Drumsna - People

People

• Admiral Sir Josias Rowley, 1st Baronet R.N.,G.C.B.,G.C.M.G. (1765–1842). Second son of Clotworthy Rowley & Letitia (née Campbell) of Mountcampbell estate, Drumsna. Following a strong family tradition, Josias joined the Royal Navy at an early age and served an illustrious career during the Napolionic wars and was created a baronet after capturing the Indian Ocean islands of Réunion and Mauritius from the French. A forgotten naval hero in many ways, having no family heirs to continue his baronet titles, he retired back to Mountcampbell after the wars and is buried at Annaduff church along with other members of the family including his younger brother Vice Admiral Samuel Rowley R.N.

• The writer Anthony Trollope (24 April 1815 – 6 December 1882), lived in the village for a period during the 1840s, where he wrote The Macdermots of Ballycloran.

After an unhappy childhood, and an unpromising start to his career, Trollope went on to write 47 novels and rise to the top of his profession as a senior civil servant in the Post Office, he also was responsible for the introduction of the pillar box.

It was during his stay in The Ivy Tree Inn (now Taylor's Pub) Drumsna that Trollope was inspired to write his first (and some might claim) best novel; The MacDermots of Ballycloran. Trollope based his story on local characters and set the plot around the melanchony ruins of Ballycloran Castle on the outskirts of Drumsna village, these ruins still stand today.

Anthony Trollope went on to became one of the most successful, prolific and respected English language novelists of the Victorian era. Some of Trollope's best-loved works, known as the Chronicles of Barsetshire revolve around the imaginary county of Barsetshire. He also wrote penetrating novels on political, social, and gender issues and conflicts of his day. Trollope died in London in 1882 and is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.