Celbridge Abbey

It is, however, more famous as the childhood (1688–1707) and later adult (1714–23) home of his daughter, Esther Vanhomrigh, (1688–1723), who was Dean Swift's 'Vanessa'.

[2] Meanwhile Thomas Marlay's daughter Mary was married to James Grattan, a member of the Irish House of Commons.

James' son, Henry Grattan (1746–1821), a renowned 18th Irish patriot politician, lived with his uncle Colonel Thomas Marlay at Celbridge Abbey between 1777 and 1780.

He afterwards wrote: "Along the banks of that river, amid the groves and bowers of Swift and Vanessa, I grew convinced that I was right.

"[3] An occupant in the late 19th century was Colonel Gerald Dease, a Catholic nobleman who entertained the Empress of Austria and later Prince Henry of Prussia during their visits to Ireland.