Join us for an entertaining and informative afternoon at Dromana House in partnership with the National Built Heritage Service featuring talks from Julian Walton and Robert O Byrne on weddings- happy and unhappy!

Taking place in the Dromana House Lecture Room this event will focus on the

history of Irish wedding customs, both good and bad. 

Dromana House’s gate lodge was built to celebrate the marriage of Henry Villers Stuart and Theresa Pauline Ott. The gate lodge is an iconic structure on the Waterford landscape and deserves attention for its history and the wider customs of weddings during this very interesting period of history.

This history will feature in two talks:

Julian Walton: “Henry Villiers Stuart, Lord Decies (1803-1874): his marriage, and the Dromana Gateway”  

Julian Walton is a former secondary school teacher and librarian with a lifelong interest in Irish history and genealogy, particularly relating to Co. Waterford

Robert O Byrne: 'Each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way': Tales of Marital Discord in 19th Century Ireland.  

Robert O'Byrne is a writer and lecturer specialising in the fine and decorative arts. He is the author of more than a dozen books.

There will then be a walking tour of Dromana to engage attendees in the landscape. This will be followed by tea and coffee.

Feel free to bring a picnic beforehand (Weather permitting!)

13.30 Arrival

14.00 Lecture by Julian Walton

14.45 Lecture by Robert O Byrne

15.30 Walking Tour of Dromana Garden

16.00 Tea and Coffee