This book (published 17 Sept. 2015) examines the lives of elite women in Ascendancy Ireland by discussing their marriages, family lives and social, political and philanthropic activities. It is based upon extensive original research into many of the country’s leading families at this time and considerably advances the current historiography on Ireland’s female elite. It also contextualises its subjects’ experiences by placing them alongside those of English and Scottish women. Copies may be purchased online from the website of the publisher, Boydell and Brewer, as well as other major booksellers including Amazon. Please see http://www.boydellandbrewer.com/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=14948

Rachel completed her Ph.D. in history at Queen’s University Belfast in 2013. She is also the author of ‘The Vicereines of Ireland and the Transformation of the Dublin Court, c. 1703-1737’ published by The Court Historian journal in 2014.