Lady Kathleen Lakin

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Aug 21 2016, 9:00:29 UTC

Born 25 March 1892

Kathleen was the third child of Lord and Lady Maurice Fitzgerald. She grew up at Johnstown Castle with her parents, elder sister Geraldine and older brother Gerald. When she was 4 years old her younger sister Marjorie was born. Sadly Marjorie died when she was just 2 years old in 1899. Two years later their father, Lord Maurice, died at the age of 49.

Kathleen was a keen and skilled horsewoman who competed in many events locally and nationally including at the Dublin Horse Show. Always riding sidesaddle, she won numerous trophies.

In 1914 she married Captain (later Major) Michael Lawrence Lakin, son of Sir Michael and Alice Lakin of Warwickshire, England. They married in a lavish ceremony at Rathaspeck Church on 18 July and amongst the many wedding gifts they received was a motor car from the groom’s parents. They set up home at Horetown House in Foulksmills, Co Wexford and went on to have two sons – Gerald Michael born in 1916 and Maurice Victor born in 1919.

Both Kathleen and her husband were keen members of the Wexford Hunt. Michael was Master of the Hunt for many years with Kathleen regularly taking on the role when her husband was away on military service. Whilst out hunting in February 1930 tragedy struck when Kathleen was thrown from her horse. She suffered severe injuries and despite the best efforts of medical professionals she died 2 days later. She was 37 years old.

In 1932 a new maternity wing was opened at Wexford General Hospital in Kathleen’s memory. Known as the Kathleen Lakin Memorial Ward, it was funded entirely by followers of the Wexford Hunt.