My ancestors - Humphrys - Contents

Emmet Humphreys

(Left to Right): Eibhlín, Dick, Emmet, Eithne. See full size.

Emmet Humphreys,
born 3rd Oct 1902,
see Childhood in Quinsborough,
there is a family story - Emmet building a little house, Dick and Sighle knock it down, Emmet says: "I'll build it up again" - he was philosophical,
family moved to Dublin 1909,
educ St.Enda's, as was Dick,
educ Belvedere College, as apparently was Dick,
also educ Mt St Benedict, Gorey, Co.Wexford,

member of Fianna Éireann (founded 1909) with O'Rahilly cousins, arrested age 13 (1915-16) delivering pamphlets for Volunteers, in Bridewell prison for a week, arrested in British raid on Ailesbury Rd 1920, unlike Dick, he refused to recognise the court, got 1 yr hard labour, Pentonville Prison, London [Mac Eoin, 1980], in prison as at Apr 1921 [Lavelle, 1961], apparently at some time (must be when Treaty signed in London, Dec 1921), Michael Collins came to visit prison, only had lunch with Governors, didn't visit republican prisoners, once all republican prisoners told to break up cells, Emmet put in straight jacket, Captain, E Company, 3rd Battalion, Dublin Brigade IRA, fought on Republican side in Civil War, present at the shelling by Free State artillery of the Republicans' position at the Four Courts at the start of the Civil War, evening 27th June 1922, Emmet's division were outside, but felt weren't in a position to stop them, in the fighting the Public Record Office in Four Courts was destroyed, apparently by the Republicans, and much of Ireland's historical records were lost forever, this was the greatest act of cultural vandalism in Irish history, Ernie O'Malley was the Republican Officer in Command who surrendered the Four Courts to the Free State, he then escaped, and later used Ailesbury Rd as a safe house, until captured there Nov 1922, Emmet captured by Free State, jailed Kilmainham, and Gormanstown Camp, Co.Meath,

sent to the Conservatoire in Paris (founded 1784) to study violin, and to get away from the fighting,
[Tommy O'Brien] thought Emmet was in Paris for nearly 3 yrs,
came back, thought no future in it, never played it after that,
he was in NYC as at June 1927,
[Tommy O'Brien] said Emmet used go on huge cycling trips, used cycle down to Roscrea, Co.Tipperary, some relative there (must be his mother's much younger cousin Fr. Aloysius O'Rahilly),
became architect, got degree at age nearly 32, B.Arch. 1934 [NUI, 1964],

mar 6th Sept 1934 to Eibhlín Sigerson Piatt [born 30th Sept 1911, descendant of Henry III and Aoife and Strongbow and Brian Boru],
from 1934 to at least 1948 they lived "Doonanore" (or "Dun an Oir"), Greygates, Mount Merrion,
he was appointed as architect in Dept. Local Government 1939,
there was a story that he was interned with IRA suspects in WW2, but his son Dermot says no - he would have lost his civil service job,
appointed Architect-in-Charge, Dept. Local Government, 1947,
moved Jan 1952 to "Lios Rua", Seamount Rd, Malahide,
moved to 36 Ailesbury Rd after Anno died 1958,
[Thom's, 1961] lists "E. MacAmhlaoibh, B.Arch., MRIAI" as Architect-in-Charge, Housing section, Dept. Local Government, Custom House, Dublin,
sold 36 Ailesbury Rd 1968,
lived "Asgard", Windgate Rd, Baily, Howth, Co.Dublin,
named his house "Asgard" after the 1914 Howth gun-running boat,
he died 28th Apr 1977, Howth, Co.Dublin, NOT 27th, age 74 yrs,
bur Saggart, Co.Dublin,
she lived Howth,
died 6th Sept 1986, age 74 yrs, bur Saggart, Co.Dublin,
had issue:

1. Dermot Humphreys, mar Carmel Mackey and had issue:
   1. Gráinne Humphreys.
   2. Nadja Humphreys, mar Eoin Banville.
   3. Emmet Humphreys, mar Sinead Keane and had issue:
      1. Max Humphreys.
   4. Diana Humphreys, mar John Molohan.

(Left to Right): Mac, Aodogán, Emmet.
In their Fianna uniforms, c.1915 (before the Rising).
See larger and full size.

 

The O'Mara's and Cashels, and the Humphreys' and O'Rahilly's, Cashel House, 1920
- several years before the 2 families were linked by the marriage of Dick and Eithne.
(Left to Right): "Norah O'Mara" (must be one of the cousins here, here or here), Steen O'Mara, Maureen O'Mara, Alice Cashel,
Mac O'Rahilly, Emmet Humphreys, Dick Lavelle.

(Left to Right): Nell, Sighle, Eibhlín.
Photo 20 July 1933 (before Eibhlín married Emmet).
See larger and full size.

Emmet and Eibhlín. See full size.

Emmet and Eibhlín's grave, Saggart, Co.Dublin.
See full size. Photo 2006.
See alternative and alternative.
Photos courtesy of Richard Humphreys.

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• 1916-23 period