Thomond - Parsons

Parsons

John Parsons, printers, in Ennis.
From p.130 of [Slater's, 1881, Munster].

John Parsons,
born 1822.
He was a printer.
Printing works in Ennis, Co.Clare.
He died 18 Aug 1887, age 65 years.
He was bur Drumcliff Cemetery, Ennis. See findagrave.
He had issue:

1. Benjamin Richard Parsons,
   Benjamin, Ben, born 1856 or 1857 or 1861, Co.Clare. He was from Ennis.
   He became a printer, like his father.
   It was said that he printed the Clare Champion in Ennis. But that was only founded 1903 so it cannot be true.
   At mar 1899 he is listed as "printer", living Ennis.
   He mar 25 July 1899 to Ellie Quinn [Helena, "Ellen" at death and on grave].
   She was born 1875 or 1876 or 1877, Co.Clare, dau of Michael Quinn.
   They mar in Limerick. See mar cert from here.

   In 1900 he sold out and moved to Dublin.
   Living 95 Aughrim St, Dublin, at dau's birth 1900. He is "printer".

   Move to Baggot St Bridge, 1900-1901:
   With his wife he set up a printing, stationer and newsagent business at Baggot St Bridge, Dublin. His wife was fully involved in the business.
   The business (and their residence) was originally at 1 Victoria Buildings, Baggot St Bridge.
   They are listed at Victoria Buildings in [Thom's, 1901, p.1885].
   They are listed there in 1901 census.
   Living 1 Victoria Buildings at son's birth in 1903. He is "stationer".
   He (printer) and his wife Ellie (stationer, newsagent) are listed at 1 Victoria Buildings in [Thom's, 1905, p.1467].
   Living 1 Victoria Buildings at son's birth in 1905. He is "printer".
   See entry for Parsons family at 1 Victoria Buildings in 1911 census.
   They are listed as printer, stationer, newsagent, at 1 Victoria Buildings in [Thom's, 1914, p.1811].
   The National Bank acquired the building in 1916.
   The Parsons family and business moved across the road to a new construction, Bridge House (built 1916).
   He was a supporter of de Valera, and was strongly anti-Treaty.

   Benjamin dies, 1926:
   He died 28 Apr 1926, Bridge House. See death cert from here. He is "news agent".
   He was bur Drumcliff Cemetery, Ennis. See findagrave.
   I had notes that their business was the start of the famous bookshop, Parsons' bookshop, later a literary landmark in Dublin. However I have found no evidence of them running a bookshop. They ran a stationery shop and post office. If any books were also sold, it was not advertised as such.
   Mrs. E. Parsons, stationery, is listed at Bridge House in [Thom's, 1931, p.1620]. Not listed among booksellers on p.2241.
   Mrs. E. Parsons, stationery, post office, is listed at Bridge House in [Thom's, 1945, p.1176]. Not listed among booksellers on p.1942.

   Ellie dies, 1945:
   She died 30 Apr 1945, Bridge House. See death cert from here. She is "stationer".
   She was bur 2 May 1945 at Dean's Grange Cemetery, Dublin. See findagrave.
   Benjamin and Ellie had issue:

   
   

   1. Mary Parsons,
      Mary Margaret Parsons,
      "Mai" on grave,
      born 9 May 1900, 95 Aughrim St, Dublin. See birth cert from here.
      Her mother died 1945.
      She sold the business.
      She and her brother Ben both continued to live in the living accommodation at Bridge House.
      
      Parsons' shop was bought by May O'Flaherty (and DIB). O'Flaherty developed it into the famous Parsons' bookshop, which she ran from 1949 to 1989. She kept the name, even though not run by Parsons.
      According to [Lynch, 2006, pp.4-5] the shop did not sell any books before O'Flaherty.
      
      Mary Parsons was still living Bridge House at death 1965.
      She died unmarried, 15 Sept 1965, Mount Carmel Hospital, age 65 yrs. See death cert from here.
      She was bur 16 Sept 1965 at Dean's Grange Cemetery, Dublin. Burial record lists her as "property owner". See findagrave.
      The living accommodation at Bridge House was sold in 1967 and became offices.

      
      

   2. Michael Parsons,
      born 1902, Co.Dublin.

      
      

   3. Ben Parsons,
      Benny, Benjamin Anthony Parsons,
      born 3 May 1903 [bapt entry].
      See birth cert from here. This says born 2 May but apparently that is wrong.
      He was born at family home, 1 Victoria Buildings, Baggot St Bridge.
      He was bapt 6 May 1903, St. Mary's RC church, Haddington Road. See bapt entry from here.
      He was the chief mechanic who built the Thomond motor cars in 1925 to 1933.

      
      

   4. Jack Parsons,
      John Charles Anthony Parsons, born 27 Oct 1905, 1 Victoria Buildings.
      See birth cert from here.
      Living Bridge House at mar.
      He mar 25 Mar 1940 to Mary Diskin.
      See mar cert from here.
      In 1947 he bought Whaley Abbey House, SW of Rathdrum, Co.Wicklow.
      This was once the estate of Thomas "Buck" Whaley (died 1800). The current Whaley Abbey House was built c.1840.
      Jack died before 1981.
      Jack and Mary had issue:
      1. Laurence Parsons,
         Larry, born 1943, Dublin.

      
      

   5. Clare Parsons,
      or Claire, born 1908, Co.Dublin.
      Living Bridge House at mar.
      She mar 29 July 1940 to Patrick Walsh [of Ennis].
      See mar cert from here.
      He died 21 Feb 1944, Ennis. See death cert from here.
      She possibly mar 2ndly to --- Spellissy.

Parsons at 1 Victoria Buildings at the start (E side) of Upper Baggot St in [Thom's, 1905, p.1467].

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1 Victoria Buildings

1 Victoria Buildings, Haddington Road at Baggot Street Bridge.
1897 map shows it is not there.
It must be built in 1897-1901.
Parsons is found here in [Thom's, 1901, p.1885]. Cannot see it in the street index, but Parsons is listed there in the people index.
Ben Parsons born here 1903.
The National Bank acquired it in 1916.
Over the door is "ESTABLISHED 1835". This refers to when the National Bank was established, NOT this building.
It was a bank for about 90 years.
The National Bank was acquired by Bank of Ireland in 1965.
The building was Bank of Ireland, Pembroke branch.
Now a branch of Milano restaurants (part of the Pizza Express chain).
See Archiseek. (This is wrong to say built 1916. This is confusion with Bridge House.)

Old photo from Archiseek showing view from the W.
1 Victoria Buildings exists. Bridge House does not exist. So this is 1897-1916.

1 Victoria Buildings.
Photo 1983. It is a Bank of Ireland branch.
See larger and full size.

• See 2007 photo.
• See modern street view.

The location on Google 3D view today.
Left to right: Site of Parsons' garage, Bridge House, Baggot St Bridge, 1 Victoria Buildings, site of Thomond garage, Murray's car rental.

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Bridge House

Mespil Road corner of Baggot St Bridge.
Constructed in 1916. The date "1916" is on the building.
The living accommodation was Parsons family home from 1916 to 1965.
The business was Parsons' Bookshop from 1949 to 1989, run by May O'Flaherty.
It should really have been "O'Flaherty's Bookshop", but she kept the Parsons name on the shop when she bought it.
Bookshop closed down 1989.
Various other businesses have been in the building since.

Mespil Road.
Looking W from the bridge. Before Bridge House was built.
From The Lawrence Photograph Collection.
See full size. From NLI.

Bridge House.
Photo 1983. It is Parsons' bookshop.
Note the date "1916" high up above front door.
See larger and full size.

• See 2007 photo. And canal side.
• In 2007 photo you see the plaque (erected 2004) to Patrick Kavanagh.
• See modern street view.

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References

• Parsons Bookshop: At the Heart of Bohemian Dublin 1949-1989, Brendan Lynch, 2006.
  • See 2013 video by Brendan Lynch.

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• Baggot Street Bridge
  • Baggot Street Bridge is normally called that name, but its correct name is Macartney Bridge. It was built in 1791.
  • It was named after Sir John Macartney, 1st Baronet, who helped develop the Grand Canal.