Family History

William Tyrone Guthrie or Tony as he was affectionately known was born on July 2nd, 1900 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. His father Dr. Thomas Guthrie married Norah Power.

Norah was the daughter of Martha Moorhead of Annaghmakerrig house and her father Sir William James Tyrone Power was Commissary-General-in-chief of the British Army. William was the eldest son of the 19th century celebrated actor, Tyrone Power.

William Power was from a family of strict Scottish Presbyterians whose grandfather was the Rev Thomas Guthrie D.D. founder of the ‘Ragged Schools’ and one of the most popular preachers of his day in Scotland.

William and Norah had two children, Tony and Susan Margaret (usually known as Peggy).

Susan was educated at home, and later studied art at the Regent Street Polytechnic, London. In 1930 she married Hubert Butler, Tony’s close friend, an Anglo-Irish essayist. She was actively involved in promoting the arts and was a founder member of Kilkenny Arts Week.

Tony later married Susan’s best friend Judith (Judy) Bretherton at Annaghmakerrig.

In 1956 Norah Guthrie had a stroke and died. She bequeathed Annaghmakerrig to her son Tony.