THE COUNTESS MARKIEWICZ.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 108, 8 May 1916, Page 6

THE COUNTESS MARKIEWICZ.

AUCKLANDER’S IMPRESSIONS

Some interesting details of the character of the Countess Markiewicz were given to a “Star” reporter this morning by an Auckland gentleman who met and conversed with her during a recent visit to the County of Sligo. This Irish woman’s name has figured prominently in the cables of recent date, she being the leader of the Irish rebels at the Royal College of Surgeons at St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin.

The Countess is the eldest daughter of the late Sir Henry ,Wm Gore-Booth, Bart., of County Sligo. She is a handsome woman, of regal bearing, and is known over the country as being one of the most beautiful Irish women of her day. Featherbrained and daring, she had a passionate love of horses, and, riding astride, she would leap fences that her male escorts would be inclined to avoid. Her beautiful eyes and flaxen hair made her a prominent figure at the Dublin Court functions. Before she married ,she was the Hon. Lady Gore-Booth, and as such was prominent in the suffrage movement. She seemed to take a delight in breaking away from the demands of convention, and judged a cause or opinion by the excitement it afforded her. In spite of her almost masculine characteristics she loved Society, and was happy in a drawingroom, where her brilliance of conversation, and musical gifts, made her a prominent and much sought after personality. Her love of horses led her to endless escapades, and there were few hunt meetings that were not marked with her presence. The mother of the countess was a niece of the ninth Earl of Scarborough—father of the present earl. It was from her mother that the daughter inherited her beauty and love of art. The extreme love for the unusual which marked her behaviour during her girlhood did not cease when some years ago she married the foreigner, Count Markiewicz. She continued to show an active interest in the cause so contrary to the wishes of her old Royalist father, and was prominent as a woman leader. The Countess’ father, Sir Henry William Gore-B’ooth, possessed none of the fiery nature which marked the early days of his daughter, but was a quiet, unassuming man —a regular old T^pry —who, if he were alive, would probably think his daughter’s present position was the result of a brain disorder. His estate, Lisadale, was one of the most beautiful in the west of Ireland, and he had what was judged to be the best pack of foxhounds that were followed during his hunting days. His keen love of his hounds influenced him to make it a condition in his will, that the pack he maintained after his death. The present occupier of the property is Sir Jocelyn Booth, a son of the late baronet.