The Ross Family

John and Katherine Ross had three children Irene, May and Ronald. Irene died as a young girl having fallen from her pony. She is buried in the vault of Dunmoyle grave yard. May married a Lieutenant-Commander Saunders. They had one daughter, Ernestine. May Sanders died in 1934. She was the favourite among the locals, who remember her for her kindness, plainness and friendless towards all the inhabitants of Dunmoyle. She had a great love for Ireland and the irish countryside and spent most of her time in Ireland, especially at Dunmoyle. the inscription on the lady's gravestone illustrated her character.

'A quiet grave beneath an Irish sky,
I hope that I at last in peace may lie.'

Ronald her Brother had a distinguished army life between 1929 and 1951 when he reached the rank of colonel. As his father was by now Lord Chancellor of Ireland Ronald mixed with royalty from an early age. As well as having a distinguished army career.  Sir Ronald Ross became an MP for Derry/Londonderry (1929-1951) and was Agent for the Government of Northern Ireland at Westminster for some years before he died.

Lady Ross & Children

Sir John Ross was a high successful judge, whose loyalty was to England. Because of this, the people of Dunmoyle preferred to ignore his public persona but accepted him instead as a friendly countryman who enjoyed himself hunting in Dunmoyle. As he aged he took less interest in politics and spend more time in Dunmoyle than previously. Both John Ross and the local people loved the Dunmoyle area and that is the main reason why they respected his beliefs. This was mainly because Dunmoyle was and still is, a very Nationalist and Catholic area.

His wife Lady Katherine Ross was friendly and popular with the workers in the castle and the local people of Dunmoyle. She chatted with them as if they were her equals. She loved the local countryside, and while at home spent a lot of her time outdoors in a special summerhouse where she could escape the hustle and bustle of the castle. It is though that Lady Ross influenced her parents to give a small plot of land to the Roman Catholics on which to build Dunmoyle Chapel. The bell was bought by Mrs Mann. Katherine was always generous in her praise of servants who did their jobs well, many of whom subsequently got positions in other highly-regarded family houses throughout Ireland. Her respect for workers and locals meant Lady Ross won the hearts of the Dunmoyle people, and when they tell stories about the castle and life there, her name is always mentioned with affection.

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