Sheelagh Harbison

Harbison was born Sheelagh Helen MacSherry on 2 September 1912 in Letterkenny, County Donegal, to bank manager Frederick William MacSherry and his wife Helen MacDermott. She was the third child in a family of four. Her younger brother Stephen was severely disabled. Harbison spent a lot of time with her mother's sister Aunt Gertie as her brother's care took all his mother's attention. Gertrude married Dr John Macnamara and moved to Corofin, County Clare in 1922 and took Harbison with them. Macnamara gave Harbison a love of books and learning through his library.[1][2][3]

Harbison was sent to boarding school at the Convent of Notre Dame school in Birkdale, Lancashire, when she was twelve. Holidays at that time were with her father's brother Henry MacSherry in Eastbourne where she learned to play tennis. Harbison worked in an office after finishing a secretarial course. When she married Kildare's, and later Dublin's, medical officer Dr James Austin Harbison, they settled in Sutton, Dublin. They had two children, sons – John and Peter. In 1967 Harbison inherited Inchiquin House from her aunt in Corofin,[4] but the following year her husband died. Harbison went to college as a mature student, undertaking a degree at Trinity College Dublin. Due to her lack of Latin, she initially took on a pass degree but with her ability, the university offered her a history and political science BA moderatorship but she was required to learn Latin. Harbison studied with Professor Annette Jocelyn Otway-Ruthven. She wrote her dissertation on Geoffrey de Geneville under the supervision of Professor James Lydon.[2][5][3]

Harbison got her degree in 1972 and went on to complete a masters which was written on William of Windsor in Ireland, 1369–76 and graduated in 1977. Later she worked as a research assistant for William Edward Vaughan as she worked on a doctorate. Harbison remained in Trinity, known as Mrs H, tutoring in medieval history and was elected to Trinity Common Room as an honorary member. While in Trinity, Harbison also wrote a number of articles on Irish history including about Limerick and Rindoon castle as well as on Irish swords. Other topics were based around her research on William of Windsor. Harbison died 14 October 2012 in Dublin.[1][2][6][7][3]