Madam, - In his Irishman's Diary of August 15th, Frank McNally gave warning of the imminent invasion of Ireland by friendly Trollopians search of the sites connected with their hero. As the leader of that merry band of 46 from both the US and the UK, may I say what a splendid trip we had and thank all those Irish Trollope admirers who rose to this call, made contact and entertained us in fine style?
Starting in Banagher, Co Offaly, as Trollope did, we visited the house he lived in there and met the very charming librarian and historian at Banagher Library. We took a delightful cruise on the Shannon, remembering that he arrived from Dublin via the canal and river.
When we were in Drumsna, near Carrick-on-Shannon, scene of Trollope's first novel, a DVD of The Macdermots of Ballycloran was being made. The villagers arranged for us to meet the full cast in costume and then took us to the ruin mentioned in the book, followed by a reception in Taylor's Inn, given by descendants of the same family whom Trollope met. We were given lunch and presented us with a bas-relief profile of Trollope by the well-known wood carver and sculptor John Gannon. You will understand how overwhelmed we were by such a welcome.
The Department of Tourism in Leitrim did all they could to promote our visit, introducing us to the Historical and Heritage Society members and guiding us round the courthouse and gaol, which were prominent sites in the book. A day in Connemara and another through the Burren to the Cliffs of Moher covered the land of of two more books. Then we went up the tower of the 13th-century cathedral of Killaloe, home of "Phineas Finn, The Irish Member". We continued to Cork, home of St Finbar, and to Clonmel and Mallow, seeing the records of Trollope's sons' christenings and the sites of his houses. Through one of our members resident in Buttevant, we paid a visit to the Du Hallow Foxhounds, learning that the same breeding lines exist today as in Trollope's time, and met twin gentlemen of 86 who remember in their youth meeting an elderly man who had actually hunted with the novelist! We returned to Dublin, having been warmly received at Leixlip Castle, to a magnificent reception at the General Post Office, where it had all begun when Trollope was first employed to work in Ireland.
With this degree of interest and support we realised that many Irish people were already conquered by Trollope's talent. We found ourselves, as he was, smitten by Ireland. Seeing such lovely countryside and meeting so many people with similar enthusiasm, we have returned home emboldened to plan some events in Ireland to continue to raise Trollope's profile and to show our appreciation for the kindnesses and warmth of welcome shown to us. - Yours, etc,
PRISCILLA HUNGERFORD, Chairman, The Trollope Society, Tadley, Hampshire, England.