Following her parents' separation her mother took in lodgers while Christine attended Oxford Wells High School.

They divided their time between Dublin and Pakenham Hall, now Tullynally Castle, in Castlepollard, County Westmeath.

In 1930, Christine Longford and her husband bought shares in The Dublin Gate Theatre Company.

In addition to designing costumes and managing productions Christine wrote plays including Lord Edward and Patrick Sarsfield.

She figures extensively in two books: No Profit but the Name: the Longfords and the Gate Theatre[5] and The Boys: a double biography.