Page:Notable Irishwomen.djvu/142

 At ten years of age little Eliza was acting the part of the young Duke of York to her father's hump-backed Richard. Mr. Talbot, the lessee of no less than three theatres—Belfast, Londonderry, and Newry—happened to see Eliza acting at Drogheda, and was so much impressed by her that he offered her an engagement at Belfast. She insisted that her whole family must be engaged also—"her tail," as they were called.

This was rather a large order, as besides herself there were her father, her three brothers, a sister, and a sister-in-law. They had all had some experience of stage business and she was quite certain that their services could be utilised. At length Mr. Talbot yielded. His faith in the young untried actress was fully justified and the Belfast papers showered praise on her.

After her two years engagement had concluded, she and her family started for Dublin, then a long and perilous journey from the Black North.

How she first appeared on the Dublin stage is told by Mr. Michael Kelly from information supplied by the patentee of Crow Street Theatre. He says that Miss O'Neill arrived in Dublin October, 1811.

The Theatre at Crow Street was on the point of being opened, and a leading favourite. Miss Walstein—known as the Hibernian Siddons—was to take the part of Juliet. Miss Walstein gave