The Empress of Austria Vestments

3D Model

By Marianna Sylivrili

These vestments were presented to the college by Her Imperial Majesty Elizabeth, Empress of Austria, in 1880. The Empress came to Ireland on a hunting expedition in 1879-1880 and stayed at the residence of Lord Langford at Summerhill, Co. Meath and at Co. Kildare. She visited Maynooth College three times. In 1880 she visited again and brought a three foot high, solid silver Vinnetian statue of St George and the Dragon. When she returned to Austria, she sent the above set of cloth of gold vestments.

Further Reading:

http://www.historyireland.com/18th-19th-century-history/erin-cordially-welcomes-the-empresselizabeth-of-austria-hungary-in-ireland-1879-and-1880/

http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/elizabeth-of-austria-1.188284