Matthias McDonnell Bodkin

(1850 – 1933)

An Irish nationalist politician and MP for North Roscommon 1892 - 95. A noted author, journalist and newspaper editor. Barrister, King’s Counsel and County Court Judge for County Clare 1907-24.

Matthias McDonnell Bodkin was the second son of Thomas Bodkin, MD of Tuam, Co. Galway and Maria McDonnell of Westport, Co. Mayo. He was educated at the Christian Brothers’ school and at Tullabeg Jesuit College. He attended University College Dublin, was called to the Irish Bar in 1877 and entered practice as a barrister on the Connaught circuit. In 1885 he married Arabella, third daughter of Francis Norman of Dublin. They had four children including Matthias McDonnell Bodkin junior, Thomas Bodkin, and two daughters.

Bodkin’s journalistic career began with the Freeman’s Journal while he was still a law student. He became politically active around 1887 and was a major protagonist in the Anti-Parnellite, Irish National Federation.

He stood for Parliament against the veteran Parnellite J. J. O'Kelly in North Roscommon in 1892 and won by 3,251 votes to 3,199. He later wrote an account of the election campaign (and of his legal experiences) in his novel White Magic (1897). He stood down at the end of his first term in 1895 quoting ‘my poverty, and not my will’ as his reasons. O’Kelly regained the seat.

Bodkin was a prolific author producing some 39 publications. Some of his works were published under the pseudonym ‘Crom a Boo’.  His works include:

  • The Devil’s Work, London, Irish Press Agency, 1890
  • Poteen Punch, Dublin, M. H. Gill & Son, 1890
  • Lord Edward Fitzgerald, An historical romance, Dublin, Talbot Press, 1896
  • White Magic: a novel, London, Chapman & Hall, 1897
  • Grattan’s Parliament, before and after, London, T. F. Unwin, 1912
  • Recollections of an Irish Judge: Press, Bar and Parliament, London, Hurst & Blackett, 1914
  • Ulster’s Opportunity: a united Ireland, by an Irish K.C., Dublin, Duffy, 1917
  • Famous Irish Trials, Dublin & London, Maunsel, 1918
  • When Youth Meets Youth, Dublin, Talbot Press; London, T. Fisher Unwin, 1920
  • A Judicial Report on the devastation of County Clare, Dublin, Talbot Press, 1921
  • Guilty or Not Guilty?, Dublin, Talbot Press, 1929
 

Source & further information: Wikipedia.

We welcome further information and material. We would like to have a copy of his novel "White Magic". If you have this book, or anything on this man, please contact us.

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