Leila and Eric on their wedding day.
Neligan of Holywell Cottage
Leila Fitzgerald born 8 Jan 1889 in Bolarum, India was the daughter of Col Sir Charles
Fitzgerald of Dunmore Eastbourne and his second wife Lady Alice Fitzgerald of Carton
House. She was the granddaughter Sir Charles Fitzgerald, 4th Duke of Leinster. Her
sister Mabel was rumoured to be the secret wife of Prince Albert of Albert of Edinburgh
who died in 1899 either from a tumour/suicide or consumption. Leila married
Lieutenant Eric Claude Neligan of the HMS Triton on 21 Jul 1909 at All Saints,
Eastbourne. Eric was the son of the late Rev John West Neligan and nephew of Moore
Richard Neligan, Anglican Bishop of Auckland. He served with the Royal Canadian Navy
in WW1. He was granted the rank of Commander on the date of the Armistice and was
made an OBE. He served in Gibraltar for two years after the war. Leila travelled to Peru
and Barbados and was living at Holywell in 1933. She was an Airedale Terrier owner and
entered dog competitions.
Eric aged 47 died by his own hand at a Liverpool hotel late of Roseleague Cottage,
Letterfract, Connemara in 1934. A verdict of " Suicide whilst of unsound mind " was
returned at the inquest on the body of Mr Eric Claude Neligan, a retired naval commander,
who was found dead in bed at a hotel. The coroner stated that death was due to an
overdose of medinal (a barbiturate used as a sleeping aid).
In 1936 Lelia booked a round trip to the Far East with the Blue Funnel Steamer ‘Hector’,
giving her postal address as the RAC in Dawson Street. At her table onboard was
John Robert Birch, the chief engineer of the ship. He was a widower with two grown up
sons. They became friends and announced their engaged on the return journey. They
married on 4 May 1937 at Oughterard, Co Galway. John died on 13 April 1956 at
Bloomfield Hospital, Donnybrook, late of Woodeske Cottage, Kilpedder and was buried at
Delgany churchyard. Leila is buried with him.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - October 2023
Back to Holywell Cottage page
Leila Fitzgerald born 8 Jan 1889 in Bolarum, India was the daughter of Col Sir Charles
Fitzgerald of Dunmore Eastbourne and his second wife Lady Alice Fitzgerald of Carton
House. She was the granddaughter Sir Charles Fitzgerald, 4th Duke of Leinster. Her
sister Mabel was rumoured to be the secret wife of Prince Albert of Albert of Edinburgh
who died in 1899 either from a tumour/suicide or consumption. Leila married
Lieutenant Eric Claude Neligan of the HMS Triton on 21 Jul 1909 at All Saints,
Eastbourne. Eric was the son of the late Rev John West Neligan and nephew of Moore
Richard Neligan, Anglican Bishop of Auckland. He served with the Royal Canadian Navy
in WW1. He was granted the rank of Commander on the date of the Armistice and was
made an OBE. He served in Gibraltar for two years after the war. Leila travelled to Peru
and Barbados and was living at Holywell in 1933. She was an Airedale Terrier owner and
entered dog competitions.
Eric aged 47 died by his own hand at a Liverpool hotel late of Roseleague Cottage,
Letterfract, Connemara in 1934. A verdict of " Suicide whilst of unsound mind " was
returned at the inquest on the body of Mr Eric Claude Neligan, a retired naval commander,
who was found dead in bed at a hotel. The coroner stated that death was due to an
overdose of medinal (a barbiturate used as a sleeping aid).
In 1936 Lelia booked a round trip to the Far East with the Blue Funnel Steamer ‘Hector’,
giving her postal address as the RAC in Dawson Street. At her table onboard was
John Robert Birch, the chief engineer of the ship. He was a widower with two grown up
sons. They became friends and announced their engaged on the return journey. They
married on 4 May 1937 at Oughterard, Co Galway. John died on 13 April 1956 at
Bloomfield Hospital, Donnybrook, late of Woodeske Cottage, Kilpedder and was buried at
Delgany churchyard. Leila is buried with him.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - October 2023
Back to Holywell Cottage page