Jane Austen – the Donegal connection

Sir, – Jane Austen may never have known "the joys of the great Irish marriage proposal", as Frank McNally writes (An Irishman's Diary, July 15th), but two of her nieces did – and from the same man. Lord George Hill of Gweedore married first Cassandra, daughter of Jane's brother Edward, and, following her death in childbirth, her sister, Louisa.

True to the proposal “to be buried with my people”, all three were interred in the soil of Donegal. – Yours, etc,

Dr JOHN DOHERTY,

Cnoc an Stollaire,

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Gaoth Dobhair,

Co Dhún na nGall.