Kent family of Bawnard

The Kent family of Bawnard was an Irish political family based at Bawnard House near Castlelyons in County Cork. Its members became nationally known through their participation in the Land War, later Irish nationalist politics, the Irish Volunteers and the republican movement. The family’s public identity was not that of a commercial brand but of a politically active rural household whose name became associated with resistance to landlordism and British rule. The family’s roots in Ireland were described as extending back to the medieval period, with the branch connected to Bawnard having settled in County Cork during the sixteenth century. By the nineteenth century, the family farmed a substantial holding at Bawnard. David Kent, who died in 1876, and his wife Mary had seven sons and two daughters. The sons who became most prominent included Thomas, David, William, Edmond and Richard. The Kents first attracted broad attention during the Land War. In 1887, their cousins Austin and Richard Rice were evicted from a farm after a change in ownership brought the holding under the control of Belfast-based landowner Orr McCausland and his manager Robert Browne. The Kents joined the Rices and the local curate, Father Jeremiah O’Dwyer, in organizing a boycott of Browne. In 1889, Edmond, David, William and Richard Kent were prosecuted in connection with the campaign. Several received terms of hard labour, and the proceedings generated large demonstrations and extensive public attention. The campaign continued after their release, leading to further convictions of Thomas and William Kent for intimidating a Browne employee and to additional charges concerning McCausland’s workers. The affair was discussed in the House of Commons and helped establish the family as symbols of militant tenant resistance in County Cork. Thomas Kent subsequently supported Home Rule, the release of political prisoners, the restoration of evicted tenants and compulsory land transfers to tenant farmers. He became active in the Gaelic League and later supported Sinn Féin. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the family home was reportedly under close surveillance by the Royal Irish Constabulary. In 1913, Thomas and David helped establish a Castlelyons branch of the Irish Volunteers. The branch was associated with disciplined local organization and opposition to recruitment into the British Army. Thomas was arrested in early 1916 after being accused of making seditious speeches and was later imprisoned after firearms were found at the family home. On 2 May 1916, following the Easter Rising, Crown forces surrounded Bawnard House. Mary Kent and four of her sons resisted arrest in an armed confrontation lasting several hours. Royal Irish Constabulary Head Constable Rowe was killed, David Kent was seriously wounded and Richard Kent was mortally wounded while attempting to escape. Richard died on 4 May. Thomas was later convicted of the constable’s murder and executed by firing squad on 9 May 1916. David was sentenced to death, but the sentence was commuted to penal servitude for life; he was released under an amnesty in 1917. Mary Kent died during the same period. David Kent entered parliamentary politics after the 1918 general election, winning the Cork East seat as a Sinn Féin member. He opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty and voted against it. He remained a Teachta Dála until 1927 and later travelled to the United States to raise funds for the republican cause. His brother William succeeded him in Cork East in 1927 as a Fianna Fáil TD, although William later contested the 1933 election as a National Centre Party candidate. He did not seek reelection in 1937 and died in 1957. The family’s historical significance rests on its role in Irish political and revolutionary history rather than on commercial activity.

The Kent family of Bawnard was rooted in the Castlelyons area of County Cork. Accounts of the family traced its Irish origins to the medieval period and its settlement in Cork to the sixteenth century. In the nineteenth century, the family occupied Bawnard House and worked a sizeable farm. David Kent died in 1876, leaving his wife Mary to raise a large family that included seven sons and two daughters. The family entered public life during the Land War. In 1887, Austin and Richard Rice, relatives of the Kents, were evicted from their farm after the property changed hands. The new owner, Orr McCausland, employed Robert Browne as his local manager. The Rices, several Kents and Father Jeremiah O’Dwyer organized a boycott intended to prevent Browne from carrying out his duties. The campaign became one of the most prominent local confrontations of the period. In 1889, Edmond, David, William and Richard Kent were prosecuted alongside other supporters. The accusations included conspiracy and organizing resistance to rent collection. Edmond and William received hard-labour sentences, while David was also imprisoned; Richard benefited from his youth. Father O’Dwyer was sentenced as well. Large crowds gathered to support the prisoners, and the authorities used soldiers and police escorts during their transfer. The boycott resumed after the men’s release. Thomas Kent, who had spent time in the United States, returned to Ireland and joined William and Austin Rice in further resistance to Browne. Thomas and William were convicted in 1890 after being accused of intimidating a woman employed by Browne. They were then implicated in a separate campaign aimed at persuading McCausland’s workers to leave their employment. William received six months’ hard labour and Thomas two months. The affair was raised in the British House of Commons and made the Kent name known beyond Cork. Thomas remained active in nationalist politics. At a 1899 meeting concerning representation on Cork County Council, he advocated Home Rule, a Catholic university, freedom for political prisoners, reinstatement of evicted tenants and compulsory sale of estates to tenant farmers. He later supported the Gaelic League and Sinn Féin. In 1901, the family home was reportedly subject to frequent Royal Irish Constabulary surveillance. Thomas and David became involved in the Irish Volunteers after the organization’s creation in 1913. They helped establish a Castlelyons branch and assisted with recruitment and training. The local unit was described as teetotal and conducted exercises near Bawnard. Thomas was arrested in early 1916 after allegations that he had made seditious speeches. Although acquitted in one proceeding, he was arrested again and imprisoned after arms and ammunition were found at the house. The decisive episode in the family’s history occurred on 2 May 1916. During arrests following the Easter Rising, the Royal Irish Constabulary surrounded Bawnard House. Mary Kent and her sons Thomas, David, William and Richard resisted. A gunfight continued for several hours. Head Constable Rowe was killed, David suffered severe wounds and Richard was shot while trying to flee. Richard died on 4 May. Thomas was convicted of Rowe’s murder and executed by firing squad on 9 May. David was condemned to death, but the sentence was commuted to life penal servitude. He was released under an amnesty in 1917, after the death of his mother. The surviving brothers continued in public life. David Kent won Cork East at the 1918 general election as a Sinn Féin MP. He rejected the Anglo-Irish Treaty and voted against it, remaining a TD until 1927. He later travelled to the United States to seek financial support for the republican movement and died at Bawnard in 1930. William Kent won Cork East for Fianna Fáil in 1927, lost the seat in 1932, and returned as a National Centre Party TD in 1933. He did not contest the 1937 election and died in 1957. The family’s legacy is preserved through accounts of the Land War, the 1916 confrontation and the parliamentary careers of David and William Kent.

• 1957

  Death of William Kent

  [1]Kent family of Bawnarden.wikipedia.org

  William Kent died, described in contemporary historical accounts as the last survivor of the family’s Land League generation.

• 1927

  William Kent enters Parliament

  [1]Kent family of Bawnarden.wikipedia.org

  William Kent succeeded David as a representative for Cork East, initially as a Fianna Fáil TD.

• 1918

  David Kent elected to Parliament

  [1]Kent family of Bawnarden.wikipedia.org

  David Kent won Cork East as a Sinn Féin representative.

• 1916

  Bawnard House confrontation

  [1]Kent family of Bawnarden.wikipedia.org

  The family resisted arrest after the Easter Rising; Thomas was executed, Richard died of wounds and David was sentenced to death before commutation.

• 1913

  Castlelyons Irish Volunteers branch

  [1]Kent family of Bawnarden.wikipedia.org

  Thomas and David Kent helped establish a local branch of the Irish Volunteers.

• 1899

  Expansion of nationalist activism

  [1]Kent family of Bawnarden.wikipedia.org

  Thomas Kent publicly outlined nationalist and agrarian policies and later became associated with the Gaelic League and Sinn Féin.

• 1889

  Browne boycott prosecutions

  [1]Kent family of Bawnarden.wikipedia.org

  Several Kent brothers and Father O’Dwyer were imprisoned over the boycott against Robert Browne and McCausland’s estate administration.

• 1887

  Rice family eviction

  [1]Kent family of Bawnarden.wikipedia.org

  Austin and Richard Rice were evicted from their farm, beginning the dispute that brought the Kents to national attention.

• 1876

  Death of David Kent

  [1]Kent family of Bawnarden.wikipedia.org

  David Kent died, leaving Mary Kent and their large family at Bawnard House.

A historically significant Irish nationalist and republican family associated with tenant resistance, political activism and armed opposition to British rule.

1. 1Kent family of Bawnarden.wikipedia.org