The Congreves of Mount Congreve, Co. Waterford, and the Congreve Family with Julian Walton Lecture - in Association with the Irish Georgian Society

Mount Congreve is an 18th-century house situated near the village of Kilmeaden, to the west of Waterford City. It was home to successive generations of the Congreve family, down to the death in 2011 of Ambrose Congreve, creator of its famous gardens. It is now open to the public.

The lecture traces the history of house and family, using archives which were made available to the speaker and are thought to have since been destroyed. It will also deal with some famous cousins, including the 17th-century dramatist William Congreve (“Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned / Nor Hell a fury like a woman scorned”), Sir William Congreve, inventor of the Congreve Clock and the Congreve Rocket (its “red glare” is mentioned in the American national anthem), and General Sir Walter Congreve and his son William (one of only three cases of a father and son winning the Victoria Cross).

Julian Walton was born in 1941, spending his childhood in north Cork, near Castletownroche, before moving to County Waterford. He is a former secondary schoolteacher and librarian, with a lifelong interest in Irish history and genealogy.

During the 1990s he worked at Waterford Heritage Genealogical Centre, and later in the library of University College Cork. Since he “retired” in 2006 he has been Resident Historian at Dunhill Multi-Education Centre in County Waterford, where he lectures on aspects of local history. He is the author of The Royal Charters of Waterford and of many articles in historical journals.

Light refreshments for purchase at The Hot Favourite coffee trailer from 10:30am.
On street parking available.
Restrooms available in adjacent Adair Hall.