John McShain, who died in September 1989 at the age of 93, was a charismatic building contractor who became known as the man who built America.

A bachelor’s degree graduate from the La Salle University in Philadelphia, during his incredible lifetime, the wealthy construction baron, racehorse owner and philanthropist was the main contractor in the $4.25 million reconstruction of the White House during the Truman years from 1949-1952.

He was also responsible for the construction of the Pentagon, the Jefferson Memorial, the Roosevelt Library at Hyde Park, the JFK Centre for Performing Arts, Washington National Airport and many other notable US landmarks.

The records of the McShain enterprises in the United States became an important part of the collection of the Hagley Museum and Library which is an archive for commerce, industry and technology, in Wilmington, DE.
A lifelong Republican, John McShain also owned some of the world’s most valuable thoroughbred racehorses and enjoyed a string of top-notch successes in blue riband events like the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the Ascot Gold Cup, the Irish Derby and the St Leger.

Born in Philadelphia in 1898, McShain was the youngest son of Slaughtmanus, County Derry-born Catholic immigrants, John and Catherine McShain. John Snr went to seek his fortune in America in 1885 where he joined the firm of his uncle, William J McShain before starting out on his own three years later, working mainly on projects sponsored by the Catholic Church.

Destined for a career in the legal profession or as a devout Catholic, possibly a life in the priesthood, at the age of 21 he somewhat reluctantly took hold of the reins of the company, John McShain Inc, following the death of his father.

John Jnr’s wife, Mary Horstmann, a native of Philadelphia who he married in 1927, was a member of a large Philadelphia Catholic family of wool merchants and her pioneering community and charity work later saw her become a Lady of the Grand Cross of the Holy Sepulchre and a Dame of Malta.

In 1976 she was the recipient of the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross, the highest honour the Vatican can bestow on a laywoman and, the following year, she was presented with honorary doctorates from three universities.

A close, personal friend of former President of Ireland, Seán T O’Kelly, and a regular visitor to Killarney, in the late 1950s John McShain acquired Killarney House and its sprawling 25,000 estate and he spent the twilight of his life there until his death.

In 1973, the McShains gifted the priceless Innisfallen Island, Ross Castle and 8,000 acres of parkland, mountains and lake to the State and an agreement was reached that, when Mr and Mrs McShain passed on, Killarney House and Gardens would be given to the Irish Government for a very nominal sum.

When his wife, Mary, died in 1998, their daughter Sr Pauline, carried out her father’s wishes and handed the keys and the deeds of the property to the people.
Sr Pauline, a Philadelphia based member of the Society of the Child Jesus order, passed away in March 2019.
John and Mary McShain are buried side by side in his native Philadelphia but their incredible legacy will always live on in their adopted home of Killarney.