Katherine Conolly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Katherine Conolly
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| Born |
Katherine Conyngham
c.1662 |
| Died | 23 September 1752 (aged 89–90) Castletown House, County Kildare
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| Nationality | Irish |
Katherine Conolly (born around 1662, died 1752) was an important Irish woman. She was known for hosting political events, owning a lot of land, and helping people through charity.
Contents
Her Life and Legacy
Katherine Conolly was born Katherine Conyngham around 1662. Her parents were Sir Albert Conyngham and Margaret Leslie. She was the oldest of their ten children.
Marriage and Influence
In 1694, Katherine married William Conolly. He was a very powerful man who served as the speaker of the Irish House of Commons. He was also believed to be the richest man in Ireland. Their marriage was likely based on love.
Katherine used her dowry (money or property a bride brings to a marriage) to help them buy their first large estates in County Meath. Because of Katherine's family connections, her husband was able to make important friends with other powerful families. Katherine became well-known for hosting political gatherings. These events helped her husband gain support and influence.
A Powerful Landowner
When her husband died in 1729, Katherine Conolly inherited many large estates. These lands were in Wales and several counties in Ireland, including Meath, Roscommon, Westmeath, and Kildare. She continued to be a very influential person in Irish public life. People often asked for her advice and opinions on important matters.
Katherine lived in Dublin and at Castletown House, her grand home in County Kildare. She often entertained many friends and important guests there.
Helping Her Community
Katherine Conolly was also a great supporter of education and employment. She continued her husband's plan to build a special school called the Collegiate School in Celbridge. This school was built between 1733 and 1737. After it was finished, she continued to support the school with money every year.
She also paid for a monument to remember her husband. It was placed in Kildrought church in Celbridge. To help people find work, she commissioned two famous buildings:
- Conolly's Folly in 1740
- The Wonderful Barn in 1743
Her Final Years
Katherine Conolly passed away at Castletown House on September 23, 1752. A painting of her by Charles Jervas can still be seen there today. When her friend Mary Delany heard about her death, she wrote that it was a "general loss." Mary Delany also noted that Katherine's home was always open to her friends and she was always ready to help the poor. She was also very good at managing her affairs and wrote all her own letters.
