Ellen Cuffe, Countess of Desart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ellen Cuffe
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Portrait of a young Ellen Cuffe
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| Born |
Ellen Odette Bischoffsheim
1 September 1857 London, England
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| Died | 29 June 1933 (aged 75) Waterloo Road, Dublin, Ireland
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| Resting place | Falmouth, Cornwall, England |
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| Known for | Philanthropy and Politics |
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Notable work
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| Title | Countess of Desart |
| Movement | Gaelic League |
| Spouse(s) | William Cuffe (m. 1881–1898) |
| Senator | |
| In office December 1922 – June 1933 |
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| Personal details | |
| Political party | Independent |
Ellen Odette Cuffe, Countess of Desart (born Bischoffsheim; 1 September 1857 – 29 June 1933) was an amazing woman born in London. She became a very important person in Ireland. She was known for being an Irish politician, a business leader, and someone who loved to help others (a philanthropist). Many people call her "the most important Jewish woman in Irish history."
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Family Life and Connections
Ellen was the daughter of Henri Louis Bischoffsheim. He was a very rich Jewish banker from Germany. He even helped start some of the biggest banks in the world! These included the Deutsche Bank and Paribas Bank.
Ellen married William Cuffe, who was the 4th Earl of Desart. They got married on 29 April 1881.
Life in Ireland and Helping Others
After her husband passed away, Lady Desart moved to a beautiful place in Ireland. It was called Aut Even, near Kilkenny city. The name "Aut Even" comes from the Irish words Áit Aoibhinn, which means "Beautiful Place."
Supporting Irish Culture
Lady Desart became very interested in something called the Gaelic revival. This was a movement to bring back and celebrate Irish language, music, and culture. She joined the Gaelic League and even became the president of its Kilkenny branch.
She helped create many important projects in the Kilkenny area. These included the Kilkenny Library and the Aut Even Hospital. She also supported local businesses like the Woollen Mills and Kilkenny Woodworkers. She even helped start the Tobacco Growers Association and the Kilkenny Theatre. Lady Desart also helped build the village of Talbot's Inch and the Talbots Inch Suspension Bridge.
Lady Desart believed in the power of language. She pointed out that her own people, the Jews, had brought back a forgotten language. They used it to unite their scattered nation.
Becoming a Senator
In December 1922, Lady Desart was chosen to be a Senator in the new Irish Free State. She was an Independent member. She was one of the first four women ever to be appointed or elected to the first Seanad. She was also the first Jewish person to serve as a Senator in Ireland. She served until she passed away in 1933.
It's interesting to know that Lady Desart had once thought that women should not be involved in politics. However, she herself became a pioneering female politician in Ireland!
Lady Desart's Legacy
Lady Desart was a very generous person. As president of the Women's Committee, she helped rescue about 300,000 women and children.
She passed away on 29 June 1933, at 75 years old. She is buried with her husband in Falmouth, Cornwall. Their tombstone has a special message: "They were together in their lives, and in their deaths they shall not be divided."
Lady Desart left a huge amount of money, about £1,500,000, to various charities. This showed how much she cared about helping others.
Today, she is remembered in Kilkenny. There is a pedestrian bridge named the Lady Desart bridge, which was opened in 2014.
A book about her life, called The Countess of Desart, was published in 2021.
Images for kids
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Portrait of Ellen Cuffe, Countess of Desart
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Ellen Cuffe with husband William Cuffe
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The grave of Ellen and William Cuffe
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The inscription on the grave of Ellen and William Cuffe
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Desart Court
