
who sat around him and that he was a persona grata with
both sides of the House. Mrs Steele has done well in
preserving the memory of a man with more than ordinary
ability, and with the courage and determination of a
hero.-Age cor.

Kilmore Free Press (Kilmore, Vic. : 1870 - 1954) Thursday 7
May 1891 p 3 Article