Lady Hester Catherine De Burgh
Hester de Burgh was an aristocrat from the west of Ireland. She was also the closest thing to a celebrity in her day. She partied with monarchs, moved to the highest circles and she even developed a fan-base after a Gallery in Dublin commissioned a portrait of her to be painted and sold to curious members of public in 1836. After the exhibition of her private letters in the Great Hunger Institute, Quinnipiac, a new light has been cast over Lady Sligo. She was a caring woman who had a keen awareness of contemporary politics in relation to the abolishment of slavery in Jamaica during the 1830s as well as the potato blight which caused the Famine that plagued Ireland in the 1840/50s. From the examinations of the contemporary papers, many aspects of Hester’s life can be examined.
Hester’s Family History
Hester Catherine de Burgh was born on the 16th of January 1800 in Co Galway, Ireland. She was born into an Anglo-Irish ascendency, to General John Thomas de Burgh and Elizabeth Bourke. John de Burgh was an Irish nobleman and soldier. In 1796 he inherited the title of the 13th Earl of Clanricarde after the death of his elder brother Henry (the 12th Earl) He gained rank as Lieutenant-General in Co. Galway where he was made Governor: he held the office of Custos Rotulorum in from 1798 – 1808. In 1800, he was given the new title of the 1st Earl of Clanricarde Co Galway. Her mother, Elizabeth Burke, lived in Galway as her father was the 1st Baronet Burke, of Marble Hill. Elizabeth was styled the Countess of Clanricarde after her marriage to John de Burgh in 1799. Hester was the couple’s first daughter and the eldest child out of three.
Hester was titled the 2nd Marchioness of Sligo when she married Howe Peter Browne (the 2nd Marquis of Sligo) in a Cathedral in Dublin before they celebrated their nuptials in Finigan’s Hotel on the 4th of March 1816. First Lady of Sligo, Louisa Catherine was originally from London: this made Hester the first wife of a Browne man to be native to the west of Ireland. Hester gave birth to their first child Lady Louisa Catherine Browne, named after Howe Peter’s beloved mother, the following year. She bore him thirteen more children over the course of their marriage, some of whom were born abroad. Howe Peter inherited his title of Marquis of Sligo from his father John Denis Browne after his death in 1809. The title was created after John Denis, then the 3rd Earl of Altamont, voted for the Act of Union with England: A political move on John Denis’ part in order to raise the family’s social status in society.
Hester and Westport House
Hester was considerably popular with the inhabitants of Westport due to the many acts of charity she and her husband performed in: Her return from abroad would often be celebrated with small festivals around the town e.g. bonfires and parades.
They spent many months at a time in their beautiful country home in Co Mayo. Hester played an important role in the renovation of Westport House. After her husband’s stint in jail during his youth for enticing British Officers to desert their posts, he settled down to a quiet life at home in Westport where he devoted his money. Hester and Howe Peter completed a joint project in which they laid out the pleasure grounds on the west side of the house: they planted many specimen trees e.g. Birch, Willow and Alder, which still stand today.
With regards to the house, Howe Peter commissioned Benjamin Wyatt, an English architect, to design an extension on the north wing of the house in order to build a servants quarters. James Wyatt, Benjamin’s father, was commissioned by John Denis, the 1st Marquis, to build and decorate the Long Gallery and Large Dining Room of the north and west side of Westport House forty years prior to Benjamin’s contribution. Although Wyatt was more prone to the Rococo style, Howe Peter and Hester opted for the more fashionable Neo Classical style. Hester spent time assessing Wyatt’s north wing plans. She was aware that the younger Wyatt, though a good architect, was not as gifted as his father with regards to decoration. Wyatt destroyed his father’s plasterwork in the Long Gallery by removing the cornices and ceiling from the room. Hester forced her husband to get rid of Wyatt before he destroyed the Large Dining room. The Large Dining room now features preserved art work by James Wyatt, all credit to Hester’s good sense. The room also features massive mahogany doors which Howe Peter acquired after one of his and Hester trips to Jamaica. Hester placed her gigantic sideboards on either side of the room, a present from her husband for their wedding anniversary. Hester also placed her wedding silver in the room as decoration alongside Elizabeth Kelly’s, who was the grandmother of Howe Peter, silver ware.
Howe Peter and Hester incorporated their love of Italy in to the design of the Drawing room on the north- east side of Westport House. Their love for Italian style materialized during their many Continental trips to Italy. Their youngest daughter, Marion Browne was born in Naples on Christmas day during a family holiday in December 25th, 1839. Hester was even featured in the ‘Italy, Births and Baptisms, 1806-1900’ . The year of their marriage, they toured through France, Switzerland and Italy before they stopped at the Prince of Wales Hotel in London. There are Pompeiian figures painted on to the cornices which frame the 19th century hand painted cloudy ceiling. Howe Peter commemorated his mother, the first marchioness, and her family in the room by hanging a portrait of Admiral Earl Howe, Admiral of the Fleet wearing his navval uniform: this great sailor commanded the British Navy at the time of the American Revolution. The room accumulated many portraits of the marchioness’ and their families throughout the years: most significantly the drawings of the 2nd Marchioness three young daughter and sons which hang on either side of the doorway.
Hester the Hostess
The designs and layout of the neo-classicly decorated home in Westport House mirrors the style of Howe Peter and Hester’s home in Mansfield Street in which they frequented. They would often leave on family holidays to spend the season in London, commonly in the winter months. There are numerous records of the Lord and Lady Sligo’s trips from Westport to London before the Lord became ill with gout. They would attend many balls and dinner parties while they stayed in London. After Howe Peter got sick, he stayed in London while Hester brought their children back, via the Antwerp Companys steam boat, to Westport House where she took over the day to day running of the estate.
Once the Lords health recovered, Hester returned to Mansfield Street where she became a hostess in her own right. She and her husband would hold parties and entertain individuals like the Duke of Cleveland, the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne and the Earl and Countess of Rosebery. Hester’s first ball in the Mansfield home was a success: guests arrived at the exquisite London home at 10pm, there was a dance at 11:30pm and the supper took place 1:00am. The ball was a hit and numourously attended according to various sources which recorded the evenings event. The following year Hester and Howe Peter had the honour of being invited to the first state ball of the season which took place in their beloved Naples in the Palace dela Torcesteria. They were good friends of the ‘King of Naples’ Joachim Murat. Hester was involved in many charity functions as a patroness such as the society of St. Vincent De Paul’s Bazaar for the poor in Dublin and the ‘The Annual Fancy and Full Dress Ball’ held for the ‘Sick and Indigent Roomkeepers Charity.
Hester and her son George co-hosted a ball in Westport House on New Year’s Day 1862. They sent out 150 invitations to their friends and the middle class sector of Westport to join them for a ball and supper commencing at nine o’clock. The night was a hit with the guests who were treated to a night of new and popular waltzes and quadrilles while the Mayo Rifles provided music for the night. Supper took place at mid-night which comprised of all the delicacies of the season. There were plentiful amounts of wine from the best vintage available for the guests to enjoy. The night ended in the early hours of the morning with each guest leaving in joy and merriment.
Hester the Cultured
The 2nd Marquis and Marchioness would often travel around the country from Kilkenny to Portumna to attend functions and dinner parties with their friends, the Earl of Clanricarde and the Lord Lieutenant and the Marchioness of Wellesley. Upon their return from London, they would sometimes stop by their relatives, the Earl and Countess of Howth, in Howth Castle Co Dublin.
Howe Peter and Hester lived rich and extravagant lifestyles. Among their friends were King George IV, Lord George Gordon Byron (an English poet) and Thomas de Quincey (an English Essayist). They took many expeditions abroad to Italy, Greece and the United States of America: while the latter was business related, the first two were strictly for looting purposes although they did not consider it looting. Howe Peter inherited Sugar Plantations in Jamaica from his late Grandmother Elizabeth Kelly. Hester would often accompany him on expeditions to Jamaica: this is where her concern for the abolition of slavery began.
Lady Sligo spent her life travelling all over the world. Hester often brought her children with her on holidays to Dublin and London. Her daughters, in particular, had many opportunities to become cultured and worldly by going abroad with their mother. In August 1854, Hester brought her daughters on a tour of German spas. Hester de Burgh and her daughter Elizabeth Browne had the honour of being invited to a dinner party at the Viceregal Lodge, India, to meet her majesty Queen Victoria on the 1st of September 1853. The following February, Hester invited her daughters to join her for the season in Mansfield Street. The Ladies Browne spend numerous years visiting their mother in London over the years.
It was not uncommon for Howe Peter and Hester to travel before wintertime, for example they spent the month of December, 1843, in the West Cowes on the Isle of Wight before they spent the winter in their London home. After the decline in the Marquis’ health, the family spent most winters in their ornate London home: it was more appropriate to spend the colder months of the year away from the chilly Atlantic coast of Westport.
Hester the Philanthropist
The designs and layout of the neo-classicly decorated home in Westport House mirrors the style of Howe Peter and Hester’s home in Mansfield Street in which they frequented. They would often leave on family holidays to spend the season in London, commonly in the winter months. There are numerous records of the Lord and Lady Sligo’s trips from Westport to London before the Lord became ill with gout. They would attend many balls and dinner parties while they stayed in London. After Howe Peter got sick, he stayed in London while Hester brought their children back, via the Antwerp Companys steam boat, to Westport House where she took over the day to day running of the estate.
Once the Lords health recovered, Hester returned to Mansfield Street where she became a hostess in her own right. She and her husband would hold parties and entertain individuals like the Duke of Cleveland, the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne and the Earl and Countess of Rosebery. Hester’s first ball in the Mansfield home was a success: guests arrived at the exquisite London home at 10pm, there was a dance at 11:30pm and the supper took place 1:00am. The ball was a hit and numourously attended according to various sources which recorded the evenings event. The following year Hester and Howe Peter had the honour of being invited to the first state ball of the season which took place in their beloved Naples in the Palace dela Torcesteria. They were good friends of the ‘King of Naples’ Joachim Murat. Hester was involved in many charity functions as a patroness such as the society of St. Vincent De Paul’s Bazaar for the poor in Dublin and the ‘The Annual Fancy and Full Dress Ball’ held for the ‘Sick and Indigent Roomkeepers Charity.
Hester and her son George co-hosted a ball in Westport House on New Year’s Day 1862. They sent out 150 invitations to their friends and the middle class sector of Westport to join them for a ball and supper commencing at nine o’clock. The night was a hit with the guests who were treated to a night of new and popular waltzes and quadrilles while the Mayo Rifles provided music for the night. Supper took place at mid-night which comprised of all the delicacies of the season. There were plentiful amounts of wine from the best vintage available for the guests to enjoy. The night ended in the early hours of the morning with each guest leaving in joy and merriment.
Hester the Cultured
The 2nd Marquis and Marchioness would often travel around the country from Kilkenny to Portumna to attend functions and dinner parties with their friends, the Earl of Clanricarde and the Lord Lieutenant and the Marchioness of Wellesley. Upon their return from London, they would sometimes stop by their relatives, the Earl and Countess of Howth, in Howth Castle Co Dublin.
Howe Peter and Hester lived rich and extravagant lifestyles. Among their friends were King George IV, Lord George Gordon Byron (an English poet) and Thomas de Quincey (an English Essayist). They took many expeditions abroad to Italy, Greece and the United States of America: while the latter was business related, the first two were strictly for looting purposes although they did not consider it looting. Howe Peter inherited Sugar Plantations in Jamaica from his late Grandmother Elizabeth Kelly. Hester would often accompany him on expeditions to Jamaica: this is where her concern for the abolition of slavery began.
Lady Sligo spent her life travelling all over the world. Hester often brought her children with her on holidays to Dublin and London. Her daughters, in particular, had many opportunities to become cultured and worldly by going abroad with their mother. In August 1854, Hester brought her daughters on a tour of German spas. Hester de Burgh and her daughter Elizabeth Browne had the honour of being invited to a dinner party at the Viceregal Lodge, India, to meet her majesty Queen Victoria on the 1st of September 1853. The following February, Hester invited her daughters to join her for the season in Mansfield Street. The Ladies Browne spend numerous years visiting their mother in London over the years.
It was not uncommon for Howe Peter and Hester to travel before wintertime, for example they spent the month of December, 1843, in the West Cowes on the Isle of Wight before they spent the winter in their London home. After the decline in the Marquis’ health, the family spent most winters in their ornate London home: it was more appropriate to spend the colder months of the year away from the chilly Atlantic coast of Westport.
Hester the Philanthropist
Howe Peter and Hester were known for their benevolence which may have contributed to the fact that they were liked by their tenants in Westport. They spent some time in his inherited sugar plantation estates in Jamaica after Howe Peter was appointed Governor of Jamaica in 1834. Hester was tasked with moving their young family to Jamaica to support her husband. This was a difficult task to undergo as she was six months pregnant at the time and she had to prepare her three sons and five daughters who were all under the age of thirteen, for a 40,000 mile voyage across the world.
After witnessing the savagery of the planter society, Howe Peter and Hester campaigned to abolish slavery on the island forever: a campaign that was successful despite a large opposition of the Pro slavery landlords. Howe Peter and Hester were ostracized by the planter society after they introduced an apprenticeship system to the slaves. They played an instrumental role in the abolishment of slavery in 1836 when they built the first slave free village in Jamaica: the village was named Sligoville in their honour. Howe Peter became known as the ‘Champion of the Slaves’ as he continued to lobby the British government and the Royal family to end slavery and presented them with many reports of abuse that was still taking place. In August 1838, the British government announced the emancipation of all slave’s in the British Empire. Howe Peter and Hester were offered a Dukedom for their work in Jamaica. However after freeing the slaves, the Lord and Lady Sligo lost their revenue from his Jamaican estates. They were unable to afford the title of Duke and Duchess thus they refused the offer. After all, a Duke and Duchess who are unable to afford their ranks are a contradiction in terms.
After the death of Howe Peter from a debilitating stroke in 1845, Hester was one of the executors of his will. To his wife, he left their home in in Mansfield Street, along with all their furniture. He also bequeathed to her all of his jewellery, diamonds and trinkets along with his diamond star and badge of the Order of St. Patrick which was to be passed on to his eldest son, George Browne, upon Hester’s death. He also left her the absolute use of all the liquors and wine in his possession and the authority over all the horses and carriages in England. Hester moved to Dublin after Howe Peter’s death but returned to her home in the west of Ireland shortly afterwards due to the occurrence of the famine.
The conditions in Westport were appalling as it was a vulnerable small town in rural Ireland. Families from villages nearby came flooding in to the town in search of food and medical care with other sufferers. The population of Westport town grew to almost sixty thousand people from 1845-1850. Unfortunately this led to the development and spread of disease such as typhus and bacillary dysentery. There were more deaths recorded in 1846-47 from disease than there was from starvation the previous year in 1845. Despite this Hester, alongside her son George attempted to alleviate the suffering of the localities inhabitants.
Ireland’s Great Hunger Institute at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut is home to the Hester Catherine de Burgh Collection, consisting of letters and relating artefacts of her life after her husband’s death. Her letters, comprised of more than 200 from c.1820s – 1860s, discuss the arrival of the potato blight in Ireland and her concern for the poor during the famine. Her letters show her to be ‘a person of great personality and one who was always concerned for her tenants’.
Lady Sligo wrote to George Hildebrand, her agent in the west, in September 20th 1845. She had recently moved to Clontarf in Dublin and she intended on spending Easter in her London home. However she wished to inquire about the extent of the famine in Mayo first. She wrote ‘I’m sorry to say in this country there is a blight on the potatoes, which has caused the stems to turn black and wither. I believe it was caused by the frosty night we had a fortnight ago… Let me know whether the potato crop in mayo is affected?’ She also requested that Hildebrand buy blankets of good quality for the tenants of Westport House. Hildebrand stated that the noble and generous Lady Sligo made no distinction of the distribution. Upon receiving word of the extent of the famine in Westport, Hester returned to her home in the west immediately. Hester’s letters have blurred the lines between the ‘simple narratives of bad landlord, good tenant’ according to famine expert Christine Kinnealy.
Due to the lack of income from the rents, Westport House was shut and boarded up. Hester and three of her children, including George the 3rd Marquis, lived in house on James’ Street in Westport town. Hester had a deep desire to offer her help to those severely affected by the famine. She paid a visit to the Sisters of Mercy where she expressed the warmest and kindest interest in the Convent. On behalf of the Marquis of Sligo, she bestowed a large portion of land, rent free in addition to a substantial financial donation.
George was heavily guided by his mother during the 1840s. He attended charity events with his first wife Ellen Sydney, the 3rd Marchioness of Sligo prior to her early death in 1852: such events include the ‘Annual Grand Fancy and Full Dress Charity Ball in Aid of the Funds of the Sick and Indecent Roomkeepers Society’. Hester was proud of her son George because he was good to his tenants and he strived to keep the Westport workhouse open with his own money. Alongside his cousin George Moore, he paid for a ship containing food to come from America to Mayo to feed the starving people. Westport House was converted into a soup kitchen for the starving peasants.
Hester continued to be a Patroness in aid of the Sisters of Mercy charity events. Lady Sligo was among the Patronesses at ‘A Bazaar in aid of the starving poor of Westport’ which was held on the 28th of November in 1849. Hester also offered clothes to a great number of girls who were too poor to afford their own and who were currently forced to live in a state of partial nudism: persons of both sexes were nearly in a state of nudity according to the newspaper reports to which Hester attended to with large supplies of blankets, shawls and other descriptions of clothing for those in need. Hester also supplied many poor people with meals.
After the famine in the west of Ireland, Hester moved to London to her residence in Mansfield Street where she continued to entertain her friends and through luxurious dinner parties. Westport House remained as much of a home to Hester as her homes in Clontarf, Dublin and Mansfield St. London as she returned to visit the house frequently, the most significant visit took place on the 26th of October 1857 when the now ‘Dowager’ Marchioness of Sligo returned to Westport town after the events of the famine had taken place. Bonfires were ablaze, the South Mayo band paraded around the town and the inhabitants all sang in rejoice for the most benevolent and respected lady in town by giving her a cordial Irish welcome. Hester was accompanied to the festival by her family members and she was said to have enjoyed the welcome festivities.
Despite her residency in London, Hester de Burgh spent the last years of her life heavily part taking in fund raising for charity events in the west of Ireland. She continued to be a patroness for the ‘Annual Bazaar & Drawing of Prizes in Aid of the Charities of the Sisters of Mercy, Castlebar’ and the ‘Annual Bazaar & Drawing of Prizes for the Relief of the Poor under the Sisters of Mercy, Westport and for the Erection of an Orphanage’ will be held at the Railway Hotel, Westport. Sisters of Mercy acknowledged Hester’s contribution to the events by thanking her, the most noble Marchioness of Sligo, for the exquisitely inlaid casket and valuable inkstand that she donated as prizes to be won.
Hester passed away on the 17th of February 1878 at the age of 78. She passed away in her home at 16 Mansfield Street in Marylebone, London, where she had lived out the last years of her life. Her health had been in decline prior to her death. There is little known about the exact cause of the noble and respected Marchioness death however it did come as a surprise. The inhabitants of Westport town shared their sincere regret to hear of the passing of the Dowager Marchioness of Sligo, whose constant and magnificent character will be remembered with gratitude by the people of Westport. Hester is buried in the Kensal Green Cemetery in London, England.
Hester was an aristocratic lady who was renowned at home in Ireland and abroad, although it was not strictly due to her celebrity status. Her contribution to the renovation to Westport House and the philanthropy work she took part in during the Famine years (as well as her contribution the abolishment of slavery in Jamaica) left her as a beloved figure in the west of Ireland and abroad. To be remembered for all her good work is nothing short of what Hester de Burgh deserves. As far as a connection to Grace O’Malley is concerned, she and Hester both part-took in globetrotting more than many people get the opportunity to do even in modern times.
After witnessing the savagery of the planter society, Howe Peter and Hester campaigned to abolish slavery on the island forever: a campaign that was successful despite a large opposition of the Pro slavery landlords. Howe Peter and Hester were ostracized by the planter society after they introduced an apprenticeship system to the slaves. They played an instrumental role in the abolishment of slavery in 1836 when they built the first slave free village in Jamaica: the village was named Sligoville in their honour. Howe Peter became known as the ‘Champion of the Slaves’ as he continued to lobby the British government and the Royal family to end slavery and presented them with many reports of abuse that was still taking place. In August 1838, the British government announced the emancipation of all slave’s in the British Empire. Howe Peter and Hester were offered a Dukedom for their work in Jamaica. However after freeing the slaves, the Lord and Lady Sligo lost their revenue from his Jamaican estates. They were unable to afford the title of Duke and Duchess thus they refused the offer. After all, a Duke and Duchess who are unable to afford their ranks are a contradiction in terms.
After the death of Howe Peter from a debilitating stroke in 1845, Hester was one of the executors of his will. To his wife, he left their home in in Mansfield Street, along with all their furniture. He also bequeathed to her all of his jewellery, diamonds and trinkets along with his diamond star and badge of the Order of St. Patrick which was to be passed on to his eldest son, George Browne, upon Hester’s death. He also left her the absolute use of all the liquors and wine in his possession and the authority over all the horses and carriages in England. Hester moved to Dublin after Howe Peter’s death but returned to her home in the west of Ireland shortly afterwards due to the occurrence of the famine.
The conditions in Westport were appalling as it was a vulnerable small town in rural Ireland. Families from villages nearby came flooding in to the town in search of food and medical care with other sufferers. The population of Westport town grew to almost sixty thousand people from 1845-1850. Unfortunately this led to the development and spread of disease such as typhus and bacillary dysentery. There were more deaths recorded in 1846-47 from disease than there was from starvation the previous year in 1845. Despite this Hester, alongside her son George attempted to alleviate the suffering of the localities inhabitants.
Ireland’s Great Hunger Institute at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut is home to the Hester Catherine de Burgh Collection, consisting of letters and relating artefacts of her life after her husband’s death. Her letters, comprised of more than 200 from c.1820s – 1860s, discuss the arrival of the potato blight in Ireland and her concern for the poor during the famine. Her letters show her to be ‘a person of great personality and one who was always concerned for her tenants’.
Lady Sligo wrote to George Hildebrand, her agent in the west, in September 20th 1845. She had recently moved to Clontarf in Dublin and she intended on spending Easter in her London home. However she wished to inquire about the extent of the famine in Mayo first. She wrote ‘I’m sorry to say in this country there is a blight on the potatoes, which has caused the stems to turn black and wither. I believe it was caused by the frosty night we had a fortnight ago… Let me know whether the potato crop in mayo is affected?’ She also requested that Hildebrand buy blankets of good quality for the tenants of Westport House. Hildebrand stated that the noble and generous Lady Sligo made no distinction of the distribution. Upon receiving word of the extent of the famine in Westport, Hester returned to her home in the west immediately. Hester’s letters have blurred the lines between the ‘simple narratives of bad landlord, good tenant’ according to famine expert Christine Kinnealy.
Due to the lack of income from the rents, Westport House was shut and boarded up. Hester and three of her children, including George the 3rd Marquis, lived in house on James’ Street in Westport town. Hester had a deep desire to offer her help to those severely affected by the famine. She paid a visit to the Sisters of Mercy where she expressed the warmest and kindest interest in the Convent. On behalf of the Marquis of Sligo, she bestowed a large portion of land, rent free in addition to a substantial financial donation.
George was heavily guided by his mother during the 1840s. He attended charity events with his first wife Ellen Sydney, the 3rd Marchioness of Sligo prior to her early death in 1852: such events include the ‘Annual Grand Fancy and Full Dress Charity Ball in Aid of the Funds of the Sick and Indecent Roomkeepers Society’. Hester was proud of her son George because he was good to his tenants and he strived to keep the Westport workhouse open with his own money. Alongside his cousin George Moore, he paid for a ship containing food to come from America to Mayo to feed the starving people. Westport House was converted into a soup kitchen for the starving peasants.
Hester continued to be a Patroness in aid of the Sisters of Mercy charity events. Lady Sligo was among the Patronesses at ‘A Bazaar in aid of the starving poor of Westport’ which was held on the 28th of November in 1849. Hester also offered clothes to a great number of girls who were too poor to afford their own and who were currently forced to live in a state of partial nudism: persons of both sexes were nearly in a state of nudity according to the newspaper reports to which Hester attended to with large supplies of blankets, shawls and other descriptions of clothing for those in need. Hester also supplied many poor people with meals.
After the famine in the west of Ireland, Hester moved to London to her residence in Mansfield Street where she continued to entertain her friends and through luxurious dinner parties. Westport House remained as much of a home to Hester as her homes in Clontarf, Dublin and Mansfield St. London as she returned to visit the house frequently, the most significant visit took place on the 26th of October 1857 when the now ‘Dowager’ Marchioness of Sligo returned to Westport town after the events of the famine had taken place. Bonfires were ablaze, the South Mayo band paraded around the town and the inhabitants all sang in rejoice for the most benevolent and respected lady in town by giving her a cordial Irish welcome. Hester was accompanied to the festival by her family members and she was said to have enjoyed the welcome festivities.
Despite her residency in London, Hester de Burgh spent the last years of her life heavily part taking in fund raising for charity events in the west of Ireland. She continued to be a patroness for the ‘Annual Bazaar & Drawing of Prizes in Aid of the Charities of the Sisters of Mercy, Castlebar’ and the ‘Annual Bazaar & Drawing of Prizes for the Relief of the Poor under the Sisters of Mercy, Westport and for the Erection of an Orphanage’ will be held at the Railway Hotel, Westport. Sisters of Mercy acknowledged Hester’s contribution to the events by thanking her, the most noble Marchioness of Sligo, for the exquisitely inlaid casket and valuable inkstand that she donated as prizes to be won.
Hester passed away on the 17th of February 1878 at the age of 78. She passed away in her home at 16 Mansfield Street in Marylebone, London, where she had lived out the last years of her life. Her health had been in decline prior to her death. There is little known about the exact cause of the noble and respected Marchioness death however it did come as a surprise. The inhabitants of Westport town shared their sincere regret to hear of the passing of the Dowager Marchioness of Sligo, whose constant and magnificent character will be remembered with gratitude by the people of Westport. Hester is buried in the Kensal Green Cemetery in London, England.
Hester was an aristocratic lady who was renowned at home in Ireland and abroad, although it was not strictly due to her celebrity status. Her contribution to the renovation to Westport House and the philanthropy work she took part in during the Famine years (as well as her contribution the abolishment of slavery in Jamaica) left her as a beloved figure in the west of Ireland and abroad. To be remembered for all her good work is nothing short of what Hester de Burgh deserves. As far as a connection to Grace O’Malley is concerned, she and Hester both part-took in globetrotting more than many people get the opportunity to do even in modern times.
Hester De Burghs 'Letters During The Famine' Exhibiton
Links to the launch of Hester De Burgh's 'Letters During The Famine' exhibition in Westport House on the 14th of April, 2015