Hermione, Duchess of Leinster (1864-1895)

Hermione, Duchess of Leinster (1864-1895)

Hermione’s story forms the heart of an epic book by Terence Dooley, ‘The Decline and Fall of the Dukes of Leinster 1872-1948,’ which examines the lives of three dukes who succeeded in turn to the miscellaneous lands and titles of the FitzGerald family, including...
Honest Tom Steele (1788-1848) – Landlord and Repealer

Honest Tom Steele (1788-1848) – Landlord and Repealer

The story of a graduate of Cambridge, a landed proprietor of Clare, an inventor of diving bells and a veteran of the Spanish Republican army who served as Daniel O'Connell's right-hand man for 24 years. Complete access to all articles on this website for €12 / year...
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) – A Study in Green

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) – A Study in Green

‘I, an Irishman by extraction, was born in the Scottish capital after two separate lines of Irish wanderers came together under one roof’. So remarked the creator of Sherlock Holmes. His mother was Mary Foley from Lismore with strong roots in Kilkenny; his father...
Daniel O’Connell (1775-1847) – The Liberator

Daniel O’Connell (1775-1847) – The Liberator

An overview of one of the most towering figures in Irish history, a pioneer of pacifism through his monster meetings, and winner of emancipation for the top level of Catholics in Irish society. This story commences with his role in a deadly duel, a fatal event that...

Boyles, Earls of Shannon

BOYLES, EARLS OF SHANNON RICHARD BOYLE, THE GREAT EARL OF CORK The family descend from Richard Boyle, the ‘Great Earl’ of Cork, an entrepreneur from Canterbury who became one of the most powerful figures in Western Europe during the early 17th century. The story of...