Lord George Hill: the good, the bad and the sad – A Talk by Roy Greenslade
A fascinating true story of power, land and conflict in 19th-century Ireland
What happened when a landlord tried to “improve” Ireland and “civilise” the Irish?
Lord George Hill was a landlord in 19th-century Ireland who believed he was acting in the best interests of his poor Irish tenants. He learned Irish, invested heavily in his estates, and attempted to introduce reforms across his Donegal lands.
Yet his story is not one of simple success. It became a turning point in a wider struggle between landlord authority, local Irish tenant communities, and the changing political and social realities of Ireland in the 1800s.
Doors: 6.45pm; Starts: 7pm
Tickets: £8
The story behind the reputation
This talk explores Hill’s attempt to “civilise” and modernise his estates, including agricultural reform, cultural change, and strict social controls such as the banning of alcohol distillation.
It examines the tensions that followed between a Protestant Ascendancy landlord and a largely Catholic tenant population of around 3,000 people — and how resistance, supported by local priests and a campaigning journalist, Denis Holland, led to public controversy and rebellion.
The result was the gradual unravelling of Hill’s reputation and a revealing case study in the decline of Irish landlordism.
The talk also touches on Hill’s unexpected connection to novelist Jane Austen, through his marriages into her family.
Based on the book
This talk is based on The Peer, the Priests and the Press (Beyond the Pale Books), in which Roy Greenslade reconstructs the extraordinary story of Lord George Hill and the battle over his legacy.
The book explores how Hill’s reputation was built, challenged, and ultimately dismantled — culminating in official scrutiny in Westminster and lasting historical debate.
What people say about the book
“A stunning, revelatory work of reportage…”
— Máirtin Ó Muilleoir, former Lord Mayor of Belfast
“Roy Greenslade tells the story of Hill with style.”
— Breandán Mac Suibhne, historian
“Greenslade weighs up the good and the bad with verve and wry humour.”
— Irish Times, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne
About Roy Greenslade
Roy Greenslade is a journalist, author, and former Professor of Journalism at City University London.
He was Assistant Editor of the Sunday Times, Editor of the Daily Mirror, and spent 28 years as media commentator for The Guardian. He is the author of five books, including a history of the British press.
He lives between Donegal and Brighton, and his long-standing connection to Ireland informs much of his historical work.
