West Cork’s John Thompson was the original rebel with a cause

Robert Hume is intrigued by the life and habits of William Thompson, the eccentric ’Red Republican’ from Carhoogarriff in West Cork

TWO hundred years ago Alderman John Thompson, one of the richest merchants in Cork and once mayor and high sheriff of the county, died leaving his son, William, the bulk of his property.

He knew William had unusual ideas, but little could he have imagined what his son planned to do with his estate.