Talk to Mark Bicentenary of Gen. Sir Richard Bourke's Governorship of the Cape of South Africa

Dr Paul O Brien will give a talk at the tomb of Gen. Sir Richard Bourke of Thornfield House at 3 pm on Sunday, August 23rd to celebrate the bicentenary of the latter’s governorship of the Cape of South Africa.

The 2026 Bicentenary offers an excellent opportunity to celebrate a remarkable Limerick figure whose influence extended far beyond Ireland. Few people associated with Co. Limerick have left such a lasting legacy.

General Sir Richard Bourke (1777–1855) was one of the most distinguished Irish colonial administrators of the 19th century. He was appointed as Governor of the Cape Colony in 1826 and arrived at the Cape in February of the same year as Lieutenant-Governor of the Eastern Districts.

Bourke’s administration is generally regarded as progressive. Among his achievements were:
* reforming the civil administration and judicial system;
* encouraging greater freedom of the press;
* reorganising local government and public finance.

There will be live links to the Cape Town, Melbourne and Peru.

Thornfield House is a proud member of Historic Houses of Ireland.