The Decline and Fall of the Dukes of Leinster 1872-1948

WHENEVER the Dukes of Leinster are spoken of these days, it is usually in relation to their splendid country house of Carton. Yet the names most associated with this mansion are those of the Irish Georgian Society and its founders, the Hon Desmond Guinness and his wife Mariga who were tenants at Carton in 1957. After the generations described by Terence Dooley in these thronged chapters the FitzGerald Dukes of Leinster may not seem to have left much behind them apart from a name, but the family at least bequeathed a precious legacy of awareness and responsibility which has enriched Irish heritage and saved many an Irish property.

As Director of the Centre for the Study of Historic Irish Houses and Estates at NUI Maynooth Professor Dooley is an acknowledged expert on the survival of Irish country houses and Carton is, as they say, mother’s milk to him.