Jasper Wolfe
Encyclopedia
Jasper Travers Wolfe was an Irish
independent
politician who was elected three times as Teachta Dála
(TD) for Cork West
from 1927–33.
He was born into a Methodist family the son of William J. Wolfe. He was educated at Bishop's School, Skibbereen
and was admitted as a solicitor
in 1893. He obtained first place in his final exams and was awarded the Findlater Scholarship. He was a member of Skibbereen Urban District Council for a number of years. He was crown prosecutor in Cork city
for a period and for the West Riding of County Cork
1916–1923. He was the first Cork man to hold the Presidency of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland. Wolfe was elected to Dáil Éireann
on his first attempt, at the June 1927 general election, and took his seat in the short-lived 5th Dáil. He was re-elected at the September 1927 general election and again at the 1932 general election
, but did not contest the 1933 general election
.
Wolfe was a solicitor who also owned the Cork County Eagle and Munster Advertiser newspaper. This was a successor to the Skibbereen Eagle which in an editorial in 1897 had famously warned the Tsar of Russia about expanionist aims towards China, declaring that the Skibbereen Eagle had "got its eye on the Tsar".
An incident with Solicitor Jasper Wolfe (later TD for Cork West) was described by another solicitor Willie Kingston in Skibbereen Historical Journal. Willie Kingston was a cousin of Jasper Wolfe, Solicitor and Crown prosecutor in Skibbereen. Wolfe at the time had friends in both camps. In April 1921, Wolfe, Kingston and Miss Brown motored to Durrus
where he had a case at Petty Sessions. Kingston had been in Bantry
earlier where he saw two men coming towards him, one saying to the other 'that's him’, he thought it was a case of mistaken identity. Later he met Wolfe at the hotel and a man came out of the shadows and peered at his face. Wolfe had met (Bawnie) T.T. McCarthy, cattle dealer earlier and offered him a lift to Skibbereen. They all went to Durrus in Wolfe's car driven by a chauffer and had tea in Miss Brown's mother's house. Leaving Durrus for Caheragh McCarthy was in front with Wolfe but his profile indicated him as a cattle dealer rather than the Crown Prosecutor. In Caheragh as they rounded a corner a whistle was blown violently suggesting the man was running and giving a pre-ordained signal. Kingston and Miss Brown crouched down but nothing happened. Wolfe had a few drinks and slept through the entire episode. When they got back to Skibbereen they heard that an ambush was being laid for Wolfe, he thought that the unexpected lift to the cattle dealer had the effect of calling off the ambush.
A book about Wolfe's life has been written, entitled Jasper Wolfe of Skibbereen. It was written by Jasper Ungoed-Thomas, the grandson of Jasper Wolfe, and tells the story of his life, set against the backdrop of the partition of Ireland and the emergent new political order
In 1894 he founded Wolfe & Co. Solicitors, which is still operating in Market Street, Skibbereen, County Cork. He died at his residence "Norton", Skibbereen and is buried in Aughadown Cemetery.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
politician who was elected three times as Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for Cork West
Cork West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Cork West was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1923 to 1961...
from 1927–33.
He was born into a Methodist family the son of William J. Wolfe. He was educated at Bishop's School, Skibbereen
Skibbereen
Skibbereen , is a town in County Cork, Ireland. It is the most southerly town in Ireland. It is located on the N71 national secondary road.The name "Skibbereen" means "little boat harbour." The River Ilen which runs through the town reaches the sea at Baltimore.-History:Prior to 1600 most of the...
and was admitted as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
in 1893. He obtained first place in his final exams and was awarded the Findlater Scholarship. He was a member of Skibbereen Urban District Council for a number of years. He was crown prosecutor in Cork city
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
for a period and for the West Riding of County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
1916–1923. He was the first Cork man to hold the Presidency of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland. Wolfe was elected to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
on his first attempt, at the June 1927 general election, and took his seat in the short-lived 5th Dáil. He was re-elected at the September 1927 general election and again at the 1932 general election
Irish general election, 1932
The Irish general election of 1932 was held on 16 February 1932, just over two weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 29 January. The newly elected 153 members of the 7th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 9 March 1932 when the new President of the Executive Council and Executive Council of...
, but did not contest the 1933 general election
Irish general election, 1933
The Irish general election of 1933 was held on 24 January 1933. The newly elected members of the 8th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 8 February when the new President of the Executive Council and Executive Council of the Irish Free State were appointed....
.
Wolfe was a solicitor who also owned the Cork County Eagle and Munster Advertiser newspaper. This was a successor to the Skibbereen Eagle which in an editorial in 1897 had famously warned the Tsar of Russia about expanionist aims towards China, declaring that the Skibbereen Eagle had "got its eye on the Tsar".
An incident with Solicitor Jasper Wolfe (later TD for Cork West) was described by another solicitor Willie Kingston in Skibbereen Historical Journal. Willie Kingston was a cousin of Jasper Wolfe, Solicitor and Crown prosecutor in Skibbereen. Wolfe at the time had friends in both camps. In April 1921, Wolfe, Kingston and Miss Brown motored to Durrus
Durrus
Durrus is a village located in West Cork, six miles from Bantry, County Cork, Ireland. It is situated at the head of the Sheep's Head and Mizen Head Peninsulas. A number of public gardens have been established in the area, including 'Kilvarock' and 'Cois Abhann'...
where he had a case at Petty Sessions. Kingston had been in Bantry
Bantry
Bantry is a town on the coast of County Cork, Ireland. It lies on the N71 national secondary road at the head of Bantry Bay, a deep-water gulf extending for 30 km to the west...
earlier where he saw two men coming towards him, one saying to the other 'that's him’, he thought it was a case of mistaken identity. Later he met Wolfe at the hotel and a man came out of the shadows and peered at his face. Wolfe had met (Bawnie) T.T. McCarthy, cattle dealer earlier and offered him a lift to Skibbereen. They all went to Durrus in Wolfe's car driven by a chauffer and had tea in Miss Brown's mother's house. Leaving Durrus for Caheragh McCarthy was in front with Wolfe but his profile indicated him as a cattle dealer rather than the Crown Prosecutor. In Caheragh as they rounded a corner a whistle was blown violently suggesting the man was running and giving a pre-ordained signal. Kingston and Miss Brown crouched down but nothing happened. Wolfe had a few drinks and slept through the entire episode. When they got back to Skibbereen they heard that an ambush was being laid for Wolfe, he thought that the unexpected lift to the cattle dealer had the effect of calling off the ambush.
A book about Wolfe's life has been written, entitled Jasper Wolfe of Skibbereen. It was written by Jasper Ungoed-Thomas, the grandson of Jasper Wolfe, and tells the story of his life, set against the backdrop of the partition of Ireland and the emergent new political order
In 1894 he founded Wolfe & Co. Solicitors, which is still operating in Market Street, Skibbereen, County Cork. He died at his residence "Norton", Skibbereen and is buried in Aughadown Cemetery.
Sources
- See reference to incident during the troubles related by his cousin Willie Kingston in Durrus and District HistoryDurrus and District historyDurrus is an area of West Cork in Ireland. In the early history land ownership changes, and there are records of marine resources and mineral workings, agricultural development, communications, religious practices, schools and aspects of the 1901 Census.-Prehistory to 1600:A number of Neolithic ...
- Willie Kingston: From Victorian Boyhood to the Troubles: A Skibbereen Memoir, Skibbereen Historical Journal Vol 1 2005, extracts edited by his niece Daisy Swanton and Jasper Ungoed-Thomas, grandson of Jasper Wolfe, and Vol 2.
- Tim Cadogan and Jeremiah Falvey, A Biographical Dictionary of Cork, 2006, Four Courts Press ISBN 1-84682-030-8