The High Sheriff of Kerry was the British Crown's judicial representative in County Kerry, Ireland from the 16th century until 1922, when the office was abolished in the new Free State and replaced by the office of Kerry County Sheriff. The sheriff had judicial, electoral, ceremonial and administrative functions and executed High Court Writs. In 1908, an Order in Council made the Lord-Lieutenant the Sovereign's prime representative in a county and reduced the High Sheriff's precedence. However, the sheriff retained his responsibilities for the preservation of law and order in the county. The usual procedure for appointing the sheriff from 1660 onwards was that three persons were nominated at the beginning of each year from the county and the Lord Lieutenant then appointed his choice as High Sheriff for the remainder of the year. Often the other nominees were appointed as under-sheriffs. Sometimes a sheriff did not fulfil his entire term through death or other event and another sheriff was then appointed for the remainder of the year. The dates given hereunder are the dates of appointment. All addresses are in County Kerry unless stated otherwise.

High Sheriffs of County Kerry

*1311: Richard Brun *1565: Fyneen mac Teige-Mer-Gagh O'Mahony, seneschal of Desmond, became high sheriff when Donald Mc Carthy Mor lost his title of king of Desmond for the one of earl of Clancare *1585: Ralph Lane *1585: Maurice O'Connell *1588: Edward Denny of

Tralee Castle Tralee Castle was a medieval strategic castle in Tralee, Kerry, owned by the Denny family from 1586. It is now a ruin. The castle was built by the Desmond family, likely in the mid-thirteenth century at a similar time to the constriction of ...

*1592: Thomas Spring of Castlemaine *1602: Walter Hussey of Moyle and Dingle *1609: Walter Spring of Castlemaine and Killagha Abbey *1614: Geoffrey O'Connell *1622: Robert Blennerhassett of Tralee *1623: Sir Valentine Browne, 1st Baronet *1634: Sir Edward Denny, Kt of Tralee Castle *1638: Turlogh Mac Mahon *1639: Daniel Mac Dermot O'Mahony *1641: Sir Thomas Harris *1641: John Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy, Tralee *1642: Edward Blennerhassett of Ballycarty Castle *1650: Son of Lord Roche (shot at

Macroom Castle Macroom Castle, in the centre of the town of Macroom, was once residence and fortress of the Lords of Muskerry. The castle has changed owners many times, has been besieged, burned, and rebuilt. The MacCarthys of Muskerry owned it with some inter ...

) *1654:

Sir Thomas Southwell, 1st Baronet Sir Thomas Southwell, 1st Baronet, of Castle Mattress (died 7 December 1680) was a high sheriff of County Kerry under the Protectorate. Birth and origins Thomas was probably born at Castle Matrix, near Rathkeale, the fifth but only sur ...

(also Sheriff of Clare and Limerick) *1656: Arthur Denny of Tralee Castle *1658: John Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy, Tralee *1659: Thomas Herbert *1660: Rowland Bateman *1660: Patrick Crosbie of Tubrid *1661: Thomas Crosbie *1663: John Blennerhassett of Tralee *1668: Sir Thomas Crosbie of Ardfert *1669: Rowland Bateman of KilleenA genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Ireland, 1912, Bernard Burke *1671: William Naper *1679: Thomas Blennerhassett of Letter *1682: Robert Blennerhassett of Killorglin *1683: Captain William Reeves *1683: David Crosbie *1685: Henry Stoughton *1686: Donogh Mac Gillicuddy *1688: John Browne *1693: Edward Herbert *1695: Barry Denny *1699: William Crosbie

18th century

19th century

20th century

References

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Kerry Kerry or Kerri may refer to: * Kerry (name), a given name and surname of Gaelic origin (including a list of people with the name) Places * Kerry, Queensland, Australia * County Kerry, Ireland ** Kerry Airport, an international airport in Count ...

History of County Kerry