Longford takes over The Capital: Dublin events celebrate 225 Years of Maria Edgeworth’s ‘Belinda’

Members of the Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre in Edgeworthstown, County Longford, were joined by literary enthusiasts, scholars and members of the public in Dublin to celebrate the 225th anniversary of the publication of Maria Edgeworth’s pioneering novel Belinda on Thursday, March 26.

The celebrations began at Dubray Books on Grafton Street, where guests gathered for a special event marking the continuing legacy of one of Ireland’s most influential writers. 

Maria Edgeworth, born in 1768, is widely recognised as a pioneering figure in the development of the modern novel. Her works, particularly Belinda and The Absentee, helped shape literary realism and influenced later writers such as Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott, among many others.

Matt Farrell, representing the Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre, welcomed guests to the relaunch celebration of the novel. 

Quoting a Chinese proverb, he remarked: “Those who drink from the well should not forget those who sank the well,” noting that Maria Edgeworth was a writer who blazed an important literary trail.

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Cllr Danny Byrne, speaking on behalf of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, welcomed those attending the event and extended a particular greeting to Cllr Seamus Butler and Senator Paraic Brady, who were present for the celebration. 

He emphasised the important role played by the Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre in preserving and promoting Ireland’s literary and cultural heritage, and wished the organisation continued success in its future endeavours.

During the event, Matt Farrell also acknowledged the support of Cllr Butler in sponsoring the acquisition of a rare first edition of Belinda. The historic volume was placed on display at Dubray Books for the occasion and will now become part of the permanent museum exhibition at the Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre in Edgeworthstown.

Guests were also treated to dramatic readings from the novel, performed by amateur actors. Elizabeth Fitzsimons served as narrator, Dr Melissa Shiels performed the role of Lady Delacour, Sadhbh O’Reilly portrayed Belinda, and Setanta Flood appeared as the charismatic Clarence Hervey.

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Following the readings, members of the group brought a touch of Regency elegance to the city centre with a costumed promenade along Grafton Street, through St Stephen’s Green and towards Trinity College Dublin. 

The colourful procession drew considerable interest from passers-by, many of whom stopped to photograph the participants in their Regency attire, giving Dublin’s streets a moment of “Bridgerton-style” theatricality.

The celebrations concluded later in the afternoon at the Trinity Long Room Hub Arts & Humanities Research Institute, where Professor Jim Chandler of the University of Chicago delivered a public lecture to a large audience. His talk explored themes of character and literary innovation in Edgeworth’s Belinda, highlighting the enduring importance of the novel more than two centuries after its publication.

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The day’s events underscored the lasting significance of Maria Edgeworth’s contribution to literature and the continuing work of the Maria Edgeworth Centre in celebrating Ireland’s rich literary heritage.