A Saving Grace

John Byrne of Lea Heritage Group tells us about Rathdaire Church and a fascinating couple.

The Church of the Ascension, Rathdaire, Co. Laois, is the resting place of the ashes of Cornelia Adair. She had the church built between 1887 – 1890 in memory of her husband, John George Adair, and his father, George. It may be more fitting to see it now as a memorial to her. Cornelia was John George’s saving grace since, before their marriage in 1869, he was regarded with disdain as a despot having evicted over 200 tenants from his land in Derryveagh, Co. Donegal in 1861. Through her relationship with the locals, she was noted for her care and generosity, feelings of animosity were transcended. The story of Rathdaire , both House and Church, and indeed, Glenveagh as well, is as much the story of Cornelia as it is of John George Adair.