Prince Edward's fiancee has Mayo connections
Exclusive By Tom KellyTHE FORTHCOMING royal wedding between Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones will be have more than a passing interest to the people of Rossport in Erris and Newport, where Sophie has strong ancestral connections. The Oxford-born public relations executive is a great granddaughter of the former owner of Rossport House, a former secondary school in the Mayo Gaeltacht. Sophie's Mayo links came as a surprise to the people of Rossport when they were informed by the Connaught Telegraph yesterday (Tuesday). "I am both surprised and delighted," said Mrs. Margaret Monaghan, whose family runs the local Post Office. "Rossport House is a derelict building now. But it is easy to imagine what it was like in the old days. It would be nice if Sophie was to visit here." Sophie's great grandmother was Anna Marie Wallace Bournes who was born at Rossport House, Ballina, on August 5th, 1861. She was a daughter of George Smith Bournes, Rossport, and the formerly Elizabeth Hartley Wallace, Lime Park, Galway, who had Westport connections. George Smith Bournes was Clerk of the Union of Belmullet in 1853 and chairman of the Fishery Conservators, Bangor District, in 1858. He and his father, Samuel, were trustees in 1859 of the Belmullet and Rossport Methodist Church. He resided at Rossport House until about 1865 when he moved to Beechmount, Clare, Co. Offaly. By 1881, he and his family had moved to England where he was a partner in the firm of Dolton, Bournes and Dolton, London, timber importers. Rossport House was used as a Gaeltacht secondary school for many years, known as Colaiste Chomain. But the building currently stands vacant. Mr. John Bournes, who had a long association with the Ballina Herald newspaper which existed from 1844 to 1891, was a cousin of George Smith Bournes. According to the book, 'The Bournes Families of Ireland' by Mary A. Strange, he was a printer and resided in Ballina where he died on October 21st, 1912. There are a number of other strong links with the Bournes family in Mayo. Ann Marie Wallace Bournes' second cousin, Katherine Bournes, married the John Clinton, late of Lisduff, Newport. Mr. Clinton was grandfather of Hilda Kavanagh, principal of St. Anthony's School, Castlebar. Mrs. Elizabeth Mairs, aged 97, of Carrickneady, Newport, is a daughter of John and Katherine Bournes. Katherine Bournes' mother, Jane Walker, married the aforementioned, John Bournes, Ballina. When the family of Anna Marie Wallace Bourne moved to London from Ireland in 1881, she was aged 20. She subsequently married Laurence Teesdale Molesworth, who was a direct descendant of the1st Viscount Molesworth, Robert, who died in 1768. One of Anna Marie' daughters, Margaret Newall Molesworth, married Theophilus Rhys Jones. Their son, Christopher Bournes Rhys-Jones, was father of Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones, who will wed Prince Edward later this year. |
