The last of the Anglo Irish aristocracy.

Sceala Philosopher Location: Carnew

Sir Richard Michael Keane, sixth baronet.
Is this old, really old man, the last of the Anglo Irish aristocracy. I presumed he must have been. How wrong was I on that call. I was confused with his Irish background. I thought that the Anglo Irish aristocracy were the result of English invaders. I had a chat on Fb about this and was informed that the Anglo Irish were not necessarily English or other foreigner, just plain rich Irish who turned coats. I learn something new again I guess. He must have been living proof that some of the Anglo Irish were just regular Irish, who did very well for themselves, by playing for the other team.
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Colourful baronet who took pride in his Irish lineage
Sir Richard Michael Keane: Sir Richard Michael Keane, sixth baronet, who has died at the age of 101, had a multifaceted and colourful life as a journalist, soldier and farmer.
As diplomatic correspondent of the Sunday Times he covered the Nuremberg rallies in 1936. As a soldier he saw action in Africa and Yugoslavia and as a farmer in Co Waterford he ran a successful enterprise at Cappoquin House, an 18th century Georgian mansion built in the heart of the town on the site of an old Fitzgerald castle overlooking the river Blackwater.
He gained the title of sixth Baronet Keane on the death of his father Sir John Keane, a senator of the Irish Free State and governor of the Bank of Ireland.
Though viewed as Anglo-Irish, Keane was proud of his Irish lineage and traced the family origins to the ancient kings of Munster.
The baronecy was created in 1801 for John Keane, MP for Youghal from 1801 to 1806 and from 1808 to 1818. The Keanes had extensive lands in west Waterford and in 1831 the family gave the Cistercians 500 acres of mountain land for a nominal rent. Having been driven from France during the revolution, the monks built Mount Melleray Abbey on the site.
Sir Richard and his late wife Olivia, who died in 2002, opened the house and gardens to the public from April to July each year.
Educated at Sherborne and Oxford, he joined the Times in London. Recalling his days with the newspaper when interviewed on the demise of the ascendancy in Ireland, he confided to having been "very close to Hitler, you know".
Asked if this implied an emotional or spiritual affinity, he replied: "For God's sake, man. No! Close to him physically at Nuremberg in '36. I was out there covering the rally . . . and there he was, rather comical with all these loyal party members saluting and jumping up and down."
Enlisting in the British army at the outbreak of the second World War, he was at the Battle of El Alamein and captured Gen Von Thoma, a key member of the staff of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, commander of the Afrika Korps. He was also engaged in covert missions in Yugoslavia, supporting the resistance against the Germans. The actor David Niven was the unit's squadron leader.
After the war, he held a temporary position with ICI and took over the running of the estate. His father had helped set up the Irish co-operative movement and was regarded as a caring landlord which perhaps explains why Cappoquin House survived the initial IRA campaign of "big house" burnings in 1921 only to be burned during the Civil War by republicans opposed to appointment of senators from the old ascendancy.
Originally from Ulster, the Keanes bought 10,000 acres and the town of Cappoquin from the Earl of Cork. As the political tide shifted, they changed religion and dropped the Gaelic (O'Cahan) version of the name, thus ensuring their status and fortune.
As a farmer, the former journalist made headlines during the Troubles, warning that he was targeted by the IRA. Some days later the dairy was blown up.
He is survived by his daughter Vivien and sons Charles and David.
irishtimes.com/newspaper/obituaries/2011/0108/1224287032302.html

I still do not understand how there can be any aristocracy, Anglo Irish or other in a Republic? How does that work? A aristocracy bearing allegiance to a foreign kingdom at that. Seems that the Irish Republic were duped, the Irish signed away the claim to all of Ireland in the Good Friday agreement, but the British still claim, at least with pretence, all of Ireland with a total disregard for the majority of Irish public opinion.
Do most Irish even know the British still claim Peerages all over Ireland.
This list is far from complete, but it provides some idea of the continued British Royal arrogance towards Ireland, post independence and declaration of a Irish Republic.
List of baronetcies in the Baronetage of Ireland
Stewart of Ramalton
Bramhall of Rathmullen
Musgrave of Tourin
Morres of Castlemorres
Quin of Adare
Lynch-Blosse of Galway
Blake of Menlough, Galway
Barnewall of Crickstown
Esmonde of Clonegall
Osborne of Ballentaylor
Hamilton of Donalong
Piers of Tristernagh Abbey
Perceval of Kanturk
Gore of Castle Gore
Parsons of Birr Castle
Moore of Ross Carbery
King of Boyle Abbey
O'Brien of Leaghmenagh
Bellew of Barmeath
Vesey of Abbey Leix
Meade of Meadstown
Earl Clanwilliam.
Taylour of Knells
Marquess of Headfort
Deane of Dromore
Weldon of Dunmore
Somerville of Somerville
Gore of Lissadill
Blackwood of Ballyleidy
Freke of Castle Freke
Burke of Marble Hill
Mullins of Ventry
Macartney of Nish

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The last of the Anglo Irish aristocracy.