5 Irish Emigrant Love Stories to Remember This Valentine’s Day

Some stories, like that of John O’Reilly and Salaria Kea, were shaped by war and resistance, proving the enduring nature of love despite difficult circumstances.

And then there are those love stories that defied societal norms—most notably the lifelong partnership of The Ladies of Llangollen, two aristocratic Irish women who ran away to Wales to build a life together in the 18th century, or Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas, whose romance was filled with scandal and heartbreak.

Each of these stories speaks to love’s power to inspire, endure, and challenge societal expectations. Here are some of the most fascinating love stories of Irish emigrants—tales of romance, rebellion, and devotion that crossed continents and broke boundaries. You can find them, and even more, all within EPIC, particularly between the 10th and 14th February, where we’ll be running a bespoke Valentine’s Tour.

Grace Kelly & Prince Rainier III

Image via Bradford Timelines on Flickr

One of the most famous Irish emigrant love stories is that of Irish American actress Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Their meeting almost didn’t happen—when the Oscar-winning actress travelled to the Cannes Film Festival in 1955, she was invited to a photoshoot at the palace but initially declined due to prior commitments. However, when Rainier rescheduled to accommodate her, she agreed.

On the day of their meeting, Cannes was in the midst of a power outage, meaning Kelly had to forgo her usual beauty preparations. When she finally arrived at the palace, Rainier was late, so she was given a separate tour. When they eventually met, the pair spent time exploring the palace gardens and Rainier’s private zoo, and sparks clearly flew. Less than seven months later, they were engaged, and within a year of meeting, they were married in a lavish ceremony broadcast to 30 million people. Grace Kelly, the actress, became the Princess of Monaco, swapping one kind of fame for another.

Kelly and Rainier had three children and remained devoted to one another until Kelly’s tragic death in a car accident in 1982. Rainier, who never remarried, was laid to rest beside her upon his passing in 2005.

You can find Grace Kelly in the Storytelling gallery within EPIC.

The Ladies of Llangollen

Image via Ian Preston on Flickr

LGBTQ+ love stories often went undocumented due to societal stigma and laws criminalising homosexuality, but one of the most famous exceptions was the partnership of Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, two Anglo-Irish women from Kilkenny.

In 1780, the pair ran away together to Wales in search of seclusion. Their relationship scandalised society in Ireland, where it was both frowned upon and legally restricted. They had previously attempted to escape together but were caught before finally settling in North Wales.

However, they found little peace in Llangollen either – word of their unique lifestyle spread, and even Queen Charlotte is said to have been aware of them and wished to visit their home, Plas Newydd. Despite the public intrigue, they built a life together for over 50 years. Their letters express deep affection, and when they passed away – just two years apart—they were buried side by side. Their love story remains one of the earliest public examples of a same-sex relationship, and one where the couple were largely able to live in happiness together.

John O’Reilly and Salaria Kea

Another Irish emigrant romance occurred between Irishman John O’Reilly and nurse Salaria Kea, from Milledgeville, Georgia, who incredibly met during the Spanish Civil War.

O’Reilly served a long tour as a volunteer in the International Brigades, a transnational force of socialists and communists who fought for the defence of the Spanish Republic, while Kea trained to be a nurse and volunteered to travel to Spain during the war. Upon meeting, O’Reilly would write poetry about Kea, and the pair forged a relationship, with O’Reilly eventually proposing. Kea returned to the States following an injury sustained in a bombing in 1938; O’Reilly followed shortly after, and the pair sought citizenship for him. Due to discrimination at the time, the pair couldn’t have their married life in Ireland.

Once O’Reilly received citizenship, the couple spent the rest of their lives together in the US, at first in New York City and later in Akron, Ohio. Kea continued her work as a nurse and following her experience in Spain, became a voice and advocate against racial injustice; O’Reilly would spend his life in America supporting his wife in this endeavour.

The pair had an enduring marriage, until O’Reilly’s death in 1967. Kea outlived him by over twenty years, passing away in 1990, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and advocacy.

James Joyce and Nora Barnacle

Image via Mark Longair on Flickr

While people all over the world will recognise the name James Joyce – he features prominently within EPIC in our storytelling library. He was one of Ireland’s most prolific authors, but most will likely be less familiar with his relationship with Nora Barnacle, and the impact that would go on to have on his work.

The pair met in 1904 and had their first date on June 16th. If that date seems familiar, that’s because it is the day that Joyce’s arguably most famous work, Ulysses, is set, and what continues to be celebrated as Bloomsday to this day. His meeting with Barnacle clearly inspired the young writer a great deal.

Only a couple of months into their courtship, the pair left Ireland and travelled around Europe, eventually settling in Paris. They wouldn’t marry until 1931, 27 years after meeting and essentially living together as husband and wife; Joyce was against the idea of marriage as he was anti-clerical in his ideologies. Within their first few years together they had two children, Giorgio and Lucia.

Many of the couple’s love letters to one another are available to read online, some of which are erotic and explicit. You can read some excerpts here – but don’t say we didn’t warn you.

The couple weren’t without their struggles; Joyce only became widely recognised for his work in the final decade of his life, so they were often plagued with financial pressures. Their daughter Lucia dealt with severe mental health issues which resulted in her being institutionalised as an adult for the remainder of her life, something that caused Joyce great pain.

Despite all this, Barnacle and Joyce remained devoted to one another until Joyce passed away in 1941.

Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas

Image via Mark Heard on Flickr

Oscar Wilde, known as one of Ireland’s most famous writers, for novels such as The Picture of Dorian Gray and plays such as The Importance of Being Earnest, had a tumultuous love life. Wilde was a gay man during a time where this was not accepted or even legal; he faced stigma and persecution, much like what the Llangollen ladies were fleeing from.

Despite this, Wilde fell for Lord Alfred Douglas (Bosie) in 1891. Wilde spoiled the young lord and the pair spent a lot of time together, which unfortunately drew in the wrong kind of attention.

In 1895, Douglas’ father, the Marquess of Queensberry, intervened, having long suspected their relationship was not platonic. To break the couple up, Queensberry published a card accusing Wilde of homosexuality, a dangerous accusation back in those days. Despite the truth in the statement, Wilde sued the Marquess for libel, but unfortunately, he had evidence to back up his claim. Wilde withdrew his suit but was imprisoned regardless for two years.

Bosie abandoned Wilde during this time, fleeing to France while Wilde remained in Reading Gaol, undergoing hard labour. The pair did not resume their relationship when Wilde was finally released, and the playwright would eventually accept that the relationship led to his downfall.

Bosie on the other hand would go on to renounce the behaviour he participated in, becoming extremely right-wing, and homophobic. Wilde died in 1900, while Bosie lived until 1945. Their love story is an infamous one marred in tragedy, and while it ultimately was devastating for Wilde, it was out of this relationship that we got some of his most impressive work.

If you want to learn more about Irish Valentine’s traditions, and other courtships such as the ones listed above, make sure you book your tickets for the EPIC Valentine’s Day tours.

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