Miranda Guinness, Countess of Iveagh (née Miranda Daphne Jane Smiley; August 1939 – 30 December 2010) was the daughter of Major Michael Smiley, of Castle Fraser, Kenmay, Aberdeen

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....

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Marriage and issue

On 12 March 1963 she married Benjamin Guinness, 3rd Earl of Iveagh

Benjamin Guinness, 3rd Earl of Iveagh

Arthur Francis Benjamin Guinness, 3rd Earl of Iveagh , known as Benjamin, was the son of Arthur Onslow Edward Guinness, Viscount Elveden, and Elizabeth Cecilia Hare. He inherited the title from his grandfather Rupert in 1967....

 but they divorced in 1984.

"Miranda Smiley was the most bewitching debutante of her season; gorgeous and glowing with life and humour, she was popular with the girls of her year as much as with men, and, in 1963, made the match she seemed destined for when she married Benjamin Guinness, 3rd Earl of Iveagh. Together, they were London's most dazzling golden couple, while in Ireland, still a social backwater, their glamour was practically divine."

Lord Iveagh was the heir to the Guinness fortune and he served as chairman of the company from 1965 to 1995. In 1976, he had a beer tanker, purpose-built to carry Guinness

Guinness

Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...

 from the Dublin docks to England, named “The Miranda Guinness”, in her honour. In 1979, she was chosen as one of the world's best-dressed women.

They had four children:
Arthur Edward Rory Guinness, 4th Earl of Iveagh

Arthur Guinness, 4th Earl of Iveagh

Arthur Edward Rory Guinness, 4th Earl of Iveagh, DL , is a member of the Guinness family. He is the son of Arthur Francis Benjamin Guinness, 3rd Earl of Iveagh, and Miranda Guinness...

, Rory, Emma and Louisa

Tony Ryan

Tony Ryan, the founder of Ryanair

Ryanair

Ryanair is an Irish low-cost airline. Its head office is at Dublin Airport and its primary operational bases at Dublin Airport and London Stansted Airport....

, was Miranda's lover for a period of six years.

"As a tutor and mentor, Miranda was perfect -- cultivated, instinctive and, above all, tactful. She guided him true, shaping his natural good taste into a kind of killer focus, geared towards architecturally important buildings, "serious" art (he favoured 16th- and 17th-Century Old Masters), and fine wines (he had a share in the Chateau Lascombes vineyard in Bordeaux). Along the way, they had fun together, hosting and attending parties for the kind of people Ryan wouldn't have had access to without her -- wealth alone is never sufficient passport to the world of intellectuals and aristocrats."

Later years

She celebrated her 70th birthday in August 2010 at a large party attended by many members of the family

Guinness family

The Guinness family is an extensive aristocratic Irish Protestant family noted for their accomplishments in brewing, banking, politics and religious ministry...

. The Guinness Storehouse

Guinness Storehouse

The Guinness Storehouse is a Guinness-themed tourist attraction located at St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin, Republic of Ireland...

 at St James’s Gate was the venue for the party as Iveagh House

Iveagh House

Iveagh House is the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin. It is also sometimes used colloquially as a metonym referring to the department itself....

, which was the old family townhouse in Dublin, is occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs and was unavailable for the occasion. Attendants included Lord Mountcharles, Gay Byrne

Gay Byrne

Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...

, the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn

Duke of Abercorn

The title Duke of Abercorn was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1868 and bestowed upon James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Abercorn.This article also covers the Earls and Marquesses of Abercorn, all named after Abercorn, West Lothian, in Scotland.-History:...

, James Mellon

Mellon family

The Mellon family is a wealthy and influential family originally of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, and its vicinity. In addition to Mellon Bank they were principally known for their control over Gulf Oil, Alcoa, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Koppers, as well as their major influence on...

, former minister Des O'Malley

Desmond O'Malley

Desmond Joseph "Des" O'Malley is a former Irish politician.Born in Limerick, O'Malley was raised in a local political dynasty that had a strong association with Fianna Fáil. Elected to Dáil Éireann in 1968, he quickly became a trusted confidante of Taoiseach Jack Lynch...

, Sean Rafferty

Sean Rafferty

Sean Rafferty is a Belfast-born Northern Irish broadcaster now best known for his work on BBC Radio 3.A graduate in Law of Queen's University, Belfast, Rafferty's original career was as an accountant. Meeting the head of BBC Northern Ireland at a conference led to him working as a researcher for...

, and the Earl and Countess Rosse of Birr

Earl of Rosse

Earl of Rosse is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland, both times for members of the Parsons family. It is not to be confused with the Scottish title of Earl of Ross. The Parsons family were originally an English family of which five brothers settled in Ireland during the...

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