Many family historians are familiar with the extensive work of Thomas J. Westropp around the county, resulting in several published articles back in the late 19th century, extending (I think) into the early 20th. More exact information is undoubtedly available quickly online from Wikipedia.
I am alerting Forum members to an article online in full by Westropp on the arcane subject of Freemasonry, a secret society restricted to men and usually involving Protestants only. The number of Freemasons in Ireland would have been limited but in the U.S. this was the premier organization for the upwardly mobile, so it is my understanding that many Irish-born and their descendants belonged to a chapter, regardless of the family's religion. Freemasonry in the U.S. was strong in the U.S. far before the Revolutionary War, and the Founding Fathers were adherents. Members were also referred to as "Masons." There were no Masons in my family lines, and I have not studied the organization, so whatever I say is my own impression after seeing references to it in many biographies.
A PDF file searching website has Westropp's article on Freemasonry in Cork city. I don't have a link to provide, but use search words based on the below collection description of it, in the website's search engine. This is the link to the search engine http://findpdf.net/index.htm
Sharon Carberry
Westropp on Freemasonry, Cork.jpg (23.64 KiB) Viewed 8182 times
In the late 1700s and early 1800s in Ireland there were quite a few Catholic freemasons. Daniel O'Connell was one. The O'Gorman Mahon was another. The Catholic church banned Catholics being freemasons later rather than freemasons banning Catholics. The freemason headquarters in Dublin is extremely obliging with their records and gave me a list of Clare freemasons. I do not think however it is complete as Sean Spellissey has more in his book merchants of Ennis. I dont have that book but am told that he says it was a way for Catholic and protestant merchants to mingle.
I think Declan Barron may know more on this.
Rebecca Hayes is the archivist in Dublin. The building is worth a visit in itself - they have a great museum. Rebecca is very helpful. hayesr@freemason.ie
I had cousins and gt gt gt gt uncles who were freemasons in the Ennis and Ennistymon lodge (John E Kenny merchant of Ennis and Limerick). All were Catholic
Thanks very much for the additional information. That helps explain quite a bit.
I know what you mean about a Dublin building being worth a visit. I say the same about the reading room in the National Library, Dublin.
These old spaces with ageless architecture convey so much.
At one point there were a lot of freemasons in Ireland as well (not anymore). It was never a secret protestant society. Secret yes - protestant no. The Catholic church did not approve of their philosophy and banned Catholics from joining and made O'Connel quit. I think the knights of Columbanus was set up as a secret Catholic equivalent. I see US relatives joining that (I am told my father hid in the wardrobe when he was living in England and they tried to get him to join, he did not like the secret bit).
I wrote to the knights of Columbanus with some historical membership questions re the Montreal Gallerys but got no reply.