Luke Magrath : Short Biography

Luke Magrath was born about 1764 almost certainly born into the large Magrath family which, in the eighteenth century had numerous landholdings in the county of Cavan.  Many of this extended family were born in Cavan and had business or work which took them to Dublin - being well known merchants and /or attorneys.  Luke himself was an attorney and land in his possession indicates the family connection.

On 1st January 1791 he was admitted as a Solicitor to the Dublin Court of Chancery, having spent 2 years in Exchequer, and in February the following year was married to Mary Young, only daughter of William Young of Drumagelvin.  A number of the extended Magrath family married members of the extended Young family, and Luke and Mary’s only daughter, Margaret Mary (Cavan, 1802), herself married a Richard Young in 1820.  Luke and Mary signed a complicated marriage settlement involving Mary’s family (also attorneys) and numerous encumbered estates.

Luke’s time was spent between Dublin and Cavan.  For many years he kept an office in Beresford St, Dublin.  In  1800 he acted as Under-Sheriff in Dublin and in 1809-1810 was High Sheriff of Cavan.  In 1814 he was living at Lakeville, Crossdoney (sometimes recorded as Lakefield). - the imposing house seen in the background of his portrait, where he can be seen holding the deeds to Lakeville.

Luke and his wife were members of the Royal Society for Educating the Poor in 1815 and she, Mary, died in 1820.  Luke in later years was recorded as attending a dinner ‘in the country of the Orangemen’, suggesting he was Protestant.  Many other Cavan Magrath family members were attorneys, active in civic life and members of Protestant organisations.

Luke was a notable landholder and in 1824 had land in Moherlube, Tullyhaw, Swanlinbar and Cavan.  Over many years he was defendant in a long-running case in Chancery involving land previously owned by John Veitch.  The case was brought by  fellow attorney Samuel Swanzey, Veitch’s brother-in-law.  Luke died at Lakeville 6th July 1834.