Thomond - Parsons

Ben Parsons

Ben Parsons,
Benny, Benjamin Anthony Parsons,
born 3 May 1903.
He studied motor engineering at Ringsend technical college, Dublin.

Chief mechanic for Jones:
In the early 1920s he joined James A. Jones at his garage on Haddington Rd, Dublin. He was chief assistant to Jones for years.
He lived at the family home, Bridge House, Baggot St Bridge. The garage was only yards from his home.
He was the bodybuilder and chief mechanic who built the Thomond motor cars at Jones' garage. He built four Thomond cars in 1925 to 1933.
He became an expert especially in coachwork and upholstery, highly skilled work in those hand-built days.
Tommy McNamara described him as 'the best mechanic I ever knew'.
He registered his father's death 1926. He is living Bridge House.
He was only in his 20s making the Thomonds. Very impressive.

Starts own garage:
In 1938, he left Jones to start up his own garage a hundred yards away on Mespil Road.
He took with him Mick O'Brien, who became foreman in Parsons' garage.
Ben was followed there inevitably by most of Jones' clientele. Jones sold his garage in 1939 and retired.
Ben attended the funeral of Nell Humphreys 1939.

Parsons' garage prospered.
He enjoyed doing repair work himself. Everyone who knew him remembered him as a superb mechanic. He enjoyed nothing better than getting his hands on a badly crashed car, and locking himself away to fix it.
He used his metalwork experience with the Thomonds to hand-make wings and other parts from metal. He was one of that rare breed of mechanic who could make spare parts for cars himself, just by looking at a damaged version of the original. This skill was especially important during the Economic War and the Emergency.
He carried out many rebuilds and modifications on his own cars, and those of other people. He could find a use for everything, and the garage was full of bits and pieces which he never liked to throw out.
He had a number of lock-up garages, which he let out to car owners who did not have a garage. Thomond no.4 was in one of these lock-up garages in 1940.
He registered his mother's death 1945. He is living Bridge House.
The Red Cross and Belvedere Ambulance companies gave him the franchise to service their vehicles.
Still living Bridge House at mar.

He mar 1956 to Ethel Deey [born 1917, from Rathmines]. No issue.
In 1957 they moved from Bridge House.
They lived 13 Bellevue Park, Woodbine Road (near Belfield).
He sold the garage in 1963 and retired.
He died 11 Oct 1981, age 78 yrs, at St.Gabriel's private hospital, Cabinteely, Co.Dublin.
He was bur 13 Oct 1981 at Dean's Grange Cemetery, Dublin. See findagrave.
Ethel was living 13 Bellevue Park at death.
She died 16 Apr 1987, age 70 yrs [burial entry].
She was bur 20 Apr 1987 at Dean's Grange Cemetery, Dublin. See findagrave.

Parsons' garage

Parsons' garage, 79 Mespil Road.
Built by Ben Parsons in 1938.
He had a number of small lock-up garages for cars, as well as the main garage.
He sold the business in 1963.
The forecourt was re-built. The lock-up garages were demolished.
It became Mespil Road Service Station.
Still a garage today. It is now a Maxol garage.

Mespil Road Service Station (formerly Parsons' garage).
Photo 1983.
Bridge House to RHS.
See larger and full size.

See 2007 photo.
Still a garage today. See modern street view.

1984 gathering

The three men were dead, but on 27 Oct 1984 we managed a gathering of the three widows at Leopardstown Park Hospital:

Mary McBride (widow of James A. Jones). She died 1988.
Ethel Deey (widow of Ben Parsons). She died 1987.
Eithne O'Mara (widow of Dick Humphreys). She died 1995.

(Left to Right): Mrs. Humphreys, Mrs. Parsons, Mrs. Jones.
See larger and full size.

(Left to Right): Richard Humphreys (died 2008), Mrs. Parsons, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Humphreys.
See larger and full size. See other scan.

Parsons grave, Dean's Grange Cemetery

Parsons grave, Dean's Grange Cemetery, Dublin.
Location: Plot St.Ita/M/38.
Directions: Go in the northernmost entrance on Deansgrange Road. At the 2nd last major junction before the avenue kinks. Take path to RHS. Go up 4 junctions. Turn right. On your right.
See entry on DLR site. This has photo, location map, and burial entries.
Grave of:

Ellie Parsons (died 1945). See burial entry.
Mary Parsons (died 1965). See burial entry.
Ben Parsons (died 1981). See burial entry.
Ethel Parsons (died 1987). See burial entry.

The Parsons grave.
See larger and full size.
From DLR site.

See close-up of main inscription.
See inscription for Ben.
See inscription for Ethel.
These photos from here on IGP.