Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

Episode: The Most Notorious Sex Worker of 18th Century Dublin

Host: Dr. Kate Lister
Guest: Anthony Delaney
Date: January 27, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode explores the extraordinary and often mythologized life of Peg Plunkett, the most notorious sex worker of 18th-century Dublin. Host Dr. Kate Lister, joined by Anthony Delaney (host of the sister podcast After Dark), dives into Peg's background, the world she inhabited, her rise to fame and notoriety, her run-ins with Dublin’s elite "Pinking Dindies," her savvy business acumen, and the blurred lines between fact and legend in her celebrated memoirs. The episode delivers a colorful portrait of Peg's resilience and the tumultuous society around her—all with wit, warmth, and sharp historical insight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: 18th-Century Dublin Society

[02:00–09:00]

• Dublin in the 18th century was the "second city" of the British Empire after London: rich, cultured, and divided.
• “A very small Protestant elite… are ruling the kingdom of Ireland, basically… [they] are dominating parliament, law, all country administration, even though they are by far the vast minority in the country.” – Anthony Delaney [06:24]
• The majority Catholic population faced legal and social restrictions, creating deep class divides and a flourishing underground, including a vibrant sex industry.

2. Peg Plunkett: Origins and Family Background

[09:15–14:20]

• Born Margaret Plunkett (possibly in 1727 or 1742; birthdate is disputed due to contradictions in her memoir).
• Raised in County Westmeath; she was one of eight surviving, possibly 22 children.
• Family was “pretty decent” in terms of social standing—a Catholic family that converted to Protestantism to retain land but maintained Catholic practices in secret.
• Suffered severe physical and emotional abuse from her brother Christopher after her mother’s death, which led to her being denied dowries and forced out of her home.

3. Transition to Sex Work & Dublin’s Underworld

[17:45–22:30]

• Peg left home, sofa-surfing with relatives before moving to Dublin in her late teens or early twenties.
• Initially lived precariously, “selling companionship” on the fringes of society before rising into the ranks of courtesans.
• Quickly became well-known: “She is making her way in this commercial heart of the city... she knows what she has in terms of her own commodification.” – Anthony Delaney [19:16]

4. Courtesanship, Business Acumen, and the Reality of Sex Work

[22:20–26:50]

• Peg adopted the courtesan model: several patrons, some seeking exclusivity (notably a “Mr. Leeson,” thought to be Joseph Leeson, the 2nd Earl of Milltown).
• She leveraged these connections for status and security but maintained multiple patrons for financial independence.
• “Think about this in terms of businesswoman and the agency… she’s now marketing herself… rebranding herself as Mrs. Leeson.” – Anthony Delaney [23:41]
• Refused shame: “She honestly doesn’t seem to give much of a fuck about this… didn’t she even take clients to court who were violent?” – Kate Lister [25:41]

5. Legal Action Against the Elite: The Pinking Dindies Incident

[26:51–34:55]

• Peg co-founded a brothel with Sally Hayes, bringing structure and reputation to their establishment.
• In 1779, their house was violently attacked by a gang known as the “Pinking Dindies” (young elite men) led by Richard Crosby.
• Peg sued Crosby for damages, a rare move for a woman and sex worker at the time. She won, and Crosby was imprisoned, although released early due to social status.
  • “She takes him to court. We don’t have the court documents… but we do know what happened and we do know he was taken and we do know she brought the case against him.” – Anthony Delaney [33:55]
• The attack (and her response) marked a turning point, underscoring both her vulnerability and tenacity.

6. The Memoirs and the Myth

[36:51–44:10]

• Peg’s life story survives mainly through her memoirs, part of the “harlotographies” genre (e.g., alongside Charlotte Hayes, Harriet Wilson).
• “What do you want from a notorious character’s memoirs? You want them to be notorious. So they’re not being sold for being factual and accurate. They’re being sold for the story that they tell.” – Kate Lister [36:51]
• The memoirs are a blend of partial truths, self-mythologizing, and dramatic flair— marketed for public entertainment and Peg’s financial survival.
• Peg’s business sense shines here too: selling her own legend for much-needed funds in her later years.

7. Later Life, Decline, and Legacy

[44:10–47:49]

• Post-scandal, Peg struggled financially, moving her brothel several times and retired to Black Rock (then a “grand, not bad” area), ultimately living “hand to mouth.”
• Continued to be imprisoned for minor debts, often rescued by friends rather than family.
• “She died in and out of poverty and illness… The reality of her life kind of dissipates. Maybe Peg’s real legacy is this literary invention… she gifts that, I guess, as the last thing.” – Anthony Delaney [46:37]
• Despite a difficult end, Peg’s story endures in Irish history and popular imagination as a testament to her wit, resilience, and refusal to be shamed.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the challenge of facts vs. myth:
  “What we’re going to need to decipher at some point is where the myth making comes in. Because some of the facts here… are not necessarily the most grounded facts.”
  – Anthony Delaney [05:15]

• On survival:
  “Her instinct for survival, both physically and spiritually and, you know, wanting more for herself, is definitely there.”
  – Anthony Delaney [14:15]

• On Peg’s lack of shame:
  “She honestly doesn’t seem to give much of a fuck about this… she doesn’t. There’s no sense of shame.”
  – Kate Lister [25:41]

• On her memoirs:
  “She’s not necessarily a victim of this invention. She’s part of it.”
  – Anthony Delaney [37:15]

• On legacy:
  “What I admire most about her… is her business savvy, her intellect, her ability to make the best of a fucking shit situation.”
  – Anthony Delaney [43:50]

Key Timestamps

• [01:44] – Introduction to Peg Plunkett, Dublin’s 18th-century elite and city life.
• [09:18] – Peg’s family background and early trauma.
• [17:45] – Peg’s move to Dublin and early days.
• [22:48] – The rise to courtesanship; patrons and business strategies.
• [26:51] – Societal attitudes; Peg’s legal action against abuse.
• [30:38] – The Pinking Dindies attack and ensuing trial.
• [36:51] – The reality behind the memoirs (“harlotographies”).
• [44:10] – Peg’s decline, death, and the endurance of her legend.

Podcast’s Tone & Final Thoughts

The conversation is lively, humorous (in the best Betwixt style), and deeply empathetic toward its complex, messy subject. Both Lister and Delaney balance fun, irreverence, and thoughtful historical context, making Peg Plunkett feel both larger-than-life and intimately real. Ultimately, Peg’s legacy is not just in the scandals and stories, but in her refusal to be erased or shamed—a “gift” for posterity in the form of an unforgettable tale.

Recommended for: Anyone interested in women’s history, sex work, Irish social history, or how legends are created from the messy fringes of the past.