Burke of Seapoint House and The Shelbourne
The Burke family of Springfield, Co Tipperary were considered gentlemen of 'middle' standing.
Milo Burke was a local magistrate and died in June 1827 and his wife Honora died at Phibsboro
House in 1844. His son Milo married Margaret de Shea and they had three children. Milo junior
was attacked and brutally murdered at Springfield in March 1831. Milo senior's brother
Andrew was also murdered. His other son Martin would establish the Shelbourne Hotel on
Dublin's Stephen's Green.
Martin Burke married Ann Matilda Burke
born circa 1788 circa 1809 born circa 1784
Tipperary Roscrea
died 16 Jan 1863 (74) died 11 Oct 1868 (84)
Martin Burke, of Springfield, Co Tipperary married Ann Matilda Burke, daughter of the late Edmund
Burke of Roscrea. Martin was the proprietor of the Seapoint Hotel from 1810 to 1839. He sold the
lease on Seapoint in 1839 to concentrate on the Shelbourne Hotel which he had leased from Henry
White in 1824 for 150 years. Henry was the son of Luke White, the bookseller. Both hotels were
exclusively for the Nobility and Gentry.
‘None but families of equal distinction will apply for accommodation’.
He offered private sitting rooms for invalids or for those not wishing to go to the public tables. The
Shelbourne had 80 apartments and 16 private sitting rooms when he opened it in 1825. He also
offered hot, cold and tepid salt baths at all hours. After he purchased the Shelbourne he operated
Seapoint as a hotel from May to November and rented out the accommodation for the winter
months. In 1826 he purchased three houses beside Seapoint House which became part of the resort
making his two hotels, the two largest hotels in Ireland. Rooms were very much in demand and he
would advertise his vacancies a week in advance. In 1828 he added a fourth house to the Seapoint
complex which at that point covered 26 acres. In 1834 a bond was executed to protect Seapoint
House and adjoining building 'The Select' when the Dublin & Kingstown rail cut them off from the
sea which also included a bridge. In 1855 Martin Burke sued the rail company for non-upkeep as
per the 1834 bond.
On 26 Jul 1832 his brother Michael, an attorney died and Martin succeeded to the lands of Springfield
in Tipperary. In 1834 he was secretary of the local taxation committee for Monkstown with the Rev
Sir Harcourt Lees as chairman. The same year he reduced his Tipperary tenants rent and forgave
arrears. A friend of Daniel O’Connell, he was the honoured guest at a dinner given by him in 1839.
He moved to Khyber Pass House in Dalkey circa 1845 and was a town councillor for the Mansion
House Ward in 1849.
By 1835 he had put Seapoint House on the market so that he could concentrate on The Shelbourne but
by then the railway hindering access to the sea probably had an adverse effect on the business. He
frequently gave the use of the ballroom at Seapoint House free of charge to various groups to hold
meetings, be they temperance groups, bible societies or political movements. He was appointed a
poor law Guardian of Blackrock in 1839 and the same year disposed of his interest in Seapoint. In
1839 he bought a large tract of land in Dalkey and proceeded to build houses including Khyber Pass,
Queenstown Castle, Island View and Albert House. These were used by various family members but
were mainly rented out for the season.
He was a juror at the trial of Charles Gavan Duffy editor of ‘The Nation” who was accused of Seditious
Conspiracy and was defended by Isaac Butt. He was instrumental in getting him acquitted by standing up
in the Jurors box and clapping as Mr Butt was defending. He resigned from his role as trustee of The
Irish Tenant League in 1851. He died 16 Jan 1863 at The Shelbourne hotel and left 25K in personal
estate. Anne died on 11 Oct 1864 at Albert House, Dalkey and was buried at Glasnevin.
He was buried at Glasnevin and his headstone reads ‘A good Christian, a fearless Patriot; an independent
Juryman; and a true-hearted Irishman’. The hotel was sold to Messrs Jury, Cotton and Goodman in 1865.
1 Teresa Burke, second daughter married Nicholas D’Arcy of Ballinaglass, Galway on 31 May 1837
at St Andrews, Westland Row. Nicholas bought the Prince of Wales Hotel (late Spadaccinis)
beside the GPO in Sackville Street and in 1844, and Teresa managed it. In 1851 they opened
the Imperial Hotel in Pall Mall London, but went bankrupt in 1855.
1 Anne Clare D’Arcy married John D’Arcy of Bride Street on 17 Nov 1859 at St Andrews,
Westland Row.
2 James Milo Burke eldest son born 1814 graduated BA from Trinity and was called to the bar in
1836. He was junior counsel at Daniel O’Connell’s trial. A justice of the Peace and a Deputy
Lieutenant, he lived at Springfield in Dalkey. He married Eliza Matilda Eiffe daughter of
Christopher Eiffe on 18 Dec 1844 at St Andrews, Westland Row. Eliza died on 29 Jun 1865 aged 48.
1 Martin John Burke born 1848 graduated Trinity and was called to the Bar. As a QC he
married Elizabeth Barron Staunton only daughter of Captain William Stanton of the 91st
Regiment on 22 Dec 1883 at Hollywood, Co Down. Martin died 7 Dec 1893 at 107 Baggot
Street and was buried at Deansgrange.
1 Elizabeth Mary Cecil Burke born 13 Sep 1884 at Baggot Street.
2 Ivan Shuldham Burke born circa born circa 1887 succeeded to the lands at
Springfield, Tipperary in 1908. He married Aimee Muriel MacLulich on 12 Jan 1909.
Elizabeth secondly married Dr Joseph Wallace Boyce (the Stillorgan Dispensary doctor)
on 30 Oct 1900 at Monkstown Church. She died 28 Dec 1902 at St Kilda, Blackrock aged
45 and was buried at Deansgrange with her first husband.
2 Anne Teresa (Annie) Burke, eldest daughter married Matthew John (John) Jeffrey Quin,
son of John Quin on 7 Jun 1867 at Ballybrack Church. John died in 1877.
1 Mabel Quin, eldest daughter born 12 Mar 1868 at Clarinda Park, Kingstown
married Edward Campbell circa 1891.
2 Ethel Mary Beatrice Quin born 9 Jun 1869 at Kingstown.
3 John Jeffrey William Joseph De Burgh Burke born 11 Jul 1872 at Kingston.
4 Daughter Quin born circa 1873.
5 Caroline Quin born circa 1875.
6 Maud Quin fifth daughter born 1876 at Kingstown married Professor Denis J
Coffey of the Catholic University Medical School on 9 Aug 1904 at St
Michael's Church, Kingstown.
7 Florence Mary Elizabeth Quin, youngest daughter born 2 Sep 1877 at Bella
Vista, Glastule first married Mr Smith and secondly married Montague
Hovelt on 26 Aug 1909 at St Michael’s Kingstown.
Annie secondly married Michael P V Taaffe on 1 Sep 1878 at St Joseph’s Church, Glasthule.
3 Mary Caroline Burke, second daughter married Joseph Charles Dunbar of Ceylon on
21 Aug 1877 at Dalkey.
4 James Michael Burke born circa 1850, was a physician and surgeon. He died a bachelor on
2 Aug 1881 at Dalkey.
James secondly married Catherine Mary (Kate) Ferguson on 23 Feb 1870 at St Michan’s, North
Anne Street. James was a director of the National Bank, chairman of the Dalkey Town
Commissioners and vice-chairman of the Rathdown Guardians. Kate died on 13 Mar 1894 at
Springfield, Dalkey and James died 23 Mar 1908 aged 94 at Springfield House and left 9K in
personal estate and was succeeded by his grandson Ivan Shuldham Burke. Kate and James are
buried at Deansgrange.
5 Catherine Anna Mary (Kathleen) Burke born 23 Nov 1870 at Queenstown Lodge, Dalkey
married Wynyard Dixon , third son of J Willis Dixon of Hillborough Hill at The Oratory
Brompton on 21 Sep 1899 and moved to Harthead, in Sheffield.
6 Adelaide Eva Mary Burke, second daughter, born 30 Oct 1871 at Queenstown Lodge,
Dalkey married Thomas Horsley Angus, fourth son of the late George Angus of Gosforth,
Newcastle-on-Tyne at the Catholic Church, Johannesburg. Adelaide was living at
Eastbourne, Sussex in 1908.
7 Josephine Mary Agnes Burke born 16 Jan 1879 living with her father in 1901 at
Queenstown Castle was bequeathed Triton Lodge and Queenstown Lodge and
Island View House in Dalkey on the death of her father.
3 John Hogan Burke was baptised at Booterstown on 30 Dec 1820. He was called to the bar
in 1853. A solicitor of 12 Kildare Street he married Anne D’Arcy and moved to Victoria House,
Dalkey. In 1866 he opened a woollen Mill in Cahir, Co Tipperary. He died 14 Nov 1879 at
Dalkey aged 58 and Anne died 19 Aug 1880 at Dalkey.
4 Anne Burke married Thomas D’Arcy of Ballyforan, Roscommon on 5 Feb 1841 at
St Andrews, Westland Row but the marriage failed and Anne returned to living at the
Shelbourne with her son in 1845.
1 Martin Darcy born circa 1842 died at 12 Kildare Street 21 Jan 1865.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – February 2020
The Burke family of Springfield, Co Tipperary were considered gentlemen of 'middle' standing.
Milo Burke was a local magistrate and died in June 1827 and his wife Honora died at Phibsboro
House in 1844. His son Milo married Margaret de Shea and they had three children. Milo junior
was attacked and brutally murdered at Springfield in March 1831. Milo senior's brother
Andrew was also murdered. His other son Martin would establish the Shelbourne Hotel on
Dublin's Stephen's Green.
Martin Burke married Ann Matilda Burke
born circa 1788 circa 1809 born circa 1784
Tipperary Roscrea
died 16 Jan 1863 (74) died 11 Oct 1868 (84)
Martin Burke, of Springfield, Co Tipperary married Ann Matilda Burke, daughter of the late Edmund
Burke of Roscrea. Martin was the proprietor of the Seapoint Hotel from 1810 to 1839. He sold the
lease on Seapoint in 1839 to concentrate on the Shelbourne Hotel which he had leased from Henry
White in 1824 for 150 years. Henry was the son of Luke White, the bookseller. Both hotels were
exclusively for the Nobility and Gentry.
‘None but families of equal distinction will apply for accommodation’.
He offered private sitting rooms for invalids or for those not wishing to go to the public tables. The
Shelbourne had 80 apartments and 16 private sitting rooms when he opened it in 1825. He also
offered hot, cold and tepid salt baths at all hours. After he purchased the Shelbourne he operated
Seapoint as a hotel from May to November and rented out the accommodation for the winter
months. In 1826 he purchased three houses beside Seapoint House which became part of the resort
making his two hotels, the two largest hotels in Ireland. Rooms were very much in demand and he
would advertise his vacancies a week in advance. In 1828 he added a fourth house to the Seapoint
complex which at that point covered 26 acres. In 1834 a bond was executed to protect Seapoint
House and adjoining building 'The Select' when the Dublin & Kingstown rail cut them off from the
sea which also included a bridge. In 1855 Martin Burke sued the rail company for non-upkeep as
per the 1834 bond.
On 26 Jul 1832 his brother Michael, an attorney died and Martin succeeded to the lands of Springfield
in Tipperary. In 1834 he was secretary of the local taxation committee for Monkstown with the Rev
Sir Harcourt Lees as chairman. The same year he reduced his Tipperary tenants rent and forgave
arrears. A friend of Daniel O’Connell, he was the honoured guest at a dinner given by him in 1839.
He moved to Khyber Pass House in Dalkey circa 1845 and was a town councillor for the Mansion
House Ward in 1849.
By 1835 he had put Seapoint House on the market so that he could concentrate on The Shelbourne but
by then the railway hindering access to the sea probably had an adverse effect on the business. He
frequently gave the use of the ballroom at Seapoint House free of charge to various groups to hold
meetings, be they temperance groups, bible societies or political movements. He was appointed a
poor law Guardian of Blackrock in 1839 and the same year disposed of his interest in Seapoint. In
1839 he bought a large tract of land in Dalkey and proceeded to build houses including Khyber Pass,
Queenstown Castle, Island View and Albert House. These were used by various family members but
were mainly rented out for the season.
He was a juror at the trial of Charles Gavan Duffy editor of ‘The Nation” who was accused of Seditious
Conspiracy and was defended by Isaac Butt. He was instrumental in getting him acquitted by standing up
in the Jurors box and clapping as Mr Butt was defending. He resigned from his role as trustee of The
Irish Tenant League in 1851. He died 16 Jan 1863 at The Shelbourne hotel and left 25K in personal
estate. Anne died on 11 Oct 1864 at Albert House, Dalkey and was buried at Glasnevin.
He was buried at Glasnevin and his headstone reads ‘A good Christian, a fearless Patriot; an independent
Juryman; and a true-hearted Irishman’. The hotel was sold to Messrs Jury, Cotton and Goodman in 1865.
1 Teresa Burke, second daughter married Nicholas D’Arcy of Ballinaglass, Galway on 31 May 1837
at St Andrews, Westland Row. Nicholas bought the Prince of Wales Hotel (late Spadaccinis)
beside the GPO in Sackville Street and in 1844, and Teresa managed it. In 1851 they opened
the Imperial Hotel in Pall Mall London, but went bankrupt in 1855.
1 Anne Clare D’Arcy married John D’Arcy of Bride Street on 17 Nov 1859 at St Andrews,
Westland Row.
2 James Milo Burke eldest son born 1814 graduated BA from Trinity and was called to the bar in
1836. He was junior counsel at Daniel O’Connell’s trial. A justice of the Peace and a Deputy
Lieutenant, he lived at Springfield in Dalkey. He married Eliza Matilda Eiffe daughter of
Christopher Eiffe on 18 Dec 1844 at St Andrews, Westland Row. Eliza died on 29 Jun 1865 aged 48.
1 Martin John Burke born 1848 graduated Trinity and was called to the Bar. As a QC he
married Elizabeth Barron Staunton only daughter of Captain William Stanton of the 91st
Regiment on 22 Dec 1883 at Hollywood, Co Down. Martin died 7 Dec 1893 at 107 Baggot
Street and was buried at Deansgrange.
1 Elizabeth Mary Cecil Burke born 13 Sep 1884 at Baggot Street.
2 Ivan Shuldham Burke born circa born circa 1887 succeeded to the lands at
Springfield, Tipperary in 1908. He married Aimee Muriel MacLulich on 12 Jan 1909.
Elizabeth secondly married Dr Joseph Wallace Boyce (the Stillorgan Dispensary doctor)
on 30 Oct 1900 at Monkstown Church. She died 28 Dec 1902 at St Kilda, Blackrock aged
45 and was buried at Deansgrange with her first husband.
2 Anne Teresa (Annie) Burke, eldest daughter married Matthew John (John) Jeffrey Quin,
son of John Quin on 7 Jun 1867 at Ballybrack Church. John died in 1877.
1 Mabel Quin, eldest daughter born 12 Mar 1868 at Clarinda Park, Kingstown
married Edward Campbell circa 1891.
2 Ethel Mary Beatrice Quin born 9 Jun 1869 at Kingstown.
3 John Jeffrey William Joseph De Burgh Burke born 11 Jul 1872 at Kingston.
4 Daughter Quin born circa 1873.
5 Caroline Quin born circa 1875.
6 Maud Quin fifth daughter born 1876 at Kingstown married Professor Denis J
Coffey of the Catholic University Medical School on 9 Aug 1904 at St
Michael's Church, Kingstown.
7 Florence Mary Elizabeth Quin, youngest daughter born 2 Sep 1877 at Bella
Vista, Glastule first married Mr Smith and secondly married Montague
Hovelt on 26 Aug 1909 at St Michael’s Kingstown.
Annie secondly married Michael P V Taaffe on 1 Sep 1878 at St Joseph’s Church, Glasthule.
3 Mary Caroline Burke, second daughter married Joseph Charles Dunbar of Ceylon on
21 Aug 1877 at Dalkey.
4 James Michael Burke born circa 1850, was a physician and surgeon. He died a bachelor on
2 Aug 1881 at Dalkey.
James secondly married Catherine Mary (Kate) Ferguson on 23 Feb 1870 at St Michan’s, North
Anne Street. James was a director of the National Bank, chairman of the Dalkey Town
Commissioners and vice-chairman of the Rathdown Guardians. Kate died on 13 Mar 1894 at
Springfield, Dalkey and James died 23 Mar 1908 aged 94 at Springfield House and left 9K in
personal estate and was succeeded by his grandson Ivan Shuldham Burke. Kate and James are
buried at Deansgrange.
5 Catherine Anna Mary (Kathleen) Burke born 23 Nov 1870 at Queenstown Lodge, Dalkey
married Wynyard Dixon , third son of J Willis Dixon of Hillborough Hill at The Oratory
Brompton on 21 Sep 1899 and moved to Harthead, in Sheffield.
6 Adelaide Eva Mary Burke, second daughter, born 30 Oct 1871 at Queenstown Lodge,
Dalkey married Thomas Horsley Angus, fourth son of the late George Angus of Gosforth,
Newcastle-on-Tyne at the Catholic Church, Johannesburg. Adelaide was living at
Eastbourne, Sussex in 1908.
7 Josephine Mary Agnes Burke born 16 Jan 1879 living with her father in 1901 at
Queenstown Castle was bequeathed Triton Lodge and Queenstown Lodge and
Island View House in Dalkey on the death of her father.
3 John Hogan Burke was baptised at Booterstown on 30 Dec 1820. He was called to the bar
in 1853. A solicitor of 12 Kildare Street he married Anne D’Arcy and moved to Victoria House,
Dalkey. In 1866 he opened a woollen Mill in Cahir, Co Tipperary. He died 14 Nov 1879 at
Dalkey aged 58 and Anne died 19 Aug 1880 at Dalkey.
4 Anne Burke married Thomas D’Arcy of Ballyforan, Roscommon on 5 Feb 1841 at
St Andrews, Westland Row but the marriage failed and Anne returned to living at the
Shelbourne with her son in 1845.
1 Martin Darcy born circa 1842 died at 12 Kildare Street 21 Jan 1865.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – February 2020