McShain family honoured on Innisfallen Island

Killarney National Park unveiled a plaque in honour of John and Mary McShain, their daughter Sr Pauline and all the McShain family, in recognition of their philanthropic generosity gifting Innisfallen Island to the nation in 1972.

Members of the McShaine family, including Rick Horstmann and John McShain, direct descendants of John and Mary, attended a special ceremony on the island over the weekend.

John McShain sold Killarney House and its estate to the Irish State for a nominal sum in 1979 on the assumption the land would be incorporated into Killarney National Park.

'The Man who built America’ John McShain was born in Philadelphia in 1896. His company became the leading builders in America, responsible for the construction of some of the most iconic structures in the world - The Pentagon, John F. Kennedy Centre, Jefferson Memorial, Roosevelt Library, Washington National Airport. A devout catholic, his company also constructed the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and of course the reconstruction of the White House (1949-1952).