Queen Victoria's Visit, 1861.

he Herbert Family of Muckross enjoyed a high social standing, which reached its climax in 1861, with the visit of Queen Victoria to Killarney. Although the Queen had visited Ireland on two previous occasions, in 1849 and 1853, this was the first time that Kerry was included in her itinerary.

The Queen was accompanied by Albert, the Prince Consort, the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, P rincess Alice and Princess Helena. The Royal party stayed the night of Monday, August 26th, at Killarney House, home of the Earl of Kenmare. They then travelled on to Muckross, where they spent the following two nights. The Queen's visit to Killarney House was very much a state occasion. However, her stay at Muckross was a much more private affair. The local press reported that Her Majesty 'had declared her intention of being "very quiet" while at Muckross.' (The Kerry Evening Post, Wed. August 28th, 1861).

At 6.30 pm on the evening of Monday 26th, the Royal train arrived in Killarney from Dublin. The Royal party were then escorted to Killarney House, where a large dinner was held that evening. The next day the Queen embarked at Ross Castle for a day on the Lakes. Lunch was served at Glena Cottage. In the evening the party returned to Ross Quay, from where they were escorted back to Killarney House.

 

At about 6.30pm that same evening, Tuesday 27th, the Queen and her family set out for Muckross. They were accompanied by The Right Hon. Henry Arthur Herbert, Viscount Castlerosse (of the Kenmare family) and a troop of the Royal Dragoons, The Times described how Mr and Mrs Herbert received the Queen on the lawn at the door of Muckross House. A host of other ladies and gentlemen were also present and greeted the Queen enthusiastically. (The Times, Fri. August 30th, 1861).

Elaborate preparations had been carried out at Muckross for the Royal visit. Tapestries, mirrors, Persian carpets, silverware, musical instruments, linen, china and servants uniforms, are all said to have been specially commissioned for the occasion. The curtains, which still hang in the Dining Room of Muckross House, were specially woven, probably in Paris, for the occasion.

The Queen's apartments at Muckross were described in the local press as follows:
'An entire section of the mansion has been set apart for the royal family, so that all their apartments communicate without the necessity of passing into the corridors to be used by other occupants of the house. The Queen will live here in privacy, and from the windows of her rooms she can walk into delightful grounds, which will be kept private during her stay at Muckross. In her sitting room - which, like all the others, is a splendid apartment furnished richly and tastefully, there is a series of views of the Lakes of Killarney, painted by Mrs Herbert. They are works of the highest artistic excellence.'
(The Kerry Evening Post, Wed. August 28th, 1861)

The following day the Queen, accompanied in her carriage by Mrs Herbert, drove around the Muckross Demesne, visiting Dinis Island, Mangerton and Torc waterfall. Following lunch at Muckross House, the party then embarked at Muckross boathouse for Tomies to view a stag hunt upon the Lake. (The Kerry Evening Post, Sat. August 31st, 1861).

On Thursday 29th August, the morning of her departure, Queen Victoria visited Muckross Abbey, a 15th century Franciscan friary within the Muckross demesne. Eleanor, the eldest Herbert daughter described this visit as having been, 'very quiet, hardly any of the suite with us, they were all enchanted and wandered over it gathering ferns and leaves as recollections. She is to have ivy from the Abbey and ferns from various places sent to Osborne as recollections of this place.'

Before departing from Muckross, the Queen sent for Mrs Mary Herbert and presented her with a bracelet of gold, pearls and diamonds. Her daughters, Eleanor and Blanche, also each received a piece of jewellery. The Royal Collection at Windsor Castle contains three water-colours by Mary Herbert. Presumably Mary presented these to the Queen on her departure.

At noon the Royal party left Muckross House for Killarney Railway station. There they boarded their train for Dublin, which they reached in just a little over five hours. Mr Miller, Chief engineer of the Grea t Southern and Western Railway drove the train both to and from Killarney. (The Kerry Evening Post, Sat. August 31st 1861). The unstable financial situation of the Herberts in the late 19th century may have stemmed from the outlay involved in preparations for this Royal visit.