Maurice Healy (writer)
Encyclopedia
Maurice Healy was an Irish lawyer and author best remembered for his legal memoir The Old Munster Circuit.
He was born in Cork
, son of the well-known solicitor Maurice Healy
and nephew of Timothy Michael Healy
, the first Governor General of the Irish Free State
. His mother was a sister of A.M. Sullivan, the last barrister to have the title Serjeant-at-law
, and noted for his defence of Roger Casement
; Timothy Sullivan
, the second Chief Justice of Ireland
, was a cousin, as was Kevin O'Higgins
, a leading figure in the early Free State Government..
Maurice was educated at Clongowes Wood College
and University College Dublin
. He was called to Irish Bar in 1910, and to the English Bar in 1914 after seeing action in the First World War
on the Western Front and at Gallipoli. He received the MC
in 1919 after serving in France and also in Germany during the immediate post-war occupation.
Maurice at one point stood for Parliament
as candidate for West Waterford. After the Irish War of Independence
, while several close relatives became prominent in the Free State, he chose to practice at the English bar. He was made King's Counsel in 1931.
He wrote celebrated books on wine
- "Claret and the white wines of Bordeaux" (1934), and "Stay me with Flagons" (1940). He also wrote poetry
. His most celebrated work is The Old Munster Circuit ( 1939 ) an affectionate and nostalgic portrait of life at the Irish Bar, especially on the Munster ( Southern ) Circuit between 1900 and 1920. The book was an instant success; the Spectator called it " Entirely delightful to read " and it has retained its popularity ever since.
With André Simon (who referred to Healy as 'my dearly beloved disciple') and others he founded the Saintsbury Club in 1931, which still meets today, reportedly stating that it should be created `to perpetuate and honour his name' (Professor George Saintsbury
). He became Recorder of Coventry
in 1941; it was suggested this might be the prelude to a High Court judgeship, but any such hope was cut short by his premature death.
A legendary wit and conversationalist Healy also made a number of celebrated BBC broadcasts during the war years.
He was born in Cork
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...
, son of the well-known solicitor Maurice Healy
Maurice Healy
Maurice Healy was an Irish nationalist politician, lawyer and Member of Parliament . As a member of the Irish Parliamentary Party, he was returned to in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland four times between 1885 and 1918.He was one of twins, the third son born...
and nephew of Timothy Michael Healy
Timothy Michael Healy
Timothy Michael Healy, KC , also known as Tim Healy, was an Irish nationalist politician, journalist, author, barrister and one of the most controversial Irish Members of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
, the first Governor General of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
. His mother was a sister of A.M. Sullivan, the last barrister to have the title Serjeant-at-law
Serjeant-at-law
The Serjeants-at-Law was an order of barristers at the English bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law , or Sergeant-Counter, was centuries old; there are writs dating to 1300 which identify them as descended from figures in France prior to the Norman Conquest...
, and noted for his defence of Roger Casement
Roger Casement
Roger David Casement —Sir Roger Casement CMG between 1911 and shortly before his execution for treason, when he was stripped of his British honours—was an Irish patriot, poet, revolutionary, and nationalist....
; Timothy Sullivan
Timothy Sullivan
Timothy Daniel Sullivan was a New York politician who controlled Manhattan's Bowery and Lower East Side districts as a prominent figure within Tammany Hall. He was euphemistically known as "Dry Dollar", as the "Big Feller", and, later, as "Big Tim"...
, the second Chief Justice of Ireland
Chief Justice of Ireland
The Chief Justice of Ireland is the president of the Supreme Court of Ireland.Under Constitution of Ireland, the Chief Justice of Ireland also occupies several positions ex officio, these include;* A possible judge of the High Court....
, was a cousin, as was Kevin O'Higgins
Kevin O'Higgins
Kevin Christopher O'Higgins was an Irish politician who served as Vice-President of the Executive Council and Minister for Justice. He was part of early nationalist Sinn Féin, before going on to become a prominent member of Cumann na nGaedheal. O'Higgins initiated the An Garda Síochána police force...
, a leading figure in the early Free State Government..
Maurice was educated at Clongowes Wood College
Clongowes Wood College
Clongowes Wood College is a voluntary secondary boarding school for boys, located near Clane in County Kildare, Ireland. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1814, it is one of Ireland's oldest Catholic schools, and featured prominently in James Joyce's semi-autobiographical novel A Portrait of the...
and University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
. He was called to Irish Bar in 1910, and to the English Bar in 1914 after seeing action in the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
on the Western Front and at Gallipoli. He received the MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
in 1919 after serving in France and also in Germany during the immediate post-war occupation.
Maurice at one point stood for Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
as candidate for West Waterford. After the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
, while several close relatives became prominent in the Free State, he chose to practice at the English bar. He was made King's Counsel in 1931.
He wrote celebrated books on wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
- "Claret and the white wines of Bordeaux" (1934), and "Stay me with Flagons" (1940). He also wrote poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
. His most celebrated work is The Old Munster Circuit ( 1939 ) an affectionate and nostalgic portrait of life at the Irish Bar, especially on the Munster ( Southern ) Circuit between 1900 and 1920. The book was an instant success; the Spectator called it " Entirely delightful to read " and it has retained its popularity ever since.
With André Simon (who referred to Healy as 'my dearly beloved disciple') and others he founded the Saintsbury Club in 1931, which still meets today, reportedly stating that it should be created `to perpetuate and honour his name' (Professor George Saintsbury
George Saintsbury
George Edward Bateman Saintsbury , was an English writer, literary historian, scholar and critic.-Biography:...
). He became Recorder of Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
in 1941; it was suggested this might be the prelude to a High Court judgeship, but any such hope was cut short by his premature death.
A legendary wit and conversationalist Healy also made a number of celebrated BBC broadcasts during the war years.