A Celebration of the O'Connell Women of Derrynane
Sunday 30 August 2026, from 11am. Free, but places are limited and pre-booking is essential.
Daniel O'Connell takes up most of the air at Derrynane, which is what makes this day unusual: it is given over entirely to the women of the house.
It opens with Mary O'Connell, Daniel's wife, told by Sophie Twomey of the OPW from the personal rather than the political side, and follows with the art historian Jessica Fahy reading the O'Connell women's portraits that still hang on the walls. At one o'clock Nicola Fitz-simon, the great great great granddaughter of Ellen O'Connell Fitz-simon, presents the house with a family brooch on loan.
The last item is the one to plan around. The poet Paddy Bushe leads a guided walk of the Meadow Walk, a path through the estate that had been lost until he found it described in a 200-line poem Ellen wrote about Derrynane in 1832, and which the OPW has since restored. Walking it with the person who found it in a poem is not an ordinary garden tour.
Everything is free, but places are limited and pre-booking is essential by email to [email protected]. The Meadow Walk is booked separately and capped at thirty people, and it wants proper footwear rather than sandals. If you would rather hear the background than do the walk, there is an introduction at the house first that you can attend on its own.
How it runs
- 11am The life of Mary O'Connell Sophie Twomey, OPW visitor guide at Derrynane, on Daniel O'Connell's wife.
- 11.45am The O'Connell women in portrait Art historian Jessica Fahy on the portraits hanging in Derrynane House today.
- 1pm Presentation of Ellen's brooch Nicola Fitz-simon presents the house with a family heirloom on loan. Refreshments.
- 2.30pm Guided walk of the Meadow Walk Led by the poet Paddy Bushe. Book separately, maximum thirty people, walking gear needed.
