Clara Mulholland


Clara Mulholland was a writer who was born in Belfast but moved to England at an early age. In addition to being a prolific novelist since the 1880s, she wrote children's literature, plays, and was a translator from French into English.

Early life and education

Clara Mulholland was born in Belfast in 1849. Her father was Joseph Stevenson Mulholland, a medical doctor. Her siblings included older sisters Rosa, Lady Gilbert and Ellen, Lady Russell, as well as a brother, William Mulholland.
The siblings belonged to a County Antrim family which had many representatives in the U.S. bearing the names of Mulholland, Mullholland, Milholland, and Millholland. Members of the most prominent branch of the family were for a century leading cotton spinners of Belfast, the eldest line of which was elevated to the British peerage as Barons of Dunleath.
Clara left Belfast at a very early age. She was educated in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England, at a convent of the Sisters of Providence of the Institute of Charity, and afterwards at a convent of the Dames de Marie, Coloma, Belgium.

Career

Her first story for young children, was published by Messrs. Marcus, Ward & Co., of Belfast, and by John Murphy, of Baltimore. Then followed - Naughty Miss Bunny, The Strange Adventures of Little Snowdrop, and Little Merry Face and His Crown of Content. Later, Mulholland wrote stories for various London magazines and papers, and for Messrs. Tillotson & Sons, of Bolton, and the National Press Agency, London. Her other books were, A Striking Contrast, Kathleen Mavourneen and Linda's Misfortunes and Little Brian's trip to Dublin.
Her translation of The Little Hunchback, by the Comtesse de Segur, was published in London, 1876, with a new edition in 1883. The translation for Mystical Flora of St. Francis de Sales was published in London, 1880. Another translation included The Power of St. Joseph - A Book of Meditations and Devotions in honour of the Foster-Father of Our Lord, by the Rev. Father Huguet, S.M.; translated from the French by Clara Mulholland.
Bound Together - Six Short Plays for Home and School was co-authored by Clara and Rosa.
Other works followed including, The Little Bogtrotters; or, A Few Weeks at Conmore, Little Brian's Trip to Dublin, The Miser of King's Court, Percy's Revenge, In A Roundabout Way, and Sweet Doreen.

Death

Clara Mulholland died at her home in South Terrace, Littlehampton, Sussex, in 1934.

Selected works

Books

Mystical flora of St. Francis de Sales : or, the Christian life under the emblem of plants , 1877The Little Bogtrotters; or, A Few Weeks at Conmore, 1878Naughty Miss Bunny : a story for little children, 1882Linda's Misfortunes and Little Brian's trip to Dublin, 1885The Miser of King's Court, 1887Percy's Revenge - a story for boys, 1887The Strange Adventures of Little Snowdrop, 1889Kathleen Mavourneen, 1890Little Merry Face and his crown of content : and other tales, 1891Ella's sacrifice, 1891Little Larry, 1891The O'Briens' Christmas, 1892A Striking Contrast, 1895Bunt and Bill, 1902The Senior lieutenant's wager - and other stories, 1905The lost chord, 1905In A Roundabout Way, 1908Through mist and shadow, 1909Sweet Doreen, 1915 Skenet bedrager : Roman, 1920Her last message, 1926Little Merry Face and His Crown of ContentThe little house under the hillSheila's Presentiment
  • "The Lost Chord"

Plays

Miss Carnduff's Next-of-Kin a Comedietta in Two Acts. Act II, 1884Bound Together - Six Short Plays for Home and School ; co-authored by Clara and Rosa Mulholland.

Articles

  • "Dave's Repentance"
  • "Terence O'Neill's heiress", 1907
  • "Mistress Mary", 1912

Translations

The Little Hunchback, by the Comtesse de Segur, 1876The Power of St. Joseph - A Book of Meditations and Devotions in honour of the Foster-Father of Our Lord.
  • '' For little children. Advice on Piety.''