Lady Irene Congreve died on 23 January 1962, leaving her estate to her only child, Ambrose. Daughter of the 8th Earl of Bessborough, she was born Helena Blanche Irene Ponsonby in London in 1878 and married Major John Congreve in Westminster in 1904.

The couple lived in Waterford where John, who died in 1957, was appointed County High Sheriff. Their son, future CBE Ambrose Christian, arrived in 1907 and would live till age 104, transforming the estate into the one of the great gardens of the world after his parents’ passing. Indeed, he hired Herman Dool, a Dutch horticulturist, as head gardener within months of his mother’s death.

Right up until her death, Irene had been a willing fundraiser for local causes, not least the Kilmeaden, Killotteran and Dunhill District Nursing Association, of which she was treasurer. She was also president of the Ladies Lifeboat Guild in Waterford.

Heavily into amateur dramatics in her younger years, Irene was also known for her beautiful playing of hymns such as ‘Abide With Me’ on the organ in Kilmeaden Church of Ireland.