Vintage View: The heroic life of Thomas Francis Meagher

Kya deLongchamps celebrates the heroic and unlikely life of Thomas Francis Meagher (1823-1867) nearly 150 years since his mysterious disappearance.

WE WERE enjoying a tour of the Bishop’s Palace in Waterford. At least I was — my daughter was struggling to hide a series of elasticised yawns.

Eighteenth century tea-tables, the first Waterford Crystal ever made, and even the exploits of proud, bullock riding Thomas Wyse (1701-1770) had all failed to tickle her 11-year-old imagination.