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Aunt Jane

Now, this world is made up of happenings over which we seem to have no control, and of course we were surprised when we heard of Aunt Jane’s death in southern France, where she always spent the winter on account of her chest trouble. (Aunt Jane was the old lady with the barrel curls and harp, about whom I wrote earlier.) She left her large fortune, or rather most of it, to a sailors’ home in Kingstown, County Dublin. My brother Arthur, came in for quite a nice little sum, however, and he inherited it on his 2lst birthday, which he celebrated in great style. Now Arthur, always being accustomed to plenty of money, spent a generous portion of it on large parties given for his relatives and friends, and a big dance for the tenants, inviting two out of every house and cottage on the estate, and having a tremendous supper spread for them in the servants’ hall. Since New Year’s Eve was his birthday, he certainly gave them a glorious time welcoming the New Year in. Aunt Jane left each of us brothers and sisters a legacy to be held in trust with the old family lawyers in Dublin. But it was a long time before we were able to enjoy even a small portion of it.

Note: In 1821 the name Dunleary or Dun Leary was changed to Kingstown in honour of George IV’s visit to this bustling and rapidly developing town. In 1920 it was officially given the name Dún Laoghaire, referring back to the original Irish name for Dunleary.

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Written by Elizabeth La Hiff Lambert

Published here 22 Aug 2022 and originally published 1979

Page 0084 of Athenry History

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