House of Guinness Recap: The Courtship of Arthur Guinness

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This episode of *House of Guinness* begins a few months after the events of the first two, jumping forward to August 1868. While the earlier episodes covered just a few days in May, this one allows Edward’s plans for the family and the brewery to develop over time. Though some of his ideas have already been accepted by his siblings and the company, he reveals even bolder new plans – some he came up with himself, and others that were subtly pushed upon him.

Before that happens, the show visits Anne, who is traveling around Ireland and has arrived in County Galway. While the landscape is beautiful, the locals seem unhappy and unwelcoming. She’s in Cloonboo, a town deeply affected by the Great Famine of 1845-1852. Her driver explains that the people who still live there either survived the famine or emigrated to Boston. Concerned about potential hostility towards a member of a prominent and wealthy family, the driver assigns Anne two bodyguards. Most residents of Cloonboo don’t speak English, but luckily, at least one person there does.

When the carriage arrives in town, Anne unexpectedly asks to stop and see a doctor. Told there isn’t one available, she requests to speak with any woman who might help. A kind woman named Sultan (played with moving sensitivity by Hilda Fay) arrives and quickly realizes Anne is having a miscarriage – a pregnancy Anne wasn’t even aware of. Sultan takes Anne to the church to rest and recover. After waking up, Anne reflects on what this might mean, wondering if it’s a punishment or a sign that she should help the people of Cloonboo. She promises Sultan she’ll return after finishing her business at Ashford Castle, but Sultan doesn’t believe her – her experiences have taught her not to trust promises from wealthy visitors.

When the Guinness family is back in Dublin, they receive a visitor named Olivia Charlotte Hedges-White (played by Danielle Galligan) who Potter later calls “sharp.” Olivia immediately begins to complain about everything – the house isn’t big enough, the servants gossip, and the fact that the Guinnesses are brewers, which she considers quite common. She’s there to be interviewed as a potential wife for Arthur, but doesn’t initially seem very enthusiastic. That quickly changes as she learns what the role involves and the advantages it offers. After declaring that honesty is her top priority and dismissing the servants – shocking Aunt Agnes but capturing Arthur’s interest – she begins to consider the position more seriously.

It’s fascinating that Olivia fully understands what Arthur wants from their arrangement – a marriage in name only. She’s willing to take his name without any expectation of intimacy, though both are free to see other people as long as they’re careful. This understanding makes Olivia even more attractive to Arthur, as does her honesty. He’s not *in* love with her, but he genuinely likes her – perhaps even feels a platonic affection. He tells Agnes to destroy a certain list, and they begin planning his political future, including travel and her yearly allowance. This isn’t a love story, but their connection seems genuinely strong and meaningful in its own unique way.

Meanwhile, Edward is hoping for a peaceful day at work, but his plans are interrupted by the arrival of Byron Hedges (Jack Gleeson, known from *Game of Thrones*). Byron is there to help Guinness expand into the United States, and he believes Edward should be particularly receptive to his offer, as they’re distantly related through a family affair. Byron is fully prepared to go – he has his passport, travel arrangements, and a place to stay with another member of the Fenian Brotherhood in America. He also understands that Guinness will need the Brotherhood’s support to succeed in the US, so he suggests they work together as family.

Meanwhile, Ellen unknowingly sets herself on a collision course with the Guinness family when she’s arrested for peacefully protesting outside Dublin’s General Post Office. This protest is sparked by the execution of Michael Barrett, and the Post Office will later become a key location during the 1916 Easter Rising. While in jail (or ‘gaol,’ as it’s called in Ireland), Ellen receives an unexpected invitation from Rafferty: Edward Guinness wants to meet with her for tea and a conversation this Friday. Ellen is strongly opposed, but Rafferty essentially strong-arms her into agreeing to at least listen to what Edward has to say, implying he could make things much worse for her. He gives her £5 to buy a suitable dress, and she reluctantly agrees to the meeting.

With a big day nearing, Edward takes significant steps to improve conditions for Guinness employees. He instructs Rafferty to post a notice guaranteeing payments – known as pensions – to retiring workers. He also introduces the Guinness Workers’ Health and Benefits Scheme. While Edward may genuinely care about his employees and enjoy their appreciation, he’s also strategically motivated. He understands that with more working men gaining the right to vote – and Guinness employees forming a large voting group – these positive changes will likely boost support for Arthur in the upcoming election.

Benjamin is going through a difficult time personally. Christine remains devoted to him and wants to marry him, even offering to accompany him to London for help with his drinking. While Benjamin cares for her, he has decided to join the military to prove his father wrong and potentially rise to the rank of captain, leveraging his family name. Christine is upset by this news, but Benjamin appears determined to follow through with his plan, at least for now.

Anne unexpectedly returns to Cloonboo, where Sultan shares the heartbreaking story of life during the Famine. Sultan doesn’t hold back, describing the loss of her family, the desperation of villagers forced to eat their own seed, and the widespread evictions that left people homeless. Even before Anne offers her help, Sultan’s story deeply affects her. Driven to act, Anne writes to her brothers proposing a plan to dedicate ten percent of Guinness’s profits to supporting those in need in Cloonboo.

Arthur doesn’t see any potential in this venture, but Edward does. Like his forward-thinking ideas about employee benefits, he recognizes that being generous can both improve the company’s image and help the family achieve its political goals. Plus, Edward is moving forward with his plans to introduce Guinness to America, accepting Byron’s offer. He believes kindness will lead to votes, power, growth, and ultimately, profit. And finally, Edward wants to incorporate the harp of Brian Boru as the new symbol for Guinness.

Arthur is hesitant to agree to anything, largely because of his conservative Protestant beliefs. He’s uncomfortable aligning himself with the Brotherhood, even in a small way, and doesn’t want to appear to support Irish Catholic traditions by using a harp. However, Edward reminds him that he doesn’t have much of a choice if he wants to keep his secrets hidden. When asked to approve the harp, Arthur reluctantly agrees. The scene feels a bit over-the-top with its dramatic music and editing, but that’s consistent with the overall style of the series – and seems intentional. As the show has developed, it’s become increasingly focused on the historical context, weaving those issues more effectively into the dramatic lives of the Guinness family. While the show sometimes amps up the drama unnecessarily, this tendency mostly works in its favor.

Edward and Ellen finally arrive at a high-class restaurant, where they’re initially told to enter through the back. Although Ellen is well-dressed, she’s known around Dublin. She tells Edward she doesn’t drink during the day, but he uses two bottles of Guinness to make a point: just like Guinness needs a moment to settle before being poured correctly, Ireland needs time to consider things before the Fenians’ ideas of independence can work. Ellen considers pressuring the Guinness family by revealing Arthur’s hidden life, but Edward suggests a friendly approach would be better. He invites Ellen and her brother to Arthur’s wedding, hoping it will be a good start to a positive relationship. Ellen accepts the invitation and the Guinness, and they leave with plans to attend the wedding.

From the beginning, *House of Guinness* has been engaging, but this episode really elevates the series. Anne’s journey to the countryside broadens the scope of the story, showing that life and history in Ireland extend beyond Dublin. It highlights the contrast between the Guinness family’s pursuit of power and the lives of everyday people. The introduction of Gleeson adds a welcome spark; his character, Byron, is charismatic and subtly threatening, providing a lively contrast to Edward’s more serious and calculating nature.

Sláinte!

Let’s clarify a bit more about Arthur Guinness. The portrayal of his sexuality and marriage in *House of Guinness* aligns with what we already know. As Joe Joyce details in his 2009 book, *The Guinnesses: The Untold Story of Ireland’s Most Successful Family*, Arthur’s marriage was a *mariage blanc* – a marriage in name only, without any physical intimacy – strongly suggesting he was gay. The couple never had children and remained together until Arthur’s death in 1915, with Olivia passing away ten years later. (Apologies if this reveals too much!) In contrast, Joyce is quite certain that Arthur’s uncle, Arthur Lee Guinness, had an affair with Dion Boucicault while the future playwright worked as a clerk at the Guinness brewery.

As we mentioned after the first episode, Michael Barrett’s death happened around the same time as the funeral of Benjamin Guinness, the elder. This means the show isn’t strictly following a real-time timeline, but it’s not drastically changing things either.

You can see Brian Boru’s harp at Trinity College, but despite the name, it didn’t actually belong to the High King Brian Boru who lived in the 11th century. It’s from the 14th or 15th century, making it the oldest harp in Ireland and a long-standing symbol of Irish culture – it’s been a national symbol since 1922. Interestingly, the harp is displayed facing left at Trinity College because the Guinness family owns the copyright to images of the harp facing right.

The episode opens with a song by the Mary Wallopers, “As I Roved Out,” originally released in 2019. As Anne reflects on the difficult past of Cloonboo and her own personal struggles, we hear the moving song “Goodnight World” by Lisa O’Neill, from her 2023 album, *All of This Is Chance*. The episode concludes with “Another Round” by The Scratch, released in 2022, playing over the credits.

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2025-09-25 16:56