Historical Issues: Fear and Loathing in Achill

A wealthy landowner in the west of Ireland is brutally attacked and her home is burnt down resulting in such severe facial disfigurement that she wears a veil for the rest of her days.  The perpetrator? He is the inspiration behind JM Synge’s ruthless ‘Playboy hero. Samantha Bailie reports:

It’s a story that has captured our imaginations so it is no surprise that the story of Agnes MacDonnell and James Lynchehaun has somehow transpired into folklore and even popular literature – James Joyce actually referenced it in ‘Ulysses’ and the play ‘The Playboy of the Western World’ by J.M. Synge was actually inspired by it.  So, who were Agnes MacDonnell and James Lynchehaun?  

Agnes MacDonnell was an English landowner who owned ‘The Valley House’ on Achill Island (Co. Mayo).  She bought the property from the Earl of Cavan who resided there occasionally, mainly for hunting purposes. Although Agnes was married, (to John Randal MacDonnell) she very rarely saw her husband as he was a barrister whose work kept him in London.  Agnes seemed unfazed by the fact that John was never around, possibly due because her hands were full with her own business matters, collecting rent, arranging repairs and all the other tasks associated with renting properties and land.

It must have been viewed as quite rare in the 19th Century for a woman to be conducting business, especially a female, who by all accounts was very aesthetically pleasing to the eye and incredibly feminine, yet harsh and unsympathetic when people could not pay their rent.  People throughout the area often talked about Agnes’ stunning looks which seemed at odds with her strong, exacting business ethic, for instance if you could not pay your rent that week, she would ensure you ‘paid’ in some way, should it be x amount of physical labour or any other tasks needing done. She was not to be taken lightly.

So, who was James Lynchehaun?  Lynchehaun , by all accounts was a clever man.  The monks at Bunacurry Monastery in Achill Island had educated him and he had little problem securing good jobs. He had worked at a time as a schoolteacher but was dismissed for dishonesty (he was falsifying the roll book to claim more salary). In an attempt to make a fresh start (and go where no one knew him perhaps) he moved to the north of England and joined the Metropolitan Police Force.  

Lynchehaun found it impossible not to be deceptive and dishonest and was very quickly back in Ireland looking for work.  Reportedly being “a fine, young, strong, dark animal looking man” [MacDonnell said this] and having the gift of the gab, he found no problems securing employment with Agnes who, by all accounts was quite taken by him.  She promptly hired him as her land agent and he hired a cottage from her and another property where he ran a small grocery shop. 

Agnes and James had a major row.  

Agnes, who was known for being a hard businesswoman and incredibly clever was soon to discover that Lynchehaun was equally clever, but more so – cunning, a mannerism that Agnes would increasingly find difficult to manage, and just twelve weeks into their contract, Agnes and James had a major row. Agnes sent him a letter to terminate his position and the lease on his property. Agnes’ intent anger and apparent hatred led many to believe this was not simply a business venture that had not worked out – she was, after all used to such situations. She was behaving more like a woman scorned. Islanders believed Agnes and James were having a torrid love affair and with her passionate personality and his deceptive ways in business, not to mention his philandering – many assumed was a ticking time bomb that had to explode. 

Agnes went around to his cottage and told him to get out but he refused. Knowing a small amount of the law, Lynchehaun would hold up proceedings by taking Agnes to court and this went on for quite a time until she eventually told him that she was increasing his rent from £15 a year to £45 a year. She had effectively outwitted him, and by all accounts, he was furious. He hated to be outfoxed, but more so by a woman. He was used to calling the shots with the ladies and this didn’t sit well with him. His mind was restless. 

Some nights later, Agnes was asleep in her house with her dog Pip on her bed. No one else was in the property that night and Agnes awoke coughing and gasping for breath.  She could barely believe what she was seeing – the room was bright yellow and orange – it took her a second to fathom – the room was on fire; flames were gushing violently around the bedroom.  She ran disorientated to the back door and screamed, but locals were just starting to gather shouting “the big house is on fire …. the big house has gone up”. 

He didn’t stop until she had lost an eye, had her nose bitten off. 

Lynchehaun immediately appeared at the door and Agnes thought he had come to rescue her, and flung herself on his mercy, but instead he grabbed her and dragged her behind a haystack where he viciously beat her.  His cruelty knew no bounds and he didn’t stop until she had lost an eye, had her nose bitten off and was unrecognizable. He left her to die in a pool of blood. The once stunning woman was now deformed forever.  The doctor who arrived at the scene said later in court that: 

“Mrs MacDonnell was in almost lifeless condition. Her hair and nightdress was saturated in blood. Her pulse was trembling and barely perceptible. Her breathing was weak. Her body was almost cold.”

Lynchehaun was arrested and brought to Castlebar Jail – however, because of the nature of the case and the victim’s frail condition, he had to be taken to and from Castlebar to Achill on a further four occasions under heavy police custody in order to hear Agnes’ statement of the night of the fire and attack. The journey to and from the jail was an arduous one that involved police taking Lynchehaun by train, then the rest of the journey by jaunting car.

On his final trip by jaunting car back to the prison, Lynchehaun seized his opportunity and jumped from the carriage into the dead of night. Why was he not handcuffed to an officer? Tactically he had jumped on the Mulranny side of Achill where his uncle had a house.  His relatives hid him underneath the floorboards of a friend and he remained out of sight for twelve weeks as close to 300 RUC policemen searched the island for him. 

The government offered £200 (topped up to £300 by MacDonnell) for information leading to his arrest. At first there was nothing and the locals laughed at outwitting the authorities, but eventually someone came forward, unable to resist the ‘bait’ of £300. Lynchehaun was caught and imprisoned in Maryborough Jail in Portlaoise where he planned his escape for the next seven years.  His strategy didn’t work out too well as he disappeared clad only in his shirt and underpants! His escape did not go to plan, and just over two and half months later he was caught – in the United States no less – Chicago to be exact! 

Lynchehaun, always quite keen on the law (but not in keeping it unfortunately) launched an appeal that became the major political debate of its day.  The British wanted him brought back to Ireland to finish paying his debt to society, but despite the government’s vehement fight for justice, this was not to be. Lynchehaun fought tooth and nail and the British government was at odds what to do as they had exhausted all routes (even a hearing in the Supreme Court). 

Lynchehaun lived in the States for many more years and by all accounts was quite popular with the emigrant population and quite the life and soul of the party; however, a meeting with Michael Davitt (the MP who founded the Irish National Land League) really seemed to affect him. He put his hand out to shake hands and Davitt said, “I will not shake the hand of a murderer.”  It is said that Lynchehaun’s health went downhill after that and he lost a lot of interest in life in general.  Had he believed that he was somehow innocent because he was not extradited? 

Did Lynchehaun ever return to Achill?  He actually did – twice! Once in 1907 (disguised as an American holidaymaker) and then in 1918 – at which time he was arrested and deported to the U.K. He died in prison in Scotland in 1937 at the age of seventy-seven. 

So, what happened Agnes MacDonnell? She made a very slow recovery and was in constant pain from her horrific injuries. Her property, The Valley House was rebuilt and she continued to live there until her death in 1923.

This story has left its mark on American extradition law and the film ‘Love and Rage’ is based on this story and was actually filmed on location at The Valley House and around Achill.