Melba has more than a passing interest in Ireland. Charles Nesbitt Frederick Armstrong who Melba married in Brisbane on December 22, 1882. Charles was the youngest son of Sir Andrew Armstrong who sat in the House of Lords for many years. Sir Andrew was descended from Alexander Armstrong of Mangerton. His branch of the family had moved from the Scottish border country to Ireland in the 17th century. The acquired Gallen Priory in King’s County (Offlay) in 1750 where the family still lived. (1)

After Nellie, Charles and George arrived in England on May 1, 1886. Charles took his family to meet his mother Lady Frances Armstrong who was living in Rushington and then to visit his brother at Gallen Priory in Ireland.

Melba wrote about that visit:

In those days I had been to them merely “Charles’s wife” a strange and wild colonial girl who needed a certain amount of explaining in so proud a family as the Armstrongs. Another memory I had was of singing in the open square on a drizzly afternoon at a concert in Birr and being well routed in popular favour by the village belle, a strapping lass with red ribbons in her hair. (2)

Pamela Vestey wrote:

“It rained a lot and Nellie has expected a grander household.” (3)

In 1900, as usual, Melba had a summer residence on the reaches of the Thames, and one of the most welcome of her guests was a young Australian student, Miss Regina Nagel, who possessed a beautiful contralto voice, to the training of which the prima donna devoted herself with ardour. For a concert given at the Royal University Hall, Dublin, on August 28, for the benefit of the Soldiers and Sailors’ Help Society, Melba volunteered her services, and at the same time secured an important introduction for her young protégée, who had a place on the programme, to which the Countess of Limerick and Mr. Joseph O’Mara also contributed; the entertainment netting £1,000.

During this visit Melba was the guest of the then Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, Earl Cadogan, and the Countess Cadogan, at the Viceregal Lodge. (4)

Another guest was Lord Coventry who with Melba had a passion for old curiosity shops and escaped into the less respectable parts of Dublin “bibelot” or curio hunting. (5)

Melba joined her hosts in their state visit to the horse-show, an event of peculiar interest to the singer, who is known to ride and drive admirably, and whose love for horses has not even been eradicated by her subsequent enthusiasm for motoring, which she laughingly declares to be her grande passion.

She also attended the Leopardstown Races, and such other social functions as were compatible with the term of Court mourning for the Duke of Saxe-Coburg. She thoroughly enjoyed the week in the Irish capital, of which she took away as a souvenir a beautiful screen, designed and embroidered by the Royal Irish School of Art Needlework, and presented to her by the Lord-Lieutenant. (6)

Retaining very pleasant recollections of her stay in Ireland the preceding year, Nellie paid another visit to Ireland and sang with the Belfast Philharmonic Society on October 18, 1901, her support on that occasion again including Miss Nagel, her protegee. The whole of the tickets were sold out several days in advance, and the greatest interest was shown in her coming. It was arranged to receive her at the main entrance of the Ulster Hall, but, owing to her distaste for public demonstrations, this plan was altered at the last moment, to the disappointment of the crowd who waited in the vestibule.

She was accompanied to the hall by the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn (with whom she enjoyed a week’s rest at Baron’s Court), by the Marchioness of Hamilton, the Ladies Gladys and Alexandra Hamilton, the Marchioness of Dufferin, Lady Hermione Blackwood, and Lord Frederick Hamilton. She also made a holiday visit to Lord and Lady Rossmore, in County Monaghan, before leaving the Emerald Isle. (7)

Melba’s final visit to Ireland was in 1926. As part of her farewell concert tour, on the 20 February 1926 she sang in Dublin and on the 22 February in Belfast. (8)

References:

(1) P. Vestey, Melba A Family Memoir, Pamela Vestey, Coldstream, 2000. pg18 and 19.
(2) N. Melba, Melodies and Memories, Thornton, 1925, pg184.
(3) P. Vestey, op. cit., pg27.
(4) A. Murphy Melba A Biography, 1909, pg 162 and 163.
(5) N. Melba, op. cit. pg178.
(6) A. Murphy op. cit. pg 162 and 163.
(7) A. Murphy, op. cit. pg 167.
(8) A. Murphy, op. cit. pg 212.