Captain Kitt, Irish

Whiteboys The Whiteboys () were a secret Irish agrarian organisation in 18th-century Ireland which defended tenant-farmer land-rights for subsistence farming. Their name derives from the white smocks that members wore in their nighttime raids. Becaus ...

captain, fl. 1820.

Background

Kitt was a native of the parish of

Ballymacward Ballymacward () is a village in County Galway, Ireland. It is on the R359 road (Ireland), R359 road, between that road and the rail lines traversing east–west. The village is from Ballinasloe and approximately from Galway city. The village ...

and was leader of the Whiteboys in the area. He usually convened the meetings, which were called The Ballinafad, held at his home in Corskeaghdaly. Membership dues were ten pence a year, and Kitt was known to enforce collection. He had a reputation as a very stern disciplinarian, but it was acknowledged that this was at a time when agitation and evictions had made the county very disturbed.

Hampstead attack

One of his most famous exploits was an attack on Hampstead House while the owner was entertaining a large group of fellow land-lords. According to Martin Finnerty:

''... in the midst of their carousing the house was attacked by ribbonmen under the command of Capt. Kitt. There can be no doubt but the attackers were in possession of heavy fire arms ecauseuntil the big house was levelled by the Land Commission, the window stool of an upper window revealed the strength to some extent of the attackers. This stone stool was made into splinters in the middle and it was evident that nothing less than light cannon was in use. The occupants of the house returned the fire and the attackers were forced to retreat and some accounts reveal with the loss of one man.''

Later life

Kitt's ultimate fate seems to be unknown. Kitt is a very rare surname, found only in parts of east Galway. Latter-day bearers of the name include politicians Michael F. Kitt, Snr (1914–1974) and Tony Kett (1951–2009). The

Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...

-born singer-songwriter

David Kitt David Kitt (born 1975) is an Irish musician. He has released eight studio albums to date: ''Small Moments'', ''The Big Romance'', ''Square 1'', ''The Black and Red Notebook'', ''Not Fade Away (David Kitt album), Not Fade Away'', ''The Nightsaver ...

(born 1975) is the grandson of Michael F. Kitt, Snr.

References

* ''Punann Arsa'', part I,

Martin Finnerty Martin may refer to: Places Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Europe * Martin, Croatia, a village * Martin, Slovakia, a city * Martín del Río, Aragón, Spain * Mart� ...

, ''Galway Observer'', 1951. * ''The Surnames of Ireland'',

Edward MacLysaght Edgeworth Lysaght, later Edward Anthony Edgeworth Lysaght, and from 1920 Edward MacLysaght (; 6 November 1887 – 4 March 1986) was a genealogist of twentieth-century Ireland. His numerous books on Irish surnames built upon the work of Rev. Pat ...

, 1978. {{DEFAULTSORT:Kitt, Captain People from County Galway

Background

Hampstead attack

Later life

See also

References