Philip Callan

Philip Callan MP (born 1837, was the son of Owen Callan MP, of Cookstown House Ardee (where Philip Callan was born). [Father and his address mentioned in The Kings Inns Admittance Papers for Philip Callan 1865. Date and place of birth are from the "Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Vol. I 1832-1885", edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976).] Philip Callan studied Law at Trinity College, Dublin, and also at Kings Inns as can be seen in his papers for Kings Inns Admittance. He was called to the Bar in Dublin in 1865 and shortly after was also called to the English Bar.

He was subsequently elected to Parliament for the Borough of Dundalk in 1868 and also held seats for County Louth and Dundalk at the same time.

Walter Ernest Everard Callan, son of Philip Callan MP also studied Law and attended Kings Inns in Dublin, he was called to the Bar in 1903 and was third in his year as noted by his papers in the Kings Inns Library, Dublin. Walter was private secretary to the last Viceroy in Ireland and continued in the civil service, serving in Australia as Private Secretary to the Governor General. Papers to this effect can be obtained from the National Library of Australia and correspondence from and to Mr Walter Callan can be seen in Prime Minister Deakins Papers which are also available from the National Museum of Australia. Walter Callan went on to become Senior Counsel at the Irish Bar and resided at Baggot Street, in Dublin until his death.

Extracts from F. Hugh O'Donnell, A History of the Irish Parliamentary Party Vol 1. (1910), Longmans, Green & Co.:

:"When in 1829 Catholics were admitted to parliament , his father, Owen Callan of Ardee, had been the first Catholic Representative of County Louth since the Battle of the Boyne. Mr. Philip Callan was devoted to Butt." [pg 315 F Hugh O Donnell, A History of the Irish Parliamentary Party Vol 1.(1910) Longmans, Green & Co.]

:"Callan knew the inside of Irish politics, as Charles Greville knew the inside of English politics, at their spiciest time. The Chronique Scandaleuse of Dublin can be spicy too; and what Mr. Philip Callan, barrister at law and parliamentarian, did not know, was hardly worth knowing. Always a bon vivant, he was still , at this time a remarkably handsome and manly man, ready to clear a ditch or cap a retort with any man on horseback or off. Though often accused of Whiggery, he was curiously deep in the confidence of the most extreme Nationalists in Dublin. There was not a move of the Ribbon Fenians which did not reach his acute hearing, and a good deal of his news travelled to me". [ pg 315 F Hugh O Donnell, A History of the Irish Parliamentary Party Vol 1.(1910) Longmans, Green & Co.]

:"At that time the St Stephens Club on the embankment (London) was a favourite dining resort of the conservative members, scores of them usually preferring its hospitality to the care of the Kitchen Committee. An Irish Member, Mr Philip Callan, well known as an all round sportsman in his native county of Louth, had observed that a convenient extension connected the division bells of the House with the dining rooms of the club, and the diners could arrive in the lobbies in time for the vote. Providing himself with an efficient wire cutter, he snipped the connecting wire, and warned his amused colleagues without the support of the festive club men. We took the hint with alacrity- I followed. The government whips stared in expectation at the door from which the absent ones were wont to rush to the rescue of the Government measure, but on this occasion the wait was in vain. Before a messenger could be tardily sent on foot to warn the club of the inexplicable occurrence on the wire, the division had been taken, and the Government had been beaten by a majority of two votes while fifty belated and indignant arrivals stood on the wrong side of the portal of admission. Owing largely I believe to the sporting equity of Mr. James Lowther, who protested that the Irish had fairly won the trick, the Government did not insist upon a formal undoing of the victory, but they watered their concession down to very little". [pg 99 F Hugh O Donnell, A History of the Irish Parliamentary Party Vol 1.(1910) Longmans, Green & Co.]

Kevin Callan is a direct descendant of Philip, Walter and Owen Callan and resides in County Louth. Mr . Kevin Callan is a qualified Barrister and is called to the Irish Bar. Mr. Callan is Fine Gaels West Gate Ward Representative in Drogheda, County Louth and contested the local elections in 2004. He came close to taking a seat on Drogheda Borough Council, formerly Drogheda Corporation.

ources

*Note Mr. P. Callan, M.P was convicted of libel against Mr. A.M. sullivan M.P. 30 Nov , 1880(Magistrates List 1880)
*National Museum of Australia, Papers of Prime Minister Deakin of Australia.
*Kings Inns Admittance Papers of Philip Callan, 1865, Kings Inns Library.
*Kings Inns Admittance Papers of Walter Ernest Everard Callan, 1903, Kings Inns Library.
*Gerard Moran, "Philip Callan, A Nationalist MP", Article County Louth Archaeological Journal 1994.Available Drogheda Civic Library.
*F. Hugh O'Donnell, A History of the Irish Parliamentary Party Vol 1 & 2. (1910), Longmans, Green & Co.:

References