WATCH: Old photo album provides link between Jane Austen's nieces and Donegal

A photograph album dating from the mid-1800s  highlights a link between Donegal and three nieces of the author Jane Austen. 

The album, which came from America, was bought on eBay by Karen Levers, and has been described as a “gem”.

She was interested in it because it appeared to contain photos of aristocrats from Ireland and England. 

However, according to Donegal County Archivist, Dr Niamh Brennan, Ms Levers got very excited when she went through the captions and discovered relatives of the famous author of books like Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. 

Funding now available for Donegal heritage projects

Grants from a minimum of €2,000 up to a maximum of €20,000 can be awarded

Ms Levers contacted the archives and Dr Brennan said they were delighted to acquire the "gem" of an album, which features many members of aristocratic families and people who are significant in the history of the region. She estimates the photographs range from around 1850 to 1870 or 1880, when photography was in its infancy, and it was generally only the gentry who were photographed.

RTE’s North West correspondent Eileen Magnier has been reporting on the story, and more can be seen HERE