TG4's Scéalta Grá na hÉireann to document 18th century queer relationships

The second episode of TG4’s- Scéalta Grá na hÉireann- Ireland’s Greatest Love Stories will discuss the relationship between Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, two courageous women who defied societal norms.

The two women shared a home- and bed- for 50 years in Wales.

Both were members of wealthy families from the Irish aristocracy (Eleanor came from the Butlers of Kilkenny Castle) and both were determined not to be married off- as was the norm.

While it remains unknown whether they were lesbians or not, there is no denying that they were a source of inspiration to women who were.

A historical portrait of the two women

They fascinated lesbians of that era, inspiring works by poet Anna Seward, who openly admitted to being envious of their lifestyle.

Diarist Anne Listen, often described as the first ‘modern lesbian’, knew Ponsonby personally, and wrote that she thought it was unlikely that the Ladies of Llangollen’s relationship was platonic.

Regardless, the two women loved each other and risked everything to live together, their life demonstrating that two women could build a stable and happy home.

“It is where the Ladies of Llangollen created a sort of romantic retreat in which they could be accepted as oddities and eccentrics within their society while at the same time transgressing many of the rules; the rules of femininity and the rules of sexuality,” said historian Mary McAuliffe on the couple.

This episode of Scéalta Grá na hÉireann- Ireland’s Greatest Love Stories airs on TG4 on Wednesday 13 September at 8:30pm. It is also available via the TG4.