James Kiernan

James Kiernan
Born	c. 1837 Carrigallen, county Leitrim, Ireland
Died	2 May 1898 Smythesdale
Occupation	Publican
Years active	<1898
Known for	Court House Hotel
Home town	Smythesdale
Spouse(s)	Mary O'Reilly
Children	Frances Maria Catherine Josephine Margaret Eleanor Rose Anne Theresa Mary Agnes (died 1951) Michael Thomas (1869)
Parent(s)	Michael Kean Keirnan (father)

James Kiernan was a publican in the Ballarat district <1898.

History

James Kiernan was born c.1837, in Carrigallen, Leitrim, Ireland, the son of Michael Kiernan.

Kiernan was the publican and owner of the Court House Hotel in Smythesdale.

He had several children including:

• Frances Maria (died 1925)
• Catherine Josephine
• Margaret Eleanor
• Rose Anne Theresa (1877), Carlton.
• Mary Agnes (died 1951)
• Michael Thomas (1869), Melbourne, (died 1926 in Dublin)
• Mary Joesphine Cantwell (adopted)

He also served on the Smythesdale Council, including a term as mayor.

SMYTHESDALE BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTION OF MAYOR. There was a special meeting of the above council in the council chambers on Monday, the chief business being the election of mayor for the ensuing 12 months. It was announced that the retiring councillors (Messrs Dean Hart, J.P., Chas. Shwartze, and E. Shepheard) had been re-elected unopposed. The election of mayor occupied a very brief period, as it was the unanimous wish of the councillors that the retiring mayor (Mr James Kiernan) should be reelected. Mr Kiernan has not been a resident of the township for three years, yet at the first vacancy in the council he was returned unopposed. At the general meeting he was elected mayor unanimously, and on Monday again was honored by his fellow councillors. These facts alone go to show the respect in which he is held. At the conclusion of the business Mr Kiernan invited the councillors and friends to the Court-house hotel, where Dr Hart, J.P., proposed the health of the newly-elected mayor. Mr Kiernan, he said, had been a very energetic councillor and an excellent mayor, and had occupied that position with dignity, and with credit to the council. The re-election had been the outcome of the unanimous wish of the council. Mayor Kiernan briefly responded. He thanked them for the way in which they had honored the toast. During the period in which he occupied the chair he found his fellow councillors most anxious for the welfare of the borough, and he had on all occasions received the greatest help from them, and also from the town clerk, Mr W. R. Hart. He hoped at the end of the ensuing twelve months to see the same faces again. He would do in the future what he had done in the past, viz’, everything he could for the welfare and prosperity of the district. He proposed the health of the councillors, coupled with the town clerk. Crs Hart, J.P., Gilhooley, and Schwartze, and Mr Hart, town clerk responded. The re-election of Mr Kiernan was well received by the ratepayers.

In August 1895 the newspaper reported he was unwell:

Mr James Kiernan, mayor, is again confined to his room suffering from his leg, but Dr. Hoysted, his medical attendant, states that he will very shortly be about again.

He died on 2 May 1898.

KIERNAN—On the 2nd May, at the Courthouse Hotel, Smythesdale, James Kiernan, native of Carrigallen, county Leitrim, Ireland, aged 61 years. R.I.P.

KIERNAN.— The Friends of the late Mr James Kiernan, of the Courthouse Hotel, Smythesdale, are most respectfully invited to follow his remains to their last resting-place, the Scarsdale Cemetery. The funeral will leave St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Smythesdale, This Day (Tuesday the 3rd inst.), at 4 p.m.

There was a large attendance yesterday at the funeral of Cr James Kiernan, of Smythesdale, who died at the Courthouse hotel at that town, of which he was the licensee, on Monday. Formerly the deceased was connected with the railway staff at Ballarat West, and on his retirement, about six years ago, he took up his residence at Smythesdale. He at once identified himself with public affairs there, was elected a member of the Borough Council, and subsequently, for three years in succession, filled the mayoral chair. Mr Kiernan was also treasurer of the Mechanics’ Institute, and otherwise evinced his interest in the affairs of the locality, notably by supporting the mining interest there. He was 63 years of age, and leaves a widow and a grown-up family of seven.

After his death, his estate was valued at 1441 13s 8d, the main asset being the Court House hotel, of 15 rooms with and iron roof, made of brick and wood, and a six stalled stable. The estate was left to his wife and children.

His wife and later his daughter continued to run the hotel:

LICENSES ACT, 1890 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER OF LICENSE. We, MARY KIERNAN, of Smythesdale, widow, administratrix of the estate of James Kiernan, late of Smythesdale aforesaid, Licensed Victualler, deceased, the holder of a Victuallers' License for the house and premises known as the Court House Hotel, situate at Smythesdale, in the licensing district of Smythesdale, and MARY KIERNAN, of Smythesdale, widow, do hereby give notice that it is our intention to apply to the Licensing Court for the said licensing district on the 9th day of December, 1898, at twelve o'clock noon, at Scarsdale, for a TRANSFER of the said LICENSE to the said MARY KIERNAN. Given under our hands this 26th day of November, 1898. MARY KIERNAN, Administratrix of the estate of James Kiernan, deceased, present holder of the said license. MARY KIERNAN, proposed transferee. Witness— M. T. KIERNAN.

His wife Mary died in June 1906:

The death is also reported of Mrs. Mary Kiernan, of the Court House Hotel, Smythesdale. Deceased, who was a pioneer of the district, was 67 years of age.

His brother Thomas died in Ireland in December 1914:

KIERNAN. - On the 24th December, 1914, at his residence, "Leitrim Lodge," Dalkey, Ireland, Thomas Kiernan, barrister and solicitor, eldest son of the late Michael Kean Kiernan, Corrigallen Leitrim, brother of the late Jas. Kiernan, of Ballarat and Smythesdale. R.I.P. (By cable.)