The Last of the Redingtons — Interesting Reminiscences

The Galway Observer, Saturday, Feb 1st, 1930, Galway Observer

It was a sad vicissitude of fortune to read the announcement of the sale at Kilcornan of the entire furnishing of that once hospitable and well equipped house of the Redingtons now, alas, without one of the name in or we believe, out of the county. It is a melancholy reflection to see a once socially great family disappear and leave but a cherished memory of goodness and kindliness behind. The late Christopher Tulbot Redington was for 20 years or more one of the leading Catholic gentry of this county. He was son of Sir Thomas Redington, who was Under Secretary Thomas Redington, who was Under Secretary for many years and esteemed as a zealous, high minded official. It is strange that he should have been succeeded in that once important post by another Galway county gentleman, Thomas Henry Burke, of Knocknagurman, Thomas Henry Burke, of Knocknagurman and Glynsk, who by the way, was born in Waterslade House in Tuam, where his family then lived and which they owned, as they did the brood sores about Knocknagur, near Milltown. He was basely murdered in the Phoenix Park by the Invincibles and a public meeting in Tuam, held in the Courthouse and presided over by the late Archbishop Mac Evilly, gave voice to the general feeling of indignation felt all over the country. The statute which stands in the Tuam Catholic Cathedral grounds to commemorate the charityof William Burke, of Curraleigh, is an exact likeness of the murdered official, as Sir Thomas Farrell, who carved it, told those who asked him. He said the reason was that no one could produce a photograph or paintingof William Burke, for his portrait was never taken and one could not carve a statue to an ideal man, so it occurred to the sculptor to suggest the most prominent of the name then in Ireland, and Dr. MacHale, who knewSir Thomas and also knew William Burke consented and so the statue in the Cathedral grounds is that to William Burke but notof William Burke but of Sir Thomas Burke. There was another Connaught man under Secretary, the late Lord MacDonnell, a native of Mayo but educated at Queen's College, of whom great things were expected. The last to fill the post was a former Secretary in the Post Office, but he was a mere automaton and ran no risk, while the real work of administration was done by two others in the Castle — "Tuam Herald".