accepted only two company directorships – of the Midland Great Western Railway Company, and the National Bank, of which he became vice-chairman. On the creation of the Irish Free State in 1921, he was offered a seat in the new Senate, which he declined "with much regret". In retirement, he retained his strong interest in matters of Irish land reform. He returned to his alma mater, by then known as University College Galway, in 1911, to address the Literary and Debating Society of which he had been a distinguished officer in his student days. After a speech setting out a proposal for a workable solution to Irish agrarian demands, he finished with the patriotic lines: "Oh brave young men, my pride, my hope, my promise/It is on you my heart is set/In manliness, in kindliness, in justice,/To make Ireland a nation yet." Family Lord MacDonnell married Henrietta MacDonell, daughter of Ewen MacDonell, chief of the Keppoch branch of the clan Macdonald, in 1878. They had one child, The Hon. Anne Margaret MacDonnell. Lord MacDonnell died after a brief illness at his home in London on 9 June 1925, aged 81. Leaving no male heir, his barony became extinct at his death. A statue of MacDonnell by Sir George Frampton was erected at Lucknow by the Talukdars of Oudh in 1907. Titles 1844–1888: Antony MacDonnell 1888–1893: Antony MacDonnell, CSI 1893–1898: Sir Antony MacDonnell, KCSI 1898–1902: Sir Antony MacDonnell, GCSI 1902–1903: Sir Antony MacDonnell, GCSI, PC 1903–1908: Sir Antony MacDonnell, GCSI, KCVO, PC 1908–1925: The Right Honourable the Lord MacDonnell of Swinford, GCSI, KCVO, PC References External links 1844 births 1925 deaths Administrators in British Burma Alumni of the University of Galway Barons in the Peerage of the United Kingdom Catholic Unionists Indian Civil Service (British India) officers Irish knights Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India Lieutenant-governors of Bengal Members of the Council of India Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom Peers created by Edward VII People educated at Summerhill College People from County Mayo Under-Secretaries for Ireland