Earl of Kilmorey

Earl of Kilmorey (pronounced "Kil-murry") is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1822 for Francis Needham, 12th Viscount Kilmorey, a General in the British Army and former Member of Parliament for Newry. He was made Viscount Newry and Mourne, in the County of Down, at the same time, also in the Peerage of Ireland. He was succeeded by his son, the second Earl. He also represented Newry in the House of Commons. His grandson, the third Earl, was briefly Member of Parliament for Newry and sat in the House of Lords as an Irish Representative Peer from 1881 to 1915.

His eldest son, the fourth Earl, served as Lord Lieutenant of County Down and as Vice-Admiral of Ulster. Lord Kilmorey was also an Irish Representative Peer from 1916 to 1961, becoming the last surviving Irish Representative Peer to sit in the House of Lords. He was succeeded by his nephew, the fifth Earl. He was the son of Major the Hon. Francis Edward Needham, second son of the third Earl. As of 2010 the titles are held by the fifth Earl's eldest son, the sixth Earl, who succeeded in 1977. He does not use his titles and did not use his courtesy title of Viscount Newry and Mourne which he was entitled to from 1969 to 1977, and is known as Sir Richard Needham. He is a former Conservative government minister.

The title of Viscount Kilmorey was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1625 for Sir Robert Needham, Member of Parliament for Shropshire, and High Sheriff of Shropshire in 1606. His son, the second Viscount, represented Newcastle-under-Lyme in Parliament and supported King Charles I during the Civil War. His younger son, the fourth Viscount (who succeeded his elder half-brother), also fought as a Royalist in the Civil War. His great-great-grandson was the twelfth Viscount, who was created Earl of Kilmorey in 1822.

The family seat in England was at Shavington in Shropshire, until it was sold by the 3rd Earl. The ancestral family seat of the Earls of Kilmorey was Mourne Park, near Kilkeel, in Co Down, Northern Ireland. Mourne Park was built on land given to Nicholas Bagenal in 1552 by Edward VI. Mourne Park House was extensively re-built in 1806 on the instructions of the 12th Viscount Kilmorey, later the 1st Earl. Edward VII was a frequent guest of the 3rd Earl at Mourne Park.

During the Second World War the house was used as an officer’s mess for British and US regiments who were on their way to France and the Normandy landings. After the death of the 4th Earl in 1961 the Earldom was inherited by a kinsman, while the Mourne Park Estate was passed on in the female line. It is still (2008) owned by the descendants of the 4th Earl.

The Kilmorey Mausoleum is to be found on St Margarets Road near the junction with Northcote Road at St Margarets near Twickenham to the West of London, England.