THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Funeral of the late Dowager Lady Lurgan

The town of Lurgan paid a sad farewell to the late Dowager Lady Lurgan who had died at her home in Torquay the previous Sunday at the advanced age of 75, reported the News Letter.

Lady Lurgan, added the paper, had “spent a life of usefulness in her high sphere”. It continued: “Her demise is deeply regretted by a large circle of sorrowing friends and relations throughout the United Kingdom”.

To the poor she had been “over kind”, remarked the paper’s correspondent and by her goodness of heart she had endeared herself to all who had known her.

Most notable of her generosity was the work that she had done to help alleviate the suffering in the local area during “the great scourge of 1847”.

The News Letter noted that Lady Lurgan did everything “possible for the benefit of the people . . . and their Christian benevolence in those dark days will ever stand out as a bright picture amid the historic records of the noble family”.

Lady Lurgan’s coffin was carried into Christ Church by six tenantry and the service was conducted by the Reverend Theophilus Campbell and the Reverend Moore.

Aftewards her remains were placed in the family vault which, noted the News Letter, “occupies a very prominent position in the graveyard, being erected on the site the old church”.

It was also noted that Lord Lurgan had been unable to attend the funeral of his mother owing to illness and the cause of his Lordship’s absence was the subject of very general regret.