Trousseau 1897

Some of the townsfolk saw the young, securely employed men at the barracks as socially desirable marriage partners for local women.

Many English men married Irish women and some soldiers even settled here after their retirement.

This dress was bought for Luielia's trousseau, most likely by her husband, 56-year-old Lt Colonel George Smith, while they were on honeymoon in Australia.

They lived in Piperstown, Co Louth, and had four children.