Thomas Harriot – The True Discoverer of the Potato

Sir Walter Raleigh will forever to be associated with the potato. It may even be true that he grew the first potatoes in Ireland at his home Myrtle Grove, Youghal. However, the first Englishman to discover potatoes was Thomas Harriot, a remarkable scientist who...

Sir Richard Burton (1821-1890)

SIR RICHARD BURTON (1821-1890) EXPLORER EXTRAORDINAIRE Sir Richard Francis Burton was one of the most eccentric and brilliant explorers the world has known. During the 19th century, this intrepid scion of Co. Galway discovered Lake Tanganyika, translated the ‘Kama...
Vigors of Old Leighlin, Erindale & Holloden

Vigors of Old Leighlin, Erindale & Holloden

The Vigors hailed from Devon, England, and came to Ireland in the early 17th century when one of them became chaplain to the influential Boyle family. During the reign of Charles II, they  were granted estates in County Carlow, where branches were established at Old...
The Yelvertons, Viscounts Avonmore

The Yelvertons, Viscounts Avonmore

Originating in Norfolk, the Yelvertons rose through the ranks in England to become, at various times, Baron Grey de Ruthyn, Earl of Kent and Earl of Sussex. Another branch moved to Ireland where Viscount Avonmore was a leading legal eagle in the Georgian Age. This...

The Dacres Dixon Family: 1630 – 2013

(with sub-chapters on the Earls of Listowel, the Earls of Yarborough & the Bevans) Henley as painted by Jan Sieberech circa 1690 (Tate Gallery, London) Contents 1. Introduction: The Ballyhooly Circle 2. Convamore 3. The Earls of Listowel 4. The Earls of Yarborough...