Vice Great Seneschal of Ireland

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Vice Great Seneschal of Ireland, is a hereditary office under the aegis of the Hereditary Great Seneschal or Lord High Steward of Ireland, and under royal authority dating back several centuries. The Vice Great Seneschal is the Hereditary Seneschal or Lord Steward for Tyrconnell, is Irish but has lived abroad in several countries for over 30 years.

[edit] Overview

The current incumbent maintains close relations and interests in Ireland, and frequently returns. His family origins are both Gaelic and English, going several centuries back. He was ennobled some years prior to his succession to the hereditary titles, by virtue of a sovereign knighthood, and also already bore the courtesy title of Excellency accorded by two countries in which he served as a diplomatic chief of mission. He is currently accredited to the Head of State concerned.

He recently inherited this title from his late father who enjoyed both British and Irish nationality. He also inherited an ancient Irish paramount barony dating from early 13th century and granted by King John, and the family retains property there, where he grew up. In addition to a related manorial lordship, and properties in Dublin city, he also owns some old family land in County Kerry including a forest, and a mountain peak. This land has most likely remained in family occupancy for about a thousand years, inherited from his paternal grandmother’s family who at one time were Gaelic lords of the area.

Both his late father and a grand-uncle were also Catholic knights, and distinguished respectively in military and civil service. His two grandfathers were accomplished businessmen in the creamery business. His paternal grandfather introduced pasteurization in Kerry, established the still-continuing Lee Strand Creamery in Tralee, and was one of the first graduates in dairy science in Ireland. His maternal grandfather established the Abbey Glen Creamery in Dublin, and in due course introduced the SPAR supermarket chain into Ireland. His paternal great-great-grandfather held several farms in north Kerry, and was a benefactor during the Great Famine in the 1840s.

He is an honours graduate in economics and philosophy from the National University of Ireland, and has also read international law and diplomacy at university in Geneva. He has written extensively on a range of subjects from history to international affairs. He is an acknowledged contributor to Ireland’s first White Paper on Foreign Policy. He has also contributed his research in a monograph to the Law Reform Commission of Ireland on the subject of reforming 800 years of land law, and its impact on intangible cultural heritage. He has received several awards for his international service.