The new Netflix series House of Guinness shines a light on one of Ireland’s most famous families and their strong ties to Bantry House.

The real Bantry House doesn’t feature as a backdrop in the eight-part series. But the history books reveal a connection between Ireland’s brewing dynasty and Olivia Charlotte Hedges-White, known as Lady Olivia and daughter of the third Earl of Bantry, William Hedges-White. In February 1871, Olivia and Arthur Guinness married in Bantry and a new chapter in the Guinness saga began.

Lady Olivia (played by Danielle Galligan) is a key player in the Netflix series, which dives into the turbulent 19th-century world of wealth and intrigue inside the Guinness empire.

In real life, there are still relatives following in Lady Olivia’s family footsteps today.

Not long ago, Julie Shelswell-White, Bantry House manager, posted a photo from 1875 on social media.

It shows Olivia’s parents William and Jane, the third Earl and Countess of Bantry, sisters Elizabeth and Ina, brother William (later the fourth Earl of Bantry), and Arthur Guinness on the steps leading from the house into the garden.

Julie, who guides the visitor tours at Bantry House, said she felt a strong connection to her heritage and was excited to see her great-great aunt portrayed in the series.

‘It’s part of my family history and I live and breathe our heritage every day. The family photo showing Arthur and Olive stands on a table in the hall. It’s one of the first things people will see on their visit.

‘The creators of the show didn’t check any historical facts with us. It’s entertaining to watch and I look forward to seeing more of it. We have a very extensive archive that includes a family tree, diaries and lots of resources.’

Julie added: ‘I was a little bit shocked when I saw Lady Olivia’s first appearance in the show but it’s done for dramatic effect.’

Historical plot twist

Nowadays they could be described as the ultimate 19th century power couple: when Olivia White married Arthur Guinness, it wasn’t just a union of two people—it was a merging of two powerful Irish legacies, the Hedges White’s being one of the most influential land-owning aristocratic families in Ireland at the time.

Five years into their marriage, Arthur Guinness sold his half-share of the brewery business to his brother Edward Cecil Guinness for £600,000 to focus on his estates and a political career as Conservative MP for Dublin, frequently traveling to Westminster.

The couple did not have any children–a historical fact the creators of House of Guinness took to mean that Arthur was gay.

In the series, the relationship between Arthur (played by Anthony Boyle) and Lady Olivia is portrayed as a ‘lavender marriage’, with both keeping separate romantic lives.

According to history though, by 1880 Olivia and Arthur, now Lord and Lady Ardilaun, were the richest pair in Ireland, known for their lavish parties and for their generosity.

Olivia and Arthur Guinness championed Bantry House, supporting its upkeep until the intended heir, Edward Egerton Leigh-White, was old enough to take on responsibility of the house.

Their philanthropy extended beyond its walls, for example with the donation of St. Stephen’s Green as a public park to the city of Dublin.

The couple became pillars of Irish society, splitting their time between Bantry’s grandeur and estates like St. Anne’s and Ashford Castle.

Lasting legacy

In the late 19th century, Bantry was a busy market town and its beautiful Bay was of significant strategic importance in West Cork militia history.

Bantry House was originally built around 1710 as a stately home on the shores of Bantry Bay.

In 1765, Richard White purchased it from the Hutchinson family and it then became the seat of the White family, who later became the Earls of Bantry.

Over time the house expanded into a Baroque-style mansion with grand interiors and terraced gardens that blossomed as centuries of Irish history went on.

Bantry House is the centerpiece of a large estate that once covered about 70,000 acres.

Throughout the decades, it served as a militia headquarters during the failed 1796 French invasion and housed a hospital for casualties wounded during the Irish Civil War.

Unlike many other estates, Bantry House was never attacked or burned by Republican forces. It was occupied by the Irish Army during World War Two and has been open to the public since 1946.

Olivia Charlotte Guinness, aka Lady Ardilaun, was born in Macroom Castle and left Bantry House after her husband Arthur’s death in 1915 to return to her birthplace. A portrait of her still hangs in a golden frame on the walls of Bantry House.

House of Guinness is now available to stream on Netflix, produced by Cathal Bannon and directed by Tom Shankland.

Public tours are available at Bantry House, at 2pm daily.