Heiresses of the Wild Atlantic Way: American Fortunes, Irish Families

When most people think of American heiresses marrying into the British or Irish aristocracy, they might picture Cora Crawley from Downton Abbey—the wealthy American who brought her fortune (and a bit of drama) to an English estate. But Cora’s story wasn’t entirely fiction. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, scores of American women crossed the Atlantic, bringing their wealth to some of Ireland’s most iconic estates.

In this episode, Fin and Damian explore the real-life stories behind these transatlantic marriages, as the elite of the Gilded Age wed into Victorian Ireland in its twilight years. We focus on three remarkable families who made their homes in mansions along the Wild Atlantic Way: Glenveagh Castle in Donegal, Kylemore House in Galway and Muckross House in Kerry.

Sound by Kate Dunlea.

Shownotes

Further Reading

Ita M. Murphy. Ladies of the Country House: Irish Aristocratic Women, 1870-1918.

Muckross House & Gardens

Kylemore Abbey

Glenveagh Castle

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