Original incoming and copy outgoing correspondence relating to administration of Geashill estate. Matters referred to include tree planting on the estate; insurance/workmen's compensation funds; Irish general election results; taxation of woodlands; and the Geashill Cauldron.

Includes letter from Digby to Goodbody: 'The result of the elections in the Free State do not, I am afraid, seem to be very good, though I imagine that De Valera will think twice before he puts his policy fully into operation, as with a tariff wall between England and a country outside the Empire it would hit Ireland very hard if it came to Ireland really trying to sever themselves from the British Empire. I am quite sure, however, that this is not the intention of the majority of people in Ireland, and they must realise that it is not to their good but very much the reverse.' (22 February 1932)

Includes copy letter from Goodbody to Digby:'...I enclose you some correspondence which has appeared in some of the Irish papers in this matter. As you will see, it comes from the Republican side, and of course misrepresents facts and history, and cannot avoid being insulting at the same time. As you will remember, I offered this Cauldron on loan from yourself to the Irish Museum, then had a box made for it, and before it was packed it was raided. Since then though I have heard rumours about it, I have not heard anything definite about it.' (11 April 1932)

Includes newspaper cuttings containing letters from Sean McGuinness, Kinnity, Offaly and Liam Gogan, Assistant Keeper of Antiquities, National Museum concerning the theft of the cauldron by Offaly IRA and its archaeological significance.

Original incoming and copy outgoing letters relating to Lewis Goodbody's management of the Digby estate. Matters referred to include: the death of estate bailiff, Nesbitt and arrangements to look after his widow; illegal tree felling on the estate; proposed purchase of the wood, village, castle site and two bogs in Geashill by Hon. Brinsley Plunkett in order to obtain shooting rights; arrangements for a summer visit of the Digbys to Ireland; illegal game-shooting on the estate; sale of timber from Derrygunnigan Wood; and income tax.

Includes copy letter from Goodbody to Digby: 'Following my letter yesterday I now learn that the above [Honorable B. Plunkett] has supplied himself already with a number of pheasant boxes in anticipation, which is all to the good. I think it will be just as well to disappoint him on this occasion, for to my mind, he has rather overreached himself...All being well next Winter, it might be that you could spare the time to come over here, and shoot over your property, including the Geashill side. I think you would pick up quite a nice lot of woodcock, and it would show Plunkett that he is not yet the owner of Geashill, and that if he wants his sporting amenities, and you are inclined to deal with him for that part of the property, then he must pay a proper price for it, otherwise he must do without it. In present circumstances, I would not advise you to sell him the woods and bogs unless he takes the Castle site as well, and all at a proper price, which would be worth your while to consider. He seems to be suffering somewhat from swelled head.' (5 March 1930)

Includes letter from Maggie Evans, tenant to Goodbody: 'I quite forgot to tell you when you were down looking at the house and porch that rain comes in in several places in the kitchen and also in the room. And the thatch is very bad at the end of the house and there is a crack in the wall from top to the bottom of wall. It is also cracked very much inside too and I afraid of it falling out, and in few places the bottom of the walls are falling too so hoping you will be as kind as to get them repaired for me when getting the house done. (18 July 1931)

Original incoming and copy outgoing correspondence concerning aspects of estate management undertaken by A. & L. Goodbody, solicitors on behalf of Lord Digby, such as rent collection, timber sales, illegal timber cutting on the estate, the terminal illness of Edward Nesbitt (estate bailiff), fishery rights on the Erne and the Moy, and sporting rights over the lands of Geashilll granted to Lord Digby and his father for life by the tenants.

Includes copy letter from Goodbody to Digby concerning fishery rights: '...As to the possibility of future legislation here. Well nothing that the [Salmon Fisheries] Association can do will stop the Government if they want to pass legislation. Strong opposition was put up about the ridiculous Irish language movement without any effect whatever. The idealists seem to get it all their own way and the opposition had not the courage to speak out their mind or vote as their conscience tells them they should vote, so they appear to have stayed away in the Senate instead of voting against it.' (8 May 1929)

Original incoming and copy outgoing correspondence concerning aspects of estate management undertaken by A. & L. Goodbody, solicitors on behalf of Lord Digby, such as correspondence with the Irish Land Commission involving the valuation; inspection and sale of the estate; legitimacy of land ownership; rental arrears; payment receipts; the transfer of Geashill National School; employee salaries; and estate repairs.

Includes letter from Goodbody to Digby: ‘…The Michael Dunne the Inspector means lives with his sister on a 15 acre farm P.L.V. £6 and had 4 cattle. Perhaps you can identify him. The reason who these allottees are asked to raise representation is because the personal representative has to agree to consolidate the plots they are getting with the land they already have. We can ask the Commissioners to waive the consolidation, but cannot anticipate whether they will or not. This may delay matters…’ (1 December 1927)

Handwritten letter from James Chissell to Lord Digby: ‘Received from Messrs A. & L. Goodbody the sum of two hundred pounds, that being the amount of compensation given to me by Lord Digby in consideration of the land taken from me by the Estates Commissioners, for purpose of relieving congestion on the Geashill Estate.’ (23 August 1927)

Letter from Goodbody to Digby: ‘…Then in regard to Reggie’s letter, which I return to you. He knows his own mind very well and as he made you the offer I should advise you to abide by it. I wrote him recently about the National Roman Catholic School at Geashill. It was originally built by your family and vested in the Educational Commissioners at the nominal rent of 1/- and now our mutual acquaintance the Reverend Father Phelan has asked me to vest it free of charge in the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church.’ (15 July 1927)

Typescript diary entry of William Bury Homan Mulock, reflecting on the surroundings of the Bellair Estate; his childhood on the estate; estate improvements; sale of the estate to tenants under the Land Acts; effects on Irish agriculture and corn production during the first World War.

"The Townland of Bellair or Bally-ard (High Town) stands almost in the centre of Ireland and its hill crowned with a thick grove of beech and fir is a conspicuous object from most of the Counties in Ireland...

I dearly loved and revered the old place with all the tradition it stood for, and for my first day in India I determined to save money and pull it through as my father had always impressed on me the severe strain his large family had been on the estate...

I have now held it for close on 30 years and in the natural course of things must soon relinquish it. I can however fairly claim to have done more than any predecessor for its benefit. I have sold to the tenants, under the Land Acts, and have paid of all charges. I have renovated the house and wing, rebuilt all the farm buildings, and a good part of the stabling...

I have now (1918) had close on ten years experience as an Irish Landlord without tenants, having sold under the Land Acts 1908-9. I can't say that I regret their loss. I live more like an English squire, without anxiety or fear of malicious injuries, cattle drives, or burnings, and I have more leisure to look after my Bellair farm which is now paying me well for all my improvements".

Diary of the Jesuit community at Tullabeg. Entries record those arriving and departing, retreats taking place and any events of note.

Personal diary and almanack of Captain Maxwell Fox, Annaghamore House. The diary records short, day-to-day accounts of January to October of 1868, the year Fox was appointed High Sheriff of King's County. Entries to the diary comment mainly on personal matters and activities of his routine as a landowner, with occasional reference to national and local events.
Personal matters referred to include socialising amongst a small circle of landed neighbours, relations and professionals in the town of Tullamore (names occurring include: Coote, Ridley, Marshall, Waller, Biddulph); attending religious services; light farm duties; shooting and hunting; card games.

Entries contain occasional reference to his duties as High Sheriff during the Spring and Summer Assizes. An example of this is recorded across two days, dated 4 and 5 March, "Drove to Tullamore on car at 8.45, found carriage all ready so went with Sub-Sheriff in Clarence to meet Chief Justice Monaghan [sic] at Clara station. Brough him and Lefroy back to their lodgings in Tullamore, then drove home to luncheon after which cutting hedge along back lane to Lambs... Went in brougham to Tullamore at 8.35 attended at Station and received Chief Justice (Whiteside) drove him to his lodgings and attended by mounted police. At 11.15 attended both judges to Court House in Clarence and pair. In Court with Chief Justice until 4. Visited G. Jury luncheon and some. - Dined with judges and met Curran, Molloy, Dames and Montgomery. Home at 11."

File of diaries belonging to Theodora Trench.

From 1917 until 1919 Theodora volunteered as Chauffeuse with the Red Cross's Voluntary Aid Detachment. Throughout the early diaries she writes about her experiences resulting from this volunteer work and the responsibilities she was required to carry out. Examples of such entries include one she wrote on 18 January 1918 she writes 'Evacuation 4.45 am breakfast 4.15. Cleaned engine a little. 1.30 went to Richmond football match & Austin lunchtime.' Another example includes an entry from 12 January 1919 'On duty all day (night duty) inspection 11.30'.
Theodora also uses the diaries to record her her daily life. On 5 February 1921 she records attending a concert, 'Concert Albert Hall (Samson & Delilah)' and on 23 may 1922 she writes about going to the Chelsea Flower show 'S & I went to Chelsea Flower Show. Very hot & [humid] but beautiful flowers...'.

File of diaries belonging to Dora Turnor.

The diaries chart happy experiences with her family and friends. On 23 February 1883 Dora writes about time she spent in the south of France, 'Went to Monte Carlo. Lunched with Murrays. Drove to see palace at Monaco. Sat in garden with [Thoralds], I went to hear concert. Home at 5. Staid (sic) in salon till 10 pm. Mr J sang. Very hot & fine.' On 27 April 1885 she writes, ' Left Mentone at 2.30. Had carraige to ourselves got to Pegli at 9.30 pm pouring, pitch dark & no bus. Went to Grand Hotel. Met Capt. & Mrs Pryse (Pau) at station. Got 5 bunches of roses & 2 presents. Fine, hot.'

The diary also charts her relationship with Benjamin Bloomfield Trench and significant events such as her wedding on 25 July 1889.
'My wedding day. Drove to the church with Edie & Bert, St. Mary's Bolton . Afterwards to Edie's house. Bennie & I left (dark blue & gold silk dress) at 5.30, arrived at Stoke at 8.40 dropped down from [?]. Dull, heavy showers am, fine pm.'

The diary also explores difficult aspects of Dora's life such as her fathers death on 7 March 1886. 'B & I went to church am. Went to Papa's room for a few minutes till 3- again at 5- all was over by 5.15 Papa never spoke or opened his eyes all day...'.

Diaries belonging to Dora Trench (née Turnor), Benjamin Bloomfield Trench and Theodora Trench.
Each writer used their respective diaries to record signifcant life events, feelings and appoinments. They offer a unique insight in to their lives.