Sir Richard Shee

Sir Richard Shee (c. 1550 - 1608) was an Irish lawyer, politician, and Deputy Lord Treasurer of Ireland. He was a prominent member of the ruling class in Kilkenny city.

Biography alt=This is a photo of a medieval almshouse built by Richard Shee to care for the poor of Kilkenny. Richard Shee was the eldest son of Robert Shee (Sovereign of Kilkenny 1545-46, 1553–54; M.P. for Kilkenny in 1559) and his wife Margaret Rothe, sister of John Rothe of Rothe House, also souvereign and mayor of Kilkenny.

Shee pursued a career in law, first as a student of Gray's Inn and later as a bencher of the King's Inns. He was also seneschal of Kilkenny's Irishtown district in 1568. Bishop of Ossory Christopher Gafney granted him the manor of Uppercourt in County Kilkenny in 1570, and in the following year he was made Treasurer of the regalities of Tipperary in 1571 This led to his knighthood sometime shortly after 1582.

Richard Shee died on 10 August 1608 in his residence in Bonnetstown, a short distance outside of Kilkenny City.

Wives and children

Shee was married twice, first to Margaret Sherlock of Waterford, He stipulated in his will for his son and heir Lucas to build an appropriate tomb for a man of his standing in the community:"I bequeath my soul to God, and my body to the buried in my said ffather’s burial in my parish church of our Ladye in Kilkennye. Executors of this my last will and testament doe make constitute and appoynte my sonnes Lucas Shee, Marcus Shee and John Shee; whom I doe appoynte to buylde a decent monument of the value of 100 marks sterling over my said burial”