Naomi Overend (19 August 1900 – 24 October 1993) was an

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

and

motor An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy. Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power gen ...

enthusiast.

Life

Naomi Overend was born at Airfield House, Dundrum, Dublin on 19 August 1900. She was the youngest daughter of a solicitor, Trevor Overend and Bessie Anna "Lily" Overend (née Butler). She had two older sisters,

Letitia Letitia is a feminine given name, of Latin origin meaning "joy, gladness". The name Letitia has many variants, including but not limited to: Lætitia from lætus (Latin), Letja (Dutch), Letizia (Italian), Leticia (Spanish), Letisya (Turkish) and Le ...

born in 1880, and Constance born in 1894 who died in infancy. Initially Overend was educated at home by a governess, then went on to

Alexandra College Alexandra College ( ir, Coláiste Alexandra) is a fee-charging boarding and day school for girls located in Milltown, Dublin, Ireland. The school operates under a Church of Ireland ethos. History The school was founded in 1866 and takes its ...

, Dublin. Her philanthropy started at a young age, when at age 8 she organised a fete in aid of the Children's League of Pity, the junior division of the

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) is a British child protection charity. History Victorian era On a trip to New York in 1881, Liverpudlian businessman Thomas Agnew was inspired by a visit to the New York ...

which had been established by her mother. Overend worked alongside her mother at the Dundrum and Ballinteer District Nursing Association, taking over as president when her mother retired in 1962. Along with her older sister, Overend was a motor car enthusiast. In 1936 her mother gave her an

Austin Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...

Tickford which she kept for the rest of her life, and a car that became well known around Dundrum and Dublin. Both sisters were members of the Irish Veteran and Vintage Car Club and the Leinster Motor Club. Overend developed an interest in cattle breeding at Airfield, particularly

Jersey cattle The Jersey is a British breed of small dairy cattle from Jersey, in the British Channel Islands. It is one of three Channel Island cattle breeds, the others being the Alderney – now extinct – and the Guernsey. It is highly productive – ...

. Her cattle were regular winners at the

Royal Dublin Society The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) ( ga, Cumann Ríoga Bhaile Átha Cliath) is an Irish philanthropic organisation and members club which was founded as the 'Dublin Society' on 25 June 1731 with the aim to see Ireland thrive culturally and economi ...

annual spring show, with the cattle being recognisable by their

Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan was a Victorian era, Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), who jointly created fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which ...

inspired names. Alongside her sister, Overend established the Airfield Trust to care for the farm and house, initially known as The Dromartin Trust. Overend travelled extensively with her sister, in Europe and internationally to India, Australia, and America. She was a keen skier, visiting

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

annually with friends until she was in her 60s. Overend died at Airfield House on 24 October 1993. In 2006 Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council renamed Wyckham Way as Overend Way in recognition of the contribution of both the Overend sisters. The Airfield Estate archive, including Overend papers, from 1805 to 2001 is housed at the OPW-Maynooth University Archive and Research Centre at Castletown House.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Overend, Naomi 1900 births 1993 deaths Philanthropists from Dublin (city) 20th-century philanthropists