Taoiseach is left family home in his mother's will (original) (raw)

Taoiseach Enda Kenny inherited his family home and a share in a residential development site in his late mother's will.

Mr Kenny and his siblings were left a 14-acre site in Castlebar, Co Mayo, from his mother Eithne when she passed away four years ago.

The Taoiseach was left the home where he and his brothers and sister were raised.

However, details of the inheritance only emerged in recent weeks, following the publication of last year's Dail register of members' interests.

The register showed Mr Kenny owned four properties - his main residence in Mayo, an apartment in Dublin, an office in Castlebar and the family home in Islandeady.

The Fine Gael leader also owned an agricultural site in Castlebar along with a share in the development site, which local auctioneers estimated to be worth around €168,000.

However, a number of Castlebar auctioneers said it was unlikely the land would be sold soon due to its location and a lack of residential development in the county.

Land-registry documents showed the site was registered in Mr Kenny and his siblings' name in February last year.

The home where the Taoiseach was raised is estimated to be worth around €90,000.

Registry of Deeds records showed the property was transferred into the name Mr Kenny and his sister Maria Hastings last July.

Mrs Kenny, who passed away in November 2011, stated in her will that her home should be left to her son Enda and the contents should go to her daughter Maria.

She left the site of a previous family home to the Taoiseach's brother Henry.

Ms Kenny's publicly available will, which was first written in September 1996, also directed that Mr Kenny be allowed to purchase a field she owned in Raheen for IR£20,000.

Mr Kenny owns agricultural land in the same area, according to the Dail register of members' interests.

His mother also directed in her will that donations should be made to the Royal National Life Boat Institution (RNLI), Conquer Cancer Campaign and two Dublin churches.

Mrs Kenny directed that half of the rest of her estate was to go Ms Hastings and the other half to be shared by her sons John, Henry, Kieran and Enda.

Ms Kenny passed away at 93 years of age and was remembered fondly by her family and thousands of mourners at her funeral in Castlebar.

The Taoiseach described the Mass as a celebration of his mother's life and asked for a round of applause for all the "mothers of Ireland" during an emotional ceremony.

Fr Pat Donnellan, the local Islandeady priest, said Mrs Kenny was immensely proud of her son.

"When each election came around I heard her say she 'threw the tongs out the door after them for good luck', and I know it was then that she stormed the heavens and prayed that all would be well," Fr Donnellan said.

"Her modest nature did not allow her to boast, but I know she was as proud as punch that God blessed her with a son who is Taoiseach."

Mrs Kenny was the daughter of a Donegal lighthouse keeper and the Fine Gael leader proudly references this in key speeches.