THE 20th CENTURY

The first occupant of the house after The Earl's death was WJ Kelly and his family who were gentlemen outfitters on Clanbassil Street in Dublin. Because of his profession, WJ was nicknamed WJ “Trousers” Kelly.

In 1952, the house was sold to an American gentleman called William Bullitt, who led an extremely colourful life and was heavily involved in International political affairs.

William Christian Bullitt began his career in government service during the First World War. He was the first U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union and was afterwards the ambassador to France, where he was popularly known as the “Champagne Ambassador”. Following his tenure in France, he became the ambassador at large in the Middle East, and subsequently the special assistant to the Secretary of the Navy.

An avid political commentator, William Bullitt also co-authored with Sigmund Freud a book studying the psychology of Woodrow Wilson. William Christian Bullitt died in 1967 and his daughter, Ann, remained in the house after his death, where she converted the grounds of the estate into a very successful stud farm.