T.J. Clanchy Descriptive List (Ref. PR11)

PR11/

Context

Creator Clanchy, T.J, (b1835-d1897) Cork butter merchant Archival History The papers of TJ Clanchy and his family were deposited at Cork Archives Institute by Sheila Murphy, his granddaughter, in 1991. Biographical History Timothy Joseph Clanchy, of ‘Sunville’, St Luke’s, Cork, was a prominent butter merchant, nationalist, and member of the local Catholic Establishment. Having worked in the butter trade, he set up his own business after his marriage in 1870, with assistance from his father-in-law, Edmund Slattery. His company, Munster Dairies, was successful, and Clanchy’s butters won many international prizes (PR11/34). His position in society led naturally to an active role in the city’s public life. At various times, he served as a magistrate, as a member of Cork Harbour Board, and as a governor of Cork District Lunatic Asylum (PR11/48). He participated in many Catholic charities, including the Society of St Vincent de Paul (PR11/37). He was also very involved in nationalist politics, and was asked to run as a candidate for the Irish Parliamentary Party in the 1893 election (PR11/40). In the divisive period following the split in the Party in 1891-2, Clanchy was a supporter of TM Healy, who had opposed Parnell’s continued leadership and was the leader of one of the factions vying for control of the Party. Clanchy was also a supporter of the People’s Rights Association, set up by Healy to increase the independence and influence of constituency organisations within the Party. Perhaps above all, TJ Clanchy was a family man who cared deeply for his children. He wrote verse and drew sketches for them, and wrote them affectionate letters (cf, PR11/18-20). His daughter Elizabeth (Lizzie) Clanchy, later Murphy, was the child of his first marriage, to Mary Anne (Marion) Slattery. Following Mary Anne’s death, he married again, to Ellen Slattery, apparently a cousin of his first wife (PR11/23). This second marriage produced sons Hugh and Edward and daughters Amy, Agnes, and Mary (May). TJ Clanchy died on 31 May 1897. Content and Structure Scope and Content The collection is of interest in documenting both the family and the public lives of a prominent Cork figure in the later 19 th century. The family papers, including legal documents, correspondence, photographs, and memorabilia, reveal the formal and informal ties connecting Clanchy’s large family. His daughter Elizabeth kept most of the collection together and passed it on to her daughter, Sheila Murphy. There are photographs of Clanchy’s son, Hugh, who served in the First World War, and of his daughter Mary, who became a nun in the Society of the Sacred Heart. Mary provided Sheila Murphy, her step-niece, with accounts of growing up in the Clanchy home at ‘Sunville’ (PR11/24). Clanchy himself seems to have written some light verse for publication, but most of his efforts, along with his own illustrations, were for the amusement of his children ( PR11/32). These stand in contrast with more serious work, such as his book , Ireland in the Twentieth Century 1 .

1 TJ Clanchy, Ireland in the Twentieth Century , Dublin, 1892. In Cork Central Library, ref no 941.59 CLA.