As late as the 1860s, Irish landlords were still the wealthy élite of the country. During the relative affluence of the post-Famine years, they continued to spend lavishly on the upkeep of their estates.

However, for a variety of reasons, by the late nineteenth century, landlords had begun to find their disposable income greatly diminished. With the advent of the Land League they faced increasing pressure to overturn the old ways of land management. social life was thrown into disarray, and the fabric

The First World War proved an important watershed, and had a huge psychological effect. Big-house social life was thrown into disarray, and the fabric of a way of life began to disintegrate.

The revolutionary years 1919-23 proved to be a further catalyst in the decline of the big house, and the foundation of the Irish Free State finally spelt the end for landlordism in Ireland.

The Decline of the Big House in Ireland is unique in its examination of the reasons for the economic, social and political demise of the Irish landlord class. Terence Dooley's fascinating investigation provides an insight into the lives, attitudes and outlooks of the landed class, and examines the motivation behind the financial, social and political decisions that an ever-changing world forced them to make.

While most of their class were left behind, whether through luck or astute management, some of the original owners succeeded in holding onto their homes. But by the middle of the twentieth century the great days of the big house were truly at an end.