Arthur MacMorrough KAVANAGH was a popular Carlow landlord. The following are paragraphs from a book with the title "The Incredible Mr. Kavanagh" by Donald McCormick. page 156 "The Kavanagh custom of holding an unofficial court from the stone mounting-block which surrounded the old oak in the courtyard of Borris House was kept up by Arthur. There, like a chieftain in the midst of his vassals, he would sit patiently listening to all who came from far and near, with their tales of perplexity or grievance, to seek counsel or redress [somewhat melodramatically wrote Mrs Steele]. All were received, men and women alike, with the same unfailing sympathy, and many a curious piece of family history or story of impending feud could that old tree reveal. But it could also tell of the invariably just decision, given with the cheery, sympathetic smile and words that robbed even an adverse 'ruling' of all sting. Nor was it only in matters of dispute that he was consulted by them, or his mediation sought. Many a happy marriage between 'likely' parties was planned and made by him under the shadow of the old oak tree." page 159 "He had a passion for pets of all kinds. A young bear was kept chained up in the courtyard and its 'house' was near enough to the oak tree for him to entice it out to sit beside him during these 'courts'. He would play with the bear and talk to it throughout the proceedings, though no one else would dare touch the animal and the villagers were terrified of it. The legend that it was a bear he had captured in India was propagated, but there was no truth in this. The animal was eventually given to the Dublin Zoo.