The next Julian Walton Autumn Lecture will be with William Fraher:

“Mary Anne Anthony was from Tallow Co. Waterford. Her father Michael was a merchant and property owner. When her father died the estate was handled by her uncle in trust for her and her sisters. She claimed he was not acting in her best interests and took a court case. She went on to learn about the law and conducted her own defence, becoming known in the press and to the public as the ‘Irish Lady Lawyer’. Her court appearances became notorious and were gleefully reported in the British and Irish press. She employed Edward Carson to act for her in one of her first court cases. He later acknowledged he learned a lot form the experience. She spent the rest of her life in and out of court suing Parish Priests, justices of the Peace etc. However, she fell on hard times and eventually had a tragic end.” 

Did her role as a female lawyer encourage other Irish women to enter the profession or delay the employment of women in the role? Come and find out the answer to this and other aspects of the fascinating life of Miss Anthony, Ireland’s first ‘Lady Lawyer’.  

William Fraher is an independent historian, artist, and current curator at Waterford County Museum, Dungarvan. He holds an MA in Museum Studies from UCC. He has published and spoken on the history and architectural heritage of Co. Waterford over many decades.   

Join this History Lecture for the Autumn Series II 2025 by William, followed by a questions and answers session, on Monday 10th November 2025, which will take place in Block B, Dunhill Ecopark, Ballyphillip, Dunhill, Co. Waterford. X91 FVF9. You can join us at 10:45am for refreshments with the lecture commencing at 11:00am. The admission fee is €5.   

We look forward to seeing you then.