Ten Interesting Things about Helen Allingham and her Ballyshannon Links on the Centenary of her Death 28th September 2026

We remember 10 local things of interest about Helen Allingham, a talented artist and wife of William Allingham the Ballyshannon poet. She died 100 years ago on the 28th September 2026. Helen is remembered in the Abbey Arts Centre and in the annual Allingham Arts Festival along with her husband. 

• Helen Allingham (nee Paterson) married Ballyshannon poet William Allingham on 22^nd August 1874 in London. He was aged 50 and Helen was 25.

• Helen was a renowned English born watercolour painter and illustrator who illustrated Thomas Hardy’s famous novel “Far from the Madding Crowd.”

• The Allinghams had 3 children Gerard, Eva and Henry.

Helen Allingham's painting of two of her children

• On his deathbed in 1889 William spoke  a memorable farewell to his wife  :

“And so, to where I wait, come gently on”

 William was buried in his native Ballyshannon at St. Anne’s Church. Helen Allingham's painting of William Allingham's death mask can be viewed at the Allingham Concert In November 2026.

• In 1891 two years after his death Helen brought her children to visit their father’s grave in Ballyshannon and to meet their relations.

• On her visit to Ballyshannon, Helen painted 13 local scenes including Catsby, The Purt, Cottages near Ballyshannon and the Fairy Bridges in Bundoran.

The Fairy Bridges by Helen Allingham

• To the best of my knowledge none of her local paintings are in Ballyshannon. Helen’s paintings are valuable today. Maud Allingham, a cousin of her husband’s, was a prolific painter of local scenes.

Maud Allingham's painting of the town which is on the cover of  my  book "Ballyshannon Genealogy and History"

• Helen Allingham kept alive her husband’s poetry and his memory, by ensuring that all his works were published after his death, including his diary. She died on 28th September 1926

• In the Abbey Centre in Ballyshannon today there is a Helen Allingham Gallery and across the road her husband is remembered in Allingham Park.

•    Every November there is an annual Allingham Arts Festival in memory of the couple.

William Allingham 1824-1889 Helen's painting of her husband.