My week with Celia Holman Lee: Celebrating the Dunraven legacy

WHAT an impact the Dunraven family has had on Limerick city and county over the past two centuries.

My husband Ger and I spent an insightful and unforgettable evening delving into the history of Earls of Dunraven at the Dunraven 200 Exhibition in St Mary’s Cathedral.

The Limerick Museum exhibition celebrates the major contribution made by the Earls of Dunraven to the heritage and culture of the whole west Limerick area, over the last 200 years.

To be in the presence of Lady Dunraven and her beautiful daughter, Lady Ana Johnson, her husband and two daughters was a highlight of the evening.

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She made an eloquent speech, detailing the rich history of the family.

It was an honour to experience an exploration of the family’s past and it was truly fascinating.

Many famous faces attended the launch and Ger and I were delighted to have been invited.

I would encourage everybody to drop by the exhibition as it is there for a limited time only, until November 30.

The exhibition begins with an account of the rise of the family with the gradual accumulation of the estate between the late 17th and early 19th centuries.

The family’s creation of Adare Manor and the village of Adare in the 19th century is a major theme throughout.

The Dunraven family continue to play a very active role in the social and cultural life of Limerick to the present day, and learning about our local history and the foundations of our wonderful city and county is an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed.

Our rich cultural heritage sitting on our doorstep is too often forgotten, but when we open our eyes to the past, it broadens our minds beyond belief.

XxCelia