Rosa Mulholland, Lady Gilbert (1841 – 21 April 1921) was an Irish novelist, poet and playwright.
Life
She was born in Belfast, the daughter of Dr. Joseph Stevenson Mulholland of Newry. Originally, Mulholland wished to become a painter, but turned to literary pursuits in her early life. Beginning her literary career at a very young age, Mulholland attempted to publish her first book at age 15. She submitted several comical illustrations to the literary journal Punch, but they were ultimately rejected. She received much help and encouragement from Charles Dickens, who highly valued her work and persuaded her to continue writing.
Having spent some years in a remote mountainous region in the west of Ireland, Mulholland seemingly became intrigued by the scenery and company, inspirations which greatly contributed towards the development of her literary longings and talents.
Dependent on the professions of the men in her life, Mullholland's social position was an elevated one. Her father was a Belfast doctor, her husband, Sir John Gilbert, was a renowned Dublin historian, and her eldest sister was Lady Russell, married to Lord Russell of Killowen, Lord Chief Justice of England.
She was also a devout Catholic and a prominent member of a literacy circle. Among her female friends with whom she shared many interests were Sarah Atkinson and Charlotte O'Conor Eccles.
On 29 May 1891, Mulholland married John Thomas Gilbert at St. Mary's Pro Cathedral in Dublin, giving her residence in the parish registry as 48 Upper Gardner St. In the biography she later wrote of him, she describes their marriage as having "brought joy to the crowning years of his unselfish and laborious life."
Her husband was a Dublin antiquary and historian, who authored History of the City of Dublin, as well as serving as the editor of several important standard works, including the history of the Irish Confederation of Lished by command of Queen Victoria. Upon his knighthood in 1897, Rosa assumed the title of Lady Gilbert.
Mulholland and her husband lived at Villa Nova, Blackrock, County Dublin, although she was an established professional in Dublin long before her marriage in 1891. Her brother, Mr. William Mulholland, Q.C., was a well-known member of the English bar.
Her contributions to All the Year Round saw more success, due to encouragement from the late Charles Dickens. He even went so far as to suggest that her two novels, Hester's History (1869) and The Wicked Woods of Tobereevil (1872) be written for his periodical, then edited by himself. Other stories were also approved by Dickens, including two shorter stories, The Late Miss Hollingford (1886) and Eldergowan (1874), which Dickens also republished.
Rosa first got into writing in the form of poems. She was seen to be very successful in this writing when her poem "Irene" got accepted by the Cornhill Magazine. The poems were accepted known under the title of Vagrant Verses. Overall, the poems were very well-received by the critics and the public. She also wrote a poem called Dreams and Realities (London & Edinburgh: Sands 1916, p. viii.)
Besides occasionally serving as an editor of a volume of short stories, Mulholland produced a great number of novels and wrote a biography of her husband in 1905, who had died abruptly in 1898.
According to his wife, after a pleasant morning spent by the couple in their Villa Nova garden, Sir Gilbert had left alone to attend a meeting of the Council of the Royal Irish Academy, though she had offered to attend him, and died of sudden heart failure en route.
Rosa Mulholland, Lady Gilbert, died in Dublin, Ireland on 21 April 1921, and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. She left £173.07 to one "Charles Russell gentleman", presumably the son of her sister, Lady Russell.
Memorable works
Though Mulholland wrote many novels that touch upon and investigate the general theme of females yearning to pursue artistic activities in a professional setting, her conclusions never defy accepted gender limits for women in the Victorian era.