Career
James O’Connell established himself at Killarney (County Kerry, Ireland) in the early nineteenth century, leasing lands from the Herbert family of Muckross House. On 29 October 1869 he was created a "Baronet of Lakeview and of Ballybeggan". In 1870 Sir James O’Connell built "Lakeview House", replacing an earlier house called "Lakeville".
It was built in 1740 and located in the southern end of the townland of "Maulagh". Lakeview House still exists and is in the possession of decedents of Sir James O'Connell. His estate amounted to over 18,000 acres in the 1870s and included lands in the parish of Ratass in the barony of Trughanacmy (County Kerry).
Sir James was the son of Morgan O'Connell, a general store proprietor, and Catherine O'Mullane - both parents being from a Roman Catholic family.