References

National Portrait Gallery Ireland VIEW SOURCE
Somerville and Ross UK VIEW SOURCE
Violet Florence Martin 18621862

Violet Florence Martin 1862

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Place of migration
Stayed in Ireland

Violet Florence Martin was born in Ross House, Connemara, County Galway on the 11th of June 1862. She was the youngest of 16 children. The family were well to do and belonged to one of the 14 Tribes of Galway. 

Violet had a talent for writing. In her lifetime she wrote 13 novels with her cousin, Edith Somerville. Together the pair published as Somerville and Ross. The pair lived together in County Cork after first meeting in 1886. Their writing was responisble for inspiring the popular television series, The Irish R.M.

Violet was a suffragette and staunch unionist, working closely with the Munster Womens Franchise League. She was on good terms with the members of the Gaelic literary revival.

Violet died on the 21st of December 1915 from complications resulting from a bad horse riding injury some years prior. 

 

Additional Information
Date of Birth 11th Jun 1862 VIEW SOURCE
Date of Death 21st Dec 1915 VIEW SOURCE

Comments

  • On 18 March 1912 Violet wrote to Edith Somerville about her visit to Tyrone House, Kilcolgan which would later be the setting for their book "The Big House of Inver". This is where my great grandmother Harriet St George grew up. Her father Christopher St George owned the house and the estates associated with it. She married John 'Jack' Joyce of the Joyce's of Mervue, a prominent Galway family of merchants and landowners. Tyrone House is now a forelorne ruin.

    Drinagh

    Wednesday 20th January 2021 10:18PM
  • What a fantastic connection! Have you added your Ancestors and Tyrone House to the Chronicles? I'd be happy to help if you have any questions. Just send them to vkelly@irelandxo.com

    Chronicles Editor

    Thursday 21st January 2021 10:44AM

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