Talk:William Keogh

POV?
This appears to be written from a very Irish Republican POV; the Dictionary of National Biography article has a very different slant. The truth is probably in between, of course...Brianyoumans (talk) 21:44, 20 June 2013 (UTC)

I had no point of view in creating the article- the subject was a deeply controversial figure in his lifetime and for generations afterwards. The only way to avoid comment would have been to confine the article to the bare biographical details.

Chrisdoyleorwell (talk) 23:03, 20 June 2013 (UTC)


 * I think what I was struck by was the difference in how he became unpopular; the DNB article claims that it was only extremists that were upset by his accepting office in 1852, and goes on to point out that he was re-elected twice after that, once at least with the support of the local Catholic bishop, and the second time without opposition. The DNB lays his unpopularity to his decision in the 1872 Galway election dispute, and his criticism in the decision of the Catholic bishops for interfering with the elections. The DNB also spent more time on his legal career, which was considerable and not all concerned with politics. The article as it is seems to sum up the whole man as being known for only one thing, accepting office, which seems a little too simplified. Brianyoumans (talk) 02:56, 21 June 2013 (UTC)
 * I have done a bit more research. If you look at this book of reminiscences of the Connaught bar - mostly favorable to Keogh - and the New York Times article of Sept. 5, 1878 ("Career of an Irish Judge"), mostly unfavorable - I think they both agree that, at least at the time, most of his unpopularity came from the acts of his last decade or so, and chiefly the Galway election case. It is also clear from several sources of the time that some time passed between his attack on his valet and his death - the Sept. 5 New York Times article - written Aug. 24th - discusses his insanity but does not know of his death, which occurred Sept. 30th. If he did commit suicide - which none of the period sources I could find mentioned - it appeared to have been more than a month after the attack on his valet.Brianyoumans (talk) 04:15, 21 June 2013 (UTC)
 * I have looked at more period sources, and I am truly dubious about the suicide part. There are several different summations of his career in the "Irish Law Times and Solicitor's Journal", vol. 12, p. 498 and on, some quite hostile, and there is lengthy discussion of him in "The Parnell Movement" (1889) by T. P. O'Connor - and none of them mention him committing suicide. I think that should be removed.Brianyoumans (talk) 04:39, 21 June 2013 (UTC)

Suicide: I agree that there is some doubt and said so- but I would argue it is still the generally accepted view However I would be happy to say "possibly by suicide"? Chrisdoyleorwell (talk) 08:07, 21 June 2013 (UTC)
 * I took out the suicide bit. I can't find any source before 1901 or so that says he committed suicide. I think an author about that time must have conflated Keogh with Sadleir, who did commit suicide. Quite a number of sources talk about him recovering his sanity and even receiving communion on his deathbed.Brianyoumans (talk) 16:10, 21 June 2013 (UTC)

I agree that the DNB shows him in a different light and will rewrite to take account of this- also he did apologise to Peter O'Brien for his outburst.

Chrisdoyleorwell (talk) 21:13, 21 June 2013 (UTC)


 * Thank you very much for your revisions! I think it is a better article. I think there is still more that could be added to make a full picture, but it is much improved.Brianyoumans (talk) 02:27, 23 June 2013 (UTC)

And thank you It was a very early effort and I daresay I got rather carried away by the drama Chrisdoyleorwell (talk) 09:51, 23 June 2013 (UTC)

Pronunciation
How do you pronounce Keogh? Rickedmo (talk) 14:05, 24 March 2014 (UTC)

"Kyoh" usually

Chrisdoyleorwell (talk) 18:42, 24 March 2014 (UTC)

Thanks - is the "y" pronounced "eye" or "ee"? Rickedmo (talk) 23:14, 24 March 2014 (UTC)

"ee" Chrisdoyleorwell (talk) 23:22, 24 March 2014 (UTC)

Excellent - thanks. Rickedmo (talk) 13:55, 25 March 2014 (UTC)

Recent edits
Thanks to everyone who conributes. He remains a very contorversil figure. Chrisdoyleorwell (talk) 16:33, 15 February 2022 (UTC)
 * Hear, hear! I restored part of a sentence which I'm sure you dropped accidentally and re-orged a sentence to a better location, but thanks for the improved references and all. Brianyoumans (talk) 19:00, 15 February 2022 (UTC)

Cheers Chrisdoyleorwell (talk) 09:09, 16 February 2022 (UTC)