Memoirs of Beatrix 'Lady Waterford' - portrait of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy
Beatrix Dowager Marchioness of Waterford Memoirs 1895 - 1908 has been published by Somerville Press.
Curraghmore House and Gardens is better known today as the staging grounds for the All Together Now Festival, attracting thousands of music lovers across Ireland.
The memoirs of the former 'Lady of Waterford' give the reader a glimpse into the Anglo-Irish 'landed gentry' as the 20th century began.
'Beatrix Dowager Marchioness of Waterford Memoirs 1895-1908' begins with the courtship and marriage of Beatrix Petty-Fitzmaurice and Henry 'Tyrone' Beresford, 6th Marquis of Waterford.
She was the daughter of the 5th Marquis of Lansdowne, who had many roles during the latter days of Queen Victoria, acting as former Viceroy of India, Governor General of Canada, Secretary of State for War and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
Throughout her years at Curraghmore, Beatrix kept a diary, writing missives of events, including births, deaths, weddings and many, many balls.
It is a breezy portrayal of the aristocracy prior to the Easter Rising, a time when the premise of an effective Irish rebellion against the British Empire may have appeared ludicrous to many at the time.
Indeed, reading the book, the environs of Curraghmore House, beautiful to this day, appear to serve as a bucolic paradise for the Marchioness, family and friends.
Waterford, and much of Ireland, is the backdrop to their lives.
When they're not entertaining distinguished guests, 'Tyrone' is acting as a high officer in the British Army.
During the Second Boer War, he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the South Ireland Yeomanry.
Her first days of wedded bliss at Curraghmore House soon come to an end: "I suffered very much from home-sickness during the first week at Curraghmore; everything seemed so new and strange."
The early days are marked with growing pains, and a comedy of errors getting to know the new landscape.
At the first Sunday service, Beatrix fumbles a coin meant for the plate, feeling radiating embarrassment in front of the fellow church-goers:
"Before I could catch it, it went clattering over the tiles as if possessed, and rolled down the aisle till it met a hot-air ventilator, down which it disappeared.
"The mere fact of walking into the front pew under the curious eyes of all the neighbours had filled me with nervous confusion, but when I felt all those eyes noting my awkwardness, I longed to sink into the floor."
Happily, she soon finds her footing at Curraghmore House, going on to have six children and travelling across Ireland and the UK for family, friends, and, of course, balls.
Looking back on her first Christmas at Curraghmore in 1897, she wrote: "What a cheery party it was, and what babies we all were!
"But there was nearly a terrible disaster!"
She describes how the men at the house, after a 'hearty' lunch, tear away to go for an impromptu dip in the lake:
"We suddenly heard shouts and then saw them tearing off towards the lake, some of them in such a hurry that they must needs jump out of the Dining Room window.
"We all dashed out too and arrived just in time to find Mr Chaplin preparing to swim the lake. Somebody had bet he wouldn't do it [...] and in spite of the cold day, and the heavy lunch, he unhesitatingly took it on for the sum of £5."
As he goes in, the swans begin to attack, prompting the landed party to throw stones at them, but Mr Chaplin begins to sputter and struggle in the lake.
After a quick rescue, they bundle him up with five hot water bottles and nine blankets, but it is neat Eucalyptus that revives him.
All is well as the Beresfords attend a rollicking New Year's Eve party at the Mayfield in Portlaw.
Families are often travelling from one stately home to another, spending days attending hunting parties.
Ireland, Irish culture and Irish people seem to be of little interest to them.
Beatrix's father is the Minister of War during the Second Boer War, the same conflict that her husband served in.
While she worries for the safety of her loved ones, there is no deeper interrogation of the imperialist cause that she and the rest of Anglo-Irish aristocracy benefit from.
However, that is not the story she is telling.
These are memoirs imbued with sorrow towards lost love and the passing of time.
It is, possibly, a fool's errand to judge the lived experience of a person against the values of today.
Ultimately, these are tender, loving ruminations on the memories of a person who is a part of Waterford history.
Beatrix put together her memoirs in honour of her husband's memory, and to preserve her own. He died at only 36 years of age in a drowning accident on the Curraghmore estate.
She wrote after his death in 1911: "Now there is no-one to talk over those bygone years, and memories stored away soon grow dim.
"So I am going to write down all that I can remember of our life together during those 14 years, and as I have always kept a very short diary, the task should be a fairly easy one."
She adds poignantly: "It will be a labour of love, for every word will bring back something of him and some day it may help the children to remember him, and give them some ideas of our married life."
