Mabel Wallace. September 1923 – March 2025.

We were saddened to hear of the death of Mabel Wallace, one of our nearest neighbours at RHSI Bellefield and a great supporter of the ongoing work there.

Mabel was raised in Prospect House near Shinrone and spent her life in the neighbourhood having moved to Ballincor House when she married Hume Wallace in 1945. Another branch of the Wallace family owned Bellefield until 1976 and Mabel often visited the house,
including a very early visit to attend the hunt in 1928, pictured below.

Mabel was a very independent lady, driving herself over to Bellefield last month to the snowdrop weekend. She often came to have coffee with the volunteers on Wednesday mornings and the documentary about her life, ‘100 Years of Change’ was a great conversation piece, giving insight into rural life as told by Mabel. The RHSI presented her with a very special tree (Quercus dentata ‘Karl Ferris Miller’) which she planted herself in the grounds to mark her 100th birthday.

Community was central to Mabel’s life, she was involved in many local activities and will be greatly missed by her many friends in RHSI Bellefield and the wider Shinrone and Birr community. Our thoughts go to Julian, Kathy and Edwina, her god-daughter Joanna and her
extended family.

May she rest in peace.