Research Enquiries – if you can help please contact us.

Over the years the Society has received a number of requests for help in researching local families and properties. We recommend Bonnie Flanagan’s Stately Homes Around Stillorgan and Stillorgan Again but different and Peter Pearson’s Between the Mountains and the Sea as useful local sources. We are delighted if others are willing to share their knowledge or take on some research. If you can help with any of the following enquiries we would be delighted to hear from you.

St. Laurence’s Park

Have you any information on the castle that was on the site where the technical

school is now? Also, the house that was where the bowling alley is, adjoining this

was the orchard and out buildings, part of these buildings was a sweet factory. The

house was belonging to what we knew as the Stein family.

[Refer to Obelisk 5 – “Memories of Tigh Lorcain Hall” - which describes the property before the bowling alley was built.]

DUFFY and HENDERSON Families

I wish to get some information on the Duffy and Henderson families of

Kilmacud/Stillorgan. Michael Duffy and Katherine Henderson married on 2 Aug

1853 in Sandyford and two of their children were baptised there; Michael on 19 Jan

1856 and Joseph on 14 Nov 1857. In Booterstown Church I found the following

baptisms for their children; Frances on 4 Jun 1859, Patrick on 15 Jun 1861 and

James on 8 Nov 1863. Their address was given as Kilmacud. I know that Frances

died in Westbury, Stillorgan on 13 Oct 1864. Present at her birth was Hannah

Henderson, her grandmother. This family moved in to Dublin, to 6 Grattan Court,

near Holles Street in the early to mid 1860's.

Park House

Many of the people are very interested in the history of Park House and we

wondered if someone has any information on the subject ?

Old Kilmacud Church

I have been trying to find out a little bit about the old Kilmacud church, now Fruit

World, and wonder please do you have any information ?

Moore’s Terrace

I'd like to find out what happened to the residents of Moore's Terrace and those

properties on Stillorgan Road that were cleared for the shopping centre in the 1960s.

Leopardstown Park House

I am currently researching Power's Distillery and the Power family. I would be very

grateful if you know of any information relating to the history of Leopardstown

Park House.

“Stillorgan Land”

Can you help with interpreting the location of the property in this Lease of

Assignment made in 1767 :

“all that and there three pieces or parcels of Land with the new Slate house

and offices built thereon Containing by Estimation six acres more or less

being part of the Town and Land of Booterstown Mearing (sic) and

bounding on the South to Denis Kenedys Bryan Rouks John Murphys Chas

Molloys and Danl Girsaghtys holdings on the west to the great Road from

Wicklow to Dublin and to part of James O'Mearas and Garrett Stantons

holdings by Land Mark on the north to Mr Ashe's and Mrs Pickett's

holdings and on the East Alderman Sankey's holding and Stillorgan Land”

Kilmacud House

Would you be able to point me in the direction of where I could get information on

Kilmacud House?

Garnaville/ Garnavilla

One of my ancestors lived at an address 'Garnaville Stillorgan' which I assume is a

house name but can't find anything which might indicate what type of house it was

or where it was so assume it may have been knocked down by now. If you know of

any way I can find out anything about where the house may have been, what it was

like or failing that just general historical information on what the area was like at

that time please let me know, I would be very grateful.

[Garnavilla was located on the Lower Kilmacud Road, Stillorgan. It was demolished in the 1960s.]

BLUE Family

According to the 1911 census returns the BLUE family lived at 20 Galloping

Green, Stillorgan. Dugald senior was born in Scotland and moved to

Limerick with his parents, probably as a youngster, about 1860. In 1911 he

lived with his wife Mary, sons George and Dugald junior, daughter Mary

Eleanor (Nell) and Dugald junior’s family – his wife Anna and their

children. Dugald Blue senior’s occupation was a manufacturer’s agent.

He is said to have been a ‘great character’. He wrote and read stories on

Radio Éireann and was often mentioned in newspapers of the time for his

songs and recitations. Apparently he never lost his Scots accent. Has anyone

any information about the BLUE family? Dugald’s descendants would be

grateful for any snippets of information!

[We have been contacted by one of Dugald’s great-grandsons]

KAVANAGH Family

Ann Kavanagh daughter of William and Julia (nee Flynn) was born on the

15th May 1913, in Newtownpark, Stillorgan. She had a brother named

James and sisters Nora, Eileen and Veronica, presumed born in the same

area. Any information about the family address etc would be much

appreciated.

HOLDEN Family

Mary Anne HOLDEN, born c1795 (place unknown), her children James

born c1817 and Jane born c1823 (both believed to have been born in

Stillorgan). Unknown to whom or where Mary Anne was married.

It appears she was a servant to the family of Charles Burton NEWENHAM,

who was also born and lived in Stillorgan. The Holdens and Newenhams

sailed in 1837 on the same ship, the Navarino, to Australia as free settlers.

Any help you can give would be much appreciated.

WILLIAMS Family of Kilmacud Stillorgan

James Williams was a bookseller/printer of Skinner’s Row and Dame Street,

Dublin. He was involved through business with Luke White and married

Dorothea Archer. James and Dolly (as she was known) had several children:

James, Frances, Jane, Alice, Sarah and William. Both boys attended Trinity

College and King’s Inns. William became a Captain with the 9th Light

Dragoons and later a cornet with the 11th Light Dragoons. His rather heroic

death is recorded in Napier’s History of the Peninsular War.

James Williams owned a property in Kilmacud. He died at Bray in 1787 and

the property went to his wife but then went to his son William. William got

into financial difficulties with a bank he had founded with his brother-in-law

Michael Finn and this property somehow found its way back to Dolly

Williams. Williams and Finn owed £300,000 when the bank became

insolvent and only William’s death saved Michael Finn from going to jail.

Michael Finn was the son of Edmond Finn, founder of Finn’s Leinster

Journal in Kilkenny. Any further information would be appreciated.

Maria Margaretta KIRWAN

The 1901 census of Ireland records that Jack Kirwan’s great-grandfather’s

sister Maria Margaretta Kirwan was on the board of governors of the Sheils’

Institute in Stillorgan. She died there three years later. She lived at 11

Tipperstown, Stillorgan. Miss Kirwan in her census return referred to the

institution as one of her main sources of income. Jack would be delighted to

receive any additional information you may have.

A La Francaise, delicatessen in Stillorgan

Iris McGee married Rene Riou and together they set up A La Francaise, a

huge delicatessen in Stillorgan, along with a branch in Killiney and one in

Wicklow Street. They both live in France now. Are there any old photos of

their shop in Stillorgan Shopping Centre? Aoife McGee, niece of Iris, was

only a child at the time but still vividly remembers the cake counter! Can

you help Aoife with a photograph?

Drumgoff, Stillorgan Park

Would anyone have any information on a house called Drumgoff in

Stillorgan Park which was once owned by the Moffatt family? According to

the 1901 census, William Moffatt and his family were living in 19 Mount

Merrion Avenue with the Masson Family. William Moffatt was married to

Mary C. Masson and by 1910, they had moved to Drumgoff, Stillorgan Park.

Turtle Bunbury would appreciate any help.

Captain Martin Fitzgerald (1917-1945)

Jory Verhagen, from a museum in the Dutch town of Geffen, contacted us

seeking help in finding out about Captain Martin Fitzgerald. The museum is

preparing an exhibition about the Second World War. Martin Fitzgerald was

awarded a Military Cross for his actions in liberating Geffen.

We found that the Fitzgerald family originally lived in Ardilea, Dundrum /

Mount Merrion. Martin was the son of Senator Martin Fitzgerald and Mary

Fitzgerald.

[With the help of the Dundrum Historical Society and the Irish Times,

Jory has been put in contact with Captain Martin Fitzgerald’s daughter Catherine.]

Knocknashee

Nessa Gunne is looking for information on the history of Knocknashee estate.

Some parts of the basement of the original houses that were there before the

estate was built are still to be found. Can anyone provide additional information?

[An article on St. Stephen’s School in Obelisk No. 7 gives some information

on Drummartin House and Eden Park that were demolished to make way for Knocknashee.]

Merville in Kilmacud

Merville, a country residence of W. J. McCausland, Esq. in the parish Kilmacud,

is mentioned in Samuel Lewis’ A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland in 1837.

Leslie Karr, from Belgium, would like to know the circumstances in which it

acquired its name.

Pierce Family, Stillorgan

Eugene O’Connor is looking for information on the Pierce family who resided in

Stillorgan, possibly in Moore’s Cottages (where the shopping centre is now) or

near Boland’s Pub.

[With the help of Paddy Rochford, we were able to provide some details and leads to Eugene.]

Meta S. Guinness, Farmleigh, Stillorgan

Janice Reilly, from England, has a copy of a book, The Works of Robert Burns,

with the inscription ‘Meta S. Guinness Farmleigh, Stillorgan, March 19th 1868’.

It also has a coat of arms with a Latin motto Spes Mea in Deo.

Janice would be grateful for any information on Meta S. Guinness.

Springfield / Kilternan House

Michael Fitzgerald, Australia, is seeking information on Springfield the ancestral

home of George Darley. This became part of the Kilternan Golf and Country Club.

[With the help of Brian White (Enniskerry Local History), we were able to provide some details

to Michael. The former owners of Springfield were Mr. Darley, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Scully,

Mr. Gill and Mr. Rafferty. The Plunkett family also owned the house. Among the images in

the book, All in the Blood: A Memoir of the Plunkett Family, by Geraldine Plunkett Dillon there

is one of Joseph Mary Plunkett sitting on the steps of Kilternan House.]

Apex Manufacturing (1936) Co. Ltd

David Egan, Trinity College Dublin, is researching medium sized enterprises that

existed in Ireland during the 1940s / 50s / 60s / 70s. One business in particular he

is researching is called Apex Manufacturing (1936) Co. Ltd. They may have been

located in Blackrock, Co. Dublin. David would be grateful for any information received.

Nathaniel Warren, Stillorgan

Owen Clough, Bradenton, Florida, is seeking information on the parents of Nathaniel

Warren. Nathaniel is his fourth great-grandfather through his daughter Eleanor

Crean (1780-1860). She emigrated to the USA in 1838 with her children. Nathaniel

Warren once resided at Stillorgan. Two genealogists have recorded Nathaniel’s father

as Oliver Warren, whose ancestry can be traced to the Magna Carta Barons.

However, Owen has found that Oliver Warren died in 1724 and Nathaniel Warren

was not born until 1737.

[With the help of Frank Tracy we provided some information to Owen, but the dates issue remains.]

Alphonsus Culleton

You may recall a short article in Obelisk No. 7 2013 titled The Boy in the Picture.

Fr. Raymond Hickey, OSA, who is from Mount Merrion, was able to confirm that

‘The Boy’ in the picture was Alphonsus Culleton, born about 1912. Alphonsus

worked in the Department of Post and Telegraphs and retired sometime in the 1970s.

He lived in Glasnevin and after retirement, became a lay brother with the Augustinians

and worked in John's Lane, off Thomas Street.

[Pension Administration, Department of Communications, Energy, & Natural Resources has some

more information on Alphonsus, but only for release to relatives.]