By Hereditary Virtues: a History of Lough Rynn

Hardback, 2020 edition.

‘Lord Leitrim was not a bad man – if he got his own way’  


So one contemporary writer described William Sydney Clements, the 3rd Earl of Leitrim. The Earl lives in local memory as a notorious despot who represented the worst excesses of landlordism in Ireland during the 19th century. 

This website supports the biography and has some additional information.  Some articles that draw on the book are reproduced here >>>


About the book

Drawing on various primary and secondary sources, By Hereditary Virtues describes how the Lough Rynn estate emerged from early times up to the end of the 19th century. It focuses largely on the 3rd Earl of Leitrim including, his management of the Lough Rynn estate, his role during and after the famine and his eventual demise. 

In doing so, the book provides evidence to support the long-held characterisation of Lord Leitrim as a tyrannical landlord. It also explores evidence and perspective that provide new context and perspective. Here was a man who started with a strong determination to improve the land and the lives of those who lived on it, but who ultimately destroyed and was destroyed because of his arrogance and hubris.  The story, however, is not just about one man, but rather about all the people who lived and died during an important period in Irish history. 

The 2020 edition includes includes additional research on the famine and post-famine era and a new chapter on Lord Leitrim's relationships with the women in his life.

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Reviews of By Hereditary Virtues

A marvellous read providing a wonderful insight into landlordism in 19th century Ireland. A beautifully-presented, well-researched scholarly work’. 
Brendan Kennelly

‘This is a book which is marked by lucidity, elegant prose, judiciousness and unsentimentality as well as sharp psychological and social observation. We need this kind of intelligent, analytical and on occasion sceptical history that the author has given us both to understand that we can't re-experience the past, and to understand and preserve, for instance, what real and concrete heritage we have. This is the classic local history, a scholarly mosaic of political, social and cultural life which has a focus in a part of North West Ireland during the zenith years of landlordism. The author is to be commended highly for producing this rigorous and thoroughly researched study; no one has waded through more collections of papers and records than Fiona Slevin. It is a must for all lovers of local history’. 
Professor Michael L. O'Rourke, Trinity College Dublin

‘By Hereditary Virtues is a most welcome book that deals with the most famous Big House in Leitrim and also with its most famous, or infamous, character, William Sydney Clements, Lord Leitrim himself. The book gives a very readable account of the family who displaced the old native chieftains, the MacRanalls. The Clements had their ‘virtues’ but the lasting memory is their ‘vices’ and all is revealed in this excellent book’. 
Seán Ó’Suilleabháin, Leabharlann Chontae Liatroma

‘Another fascinating book of West of Ireland history is Fiona Slevin’s By Hereditary Virtues: A History of Lough Rynn. The Lough Rynn estate is just outside Mohill, Co. Leitrim and the landlord there from 1839 to 1870 was the notorious Lord Leitrim. This book tells the full story for the first time and is a must for anyone interested in the social history of 19th Century Ireland’. 
Desi Kenny, Kenny's Bookshop (www.kennys.ie)

‘The book describes the history of the Lough Rynn estate from early times to the present and focuses largely on Lord Leitrim and the period of The Great Famine. . . With Lough Rynn Castle now open as a luxury hotel, the book is a timely recounting of just how much Mohill and Ireland has changed over the last 150 years and will make compelling reading for anyone with an interest in history and the local area’.
Leitrim Observer, 29 September 2006

Readers' reviews

AlanG | April 2021


A real treasure

A real treasure, that I'll come back to time and again. Fiona has that rare gift of balancing diligent research with engaging story telling. The wonder of this book is that the reader gets lost in the drama of the day, and picks up a rich historical understanding as a by-product. 

Louise S | November 2020


An excellent read

Being from the locality I thoroughly enjoyed reading and learning about the history of Lough Rynn and the Mohill area, much of which I was not fully aware of. Lough Rynn has always been a special place to visit. By hereditary virtues allows the reader to visit Lough Rynn in way that lends a greater appreciation for the history of the place and of the lives of the people of the area. 

Brian Hall | October 2020


A MOST rewarding read

A MOST rewarding read; insightful and erudite. Research has been developed into remarkable prose and first-class writing. This is a book that is not just of local interest, but is truly of national relevance.

Michelle | September 2020


Excellent book

Was so delighted to receive this book. It is an excellent book & so much history about Lough Rynn very interesting read especially when you're from the area. 

belindaferran | September 2020


Informative and well presented. A wonderful read.

I purchased 'By hereditary virtues a history of Lough Rynn' to give me further insight into life on the Lough Rynn estate. I discovered that my 2nd Great Grandfather and his family lived and worked in the Farnaught/Mohill area. Our family burial plot is located in St Mary's Churchyard Farnaught. Having stayed in the Lough Rynn Hotel on a couple of occasions to research ancestry, I found Ms Slevin's writing informative and well presented. A wonderful read.

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