John Keogh

Life
?1681-1754 [contemp. var. K’eogh]; DD; 2nd son of John Keogh (q.v.), country rector and scholar, who left mansucripts (ODNB); wrote on antiquites and medicinal plants of Ireland, in Zoologica Medicinalis Hibernica (Cork 1735; var. 1739), published with 374 subscribers; also and a Vindication of the Antiquities of Ireland (Dublin 1748).

 

Works
  • Botanalogia universalis Hibernica: or, A general Irish herbal calculated for this kingdom, giving an account of the herbs, shrubs, and trees .. in English, Irish, and Latin; with a true description of them, and their medicinal virtues and qualities. To which are added, two short treatises. One concerning the chalybeat, waters showing their origin, situation, medicinal virtues, &c. Another of the prophylactic or, hygiastic part of medicine, shewing how health may be preserved, and distempers which human bodies are subject to, prevented / Authore Joh, K'Eogh (Corke: Printed and sold by George Harrison 1735), vi, [12], 145, [32]pp., 8°/21cm. [indexes in English, Irish & Latin] [Copies in BL; Register of Preservation Surrogates; Kew Bot. Gardens; Univ. Coll., London; Wellcome Library; Cambridge; Nat. Lib. of Scotland; Natural History Museum].
  • A Vindication of the Antiquities of Ireland ... against all the ... aspersions cast on it by foreigners. To which is added, an etymological treatise, shewing the Derivations of the Proper Names given to the Inhabitants of this Kingdom, with those of the Cities, Towns, and other Places contained therein, from the Irish, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and other Languages. Likewise an appendix, giving a brief Account of the original Descent of the principal Milesian Families in Ireland. By John K'eogh, Chaplain to the Right Honourable James, Lord Baron of Kingston / By John K’eogh (Dublin: S. Powell; printed for the author 1748), [20], 148pp., 8°/21cm. [Incls. list of subscribers.]

Bibliographical details
A Vindication of the Antiquities of Ireland: and a defence thereof against all the calumnies and aspersions cast on it by foreigners. To which is added, an etymological treatise, shewing the Derivations of the Proper Names given to the Inhabitants of this Kingdom, with those of the Cities, Towns, and other Places contained therein, from the Irish, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and other Languages. Likewise an appendix, giving a brief Account of the original Descent of the principal Milesian Families in Ireland. By John K'eogh [sic], Chaplain to the Right Honourable James, Lord Baron of Kingston. (Dublin: printed by S. Powell, for the author, 1748) [20], 148pp.

ESTC: T146723; electronic edn. Gale 2003; copies in BL, Cambridge UL, Manchester UL, TCD Library, Nat. Lib. of Scotland, Leeds UL, Glasgow UL, Sheffield UL & Edinburgh UL; also at the National Library of Ireland as part of the Joly Collection [Call No. J.7941.KED].

An additional dedicatory letter to Mrs Alicia Callaghan makes oblique reference to her husband as a ’Milesian“ and implies that she is not (therefore Anglo-Irish) - viz., ‡It is uſual with me, that when I dedicate a Book to any Gentleman, I alſo preſent his Lady with a particular Dedication, which I hope will be received by you with a favourable Aſpect, tho no Mileſian, upon the Account you are united to one, whom you regard and love; moreover, you cannot but have a Value for the Kingdom wherein you drew firſt Breath [...].’ Subscribers begin with the Earl of Antrim and incl. Blessington, Boyle, Blennerhasset, Butler, &c., &c. .. St. George, Vaughan, Bishop of Waterford. [Available at Internet Archive - online; accessed 02.09.2024.]

 

Commentary
Joseph Leerssen, Mere Irish & Fíor Ghael (Amsterdam: Rodopi 1986) - quotes John Keogh, Vindiction of the antiquities of Ireland (1748): ‘The very Roman Catholics of Ireland have proved themselves to be loyal subjects to the present Government; for there has been no rebellion or insurrection here since the late wars of Ireland, though since then three in Scotland.’

Further (Leerssen): In his Vindication &c., he posited that ‘not any affront or abuse is half so much resented as a national one.’ (Op. cit., pp.361, 410).

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