Olivia Charlotte Guinness, Baroness Ardilaun facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lady Ardilaun
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| Born | 27 August 1850 |
| Died | 13 December 1925 |
| Nationality | British / Irish |
Olivia Charlotte Guinness, Baroness Ardilaun (born August 27, 1850 – died December 13, 1925), often known as Lady Ardilaun, was an incredibly wealthy woman. At one point, she was considered one of the richest women in Britain and Ireland, second only to the British monarch. She came from a noble family, being the daughter of the Earl of Bantry. Her life was connected to several famous places like Muckross House, Macroom Castle, the St Anne's Estate in Dublin, and Ashford Castle.
Her Early Life
Olivia Charlotte Hedges-White was born on August 27, 1850, in County Cork, Ireland. Her parents were Jane Herbert and William Henry Hare Hedges-White, who was the 3rd Earl of Bantry. Olivia was one of six children, with five sisters and one brother. Her family had lived at Muckross House in County Kerry since the 1650s.
On February 16, 1871, Olivia married Arthur Guinness, 1st Baron Ardilaun. The wedding took place in Bantry, County Cork. They did not have any children together.
A Life of Art and Grand Homes
Lady Ardilaun loved to paint, especially with watercolours. She collected her paintings in a special album and was a member of the Water Colour Society of Ireland. Her artworks often showed the beautiful landscapes around Ashford Castle, which was the family's main home. She also painted views from their house in Dublin.
The couple made huge changes to their Dublin home, renaming it St Anne's. They also added a grand new section to Ashford Castle. After their work was finished, Ashford Castle was seen as a magnificent mansion. It even hosted important guests like the Prince, who later became King George V, and Queen Victoria. Lady Ardilaun was also famous for her beautiful gardens. She even named several roses, and some flowers were named after her!
Generosity and Support
The Ardilauns were well-known for their amazing parties and warm welcome to guests. They were also very generous people. Lady Ardilaun was a big supporter of the Mercer Charity Hospital. She helped fund the hospital and often visited the patients there. She also supported artists and was greatly admired by another famous Irish writer, Lady Gregory.
During the First World War, Lady Ardilaun supported Irish soldiers. She sent them care packages and wrote letters to them. She kept all the letters she received back, which later became a valuable collection for historians.
Later Years and Legacy
After her husband passed away in 1915, Lady Ardilaun spent more time at her birthplace, Macroom Castle. She had inherited the castle and worked hard to restore it and parts of the town. This castle was special to her because it had belonged to her ancestor, Donough MacCarty, a leader from the 1640s.
In 1920, Macroom Castle and the town were almost destroyed during a difficult time in Ireland. Lady Ardilaun was friends with Major-General Sir Henry Tudor, who had given the order. She pleaded with him to save the town, and he listened to her.
However, in 1922, during the Irish Civil War, the castle was taken over and later destroyed by a group fighting against the new government. Lady Ardilaun received some money from the new Irish Free State for the damage. She later sold the castle to a trust, so it could be used for the people of the town. She said she was happy that "the old inhabitants and the best elements in the town grieve with me for this great loss."
In 1925, the land around Macroom Castle was sold to the town's new golf club for £1,500. Sadly, St Anne's house in Dublin burned down in 1943. The grounds of St Anne's are now Dublin's second-biggest public park. Lady Ardilaun also donated the organ and several stained glass windows to All Saints' Church, Raheny, where she is buried.
Her cousin, Katherine Everett, who was an architect, visited the ruins of Macroom Castle in August 1922. She remembered how sad Olivia was about the loss. Katherine said that when people are born and grow up in a house where their family has lived for generations, they feel a deep connection to "every stone and tree and sod of the place." Lady Ardilaun died in Dublin on December 13, 1925, at the age of 75.
