Lady Nixon aka Louisa Clery and Vicomte de Fontarce
Clery Family of Moorfield, Roebuck
Michael John Clery JP Margaret Wise Helena Barry
born circa 1834 married 18.10.1860 married 25.09.1883
Bulgaden, Limerick Grenagh, Cork Rathgar Chapel
died 27.04.1896 (64) died 20.10.1880 (44) died 18.04.1932 (92)
at his residence at Fort Mary at 13 Fitzwilliam Square
Moorfield, Roebuck Circular Road, Limerick
buried Mount St Lawrence Cemetery
Limerick
Michael John Clery son of John Clery married Margaret Wise of Beech Hill House, Blarney in 1860 in
Cork. Margaret died in 1880 and Michael married secondly Helena Barry of South Hill, Upper
Rathmines, daughter of Michael Barry in 1883. Witnesses: FW Clery and Josephine Clery.
Michael owned a very successful shop in Galway in the 1860’s. By 1870 he had moved to Cannock’s
in Limerick and lived at Fort Mary, North Circular Road. They lived at Adzar House, Monkstown in
from 1884 to 1885 and by 1886 were at Moorefield, Roebuck, Dundrum.
When the Dublin Drapery Warehouse, previously McSwiney, Delaney & Co, failed in Sackville Street it
was purchased circa 1883 by William Martin Murphy, his father-in-law, James Fitzgerald Lombard,
a director of Arnott’s department store and Michael J Clery and it became Clerys & Co with Michael as
the Managing Director. He was also involved in land development in Limerick having amassed a large
fortune through his business dealings. Michael died in 1896 and his estate was valued at £108,779.
Clerys a popular store with Dubliners with many enjoying a night out at the ballroom while under
Clery's Clock became a favourite meeting place in the 1950's for singletons to meet, and cub scouts
to gather.
1 Francis W Clery eldest son born 20.08.1861 baptised at St Nicholas East, Galway City. Sponsors:
Rev Mark Clery and Ellen Bowers. Francis died on 09.06.1893 at Argeles, Bassy Pyranese, France
where he had gone for his health. He left 5K in personal estate.
2 Louisa (Lulie) Mary Clery eldest daughter born 29.04.1863 at Shop Street, Galway baptised at St
Nicholas East, Galway City died of TB on 29.03.1877 aged 13½ years at Circular Road at Fort Mary.
3 Thomas Wise Clery baptised on 20.11.1864 at St Nicholas East, Galway City died of TB on
18.10.1880 aged 15 years at Fort Mary, Circular Road, Limerick.
4 Robert Wise Clery born 11.05.1867 at Shop Street, Galway baptised at St Nicholas East, Galway
City. He married Isabell Ivers daughter of Robert Ivers of Castle Ivers, Athlacca and Anne
McCarthy on 09.06.1894 at St Alphonsus Chapel, Limerick. Witnesses: Wm Henry Ievers and
Helen Clery. Isabell was of the Church of Ireland faith. Robert was a director of Clerys on O'Connell
Street and also a director of Cannock & Co, Limerick. He also kept thoroughbred horses. He
died of TB on 08.07.1900 aged 33 years at Athlacca Glebe and was interred at Mount St Lawrence,
Limerick. Under the terms of his Will, Isabell lost custody of their children. In a codicil to his Will
he left £50 for a window to be erected at Athlacca Church in his memory. Isabell was charged and
found guilty with maliciously causing damage to the window on the day it was installed. She
blamed the priests for her losing her children but the judge pointed out that it was her husband's
Will and Testament that had caused the removal of her children. Isabell died on 25.01.1919 aged
46 years at Ulster Terrace, Stillorgan.
1 Helen Ada Clery born 13.10.1894 at Warrenpoint living as a ward of Court in Booterstown
in 1901 and 1911. She died a spinster at Braemar, Killarney Road, Bray and left 37K in
personal estate.
2 Michael John Clery born 12.12.1896 at Athlacca living as a ward of Court in 1901 at
Booterstown. He later attended St Gregory's Roman Catholic College, Downside near
Bath. He enlisted and served with the 3rd Dragoon Guards. Captain Clery died
31.07.1924 in London and left 65K in personal estate with bequests to his two sisters,
mother and to Downside College.
3 Louise (Lulie) Clery younger daughter born 07.01.1897 at the Glebe, Athlacca living as
a ward of Court in 1901 and 1911 at Booterstown. Lulie married Major Christopher
Nixon on 07.07.1917 at St Andrew's Church, Westland Row. In 1940 Denis Guiney
bought out Clerys for 230K.
4 Isabella Josephine Clery born 18.03.1900 at Athlacca died 30.10.1900 at Athlacca
Glebe.
5 Josephine Kate Wise Clery born 11.07.1868 at Shop Street, Galway baptised at St Nicholas East,
Galway City. Josephine only daughter died of TB on 26.01.1889 aged 20 years at Moorefield,
Roebuck.
6 Patrick Sarsfield Clery born 14.03.1870 at Circular Road and died unmarried on 17.11.1893
aged 23 years at Moorfield, Roebuck and was interred at Limerick.
7 Michael Martin Wise Clery born 12.11.1871 at the Circular Road and died unmarried on
23.07.1892 aged 19 years at Moorfield.
8 John Charles Mark Clery born 04.02.1875 at Circular Road and died unmarried on 03.01.1894
aged 19 years at Moorfield, Roebuck.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – January 2022
Return to Moorfield page
Michael John Clery JP Margaret Wise Helena Barry
born circa 1834 married 18.10.1860 married 25.09.1883
Bulgaden, Limerick Grenagh, Cork Rathgar Chapel
died 27.04.1896 (64) died 20.10.1880 (44) died 18.04.1932 (92)
at his residence at Fort Mary at 13 Fitzwilliam Square
Moorfield, Roebuck Circular Road, Limerick
buried Mount St Lawrence Cemetery
Limerick
Michael John Clery son of John Clery married Margaret Wise of Beech Hill House, Blarney in 1860 in
Cork. Margaret died in 1880 and Michael married secondly Helena Barry of South Hill, Upper
Rathmines, daughter of Michael Barry in 1883. Witnesses: FW Clery and Josephine Clery.
Michael owned a very successful shop in Galway in the 1860’s. By 1870 he had moved to Cannock’s
in Limerick and lived at Fort Mary, North Circular Road. They lived at Adzar House, Monkstown in
from 1884 to 1885 and by 1886 were at Moorefield, Roebuck, Dundrum.
When the Dublin Drapery Warehouse, previously McSwiney, Delaney & Co, failed in Sackville Street it
was purchased circa 1883 by William Martin Murphy, his father-in-law, James Fitzgerald Lombard,
a director of Arnott’s department store and Michael J Clery and it became Clerys & Co with Michael as
the Managing Director. He was also involved in land development in Limerick having amassed a large
fortune through his business dealings. Michael died in 1896 and his estate was valued at £108,779.
Clerys a popular store with Dubliners with many enjoying a night out at the ballroom while under
Clery's Clock became a favourite meeting place in the 1950's for singletons to meet, and cub scouts
to gather.
1 Francis W Clery eldest son born 20.08.1861 baptised at St Nicholas East, Galway City. Sponsors:
Rev Mark Clery and Ellen Bowers. Francis died on 09.06.1893 at Argeles, Bassy Pyranese, France
where he had gone for his health. He left 5K in personal estate.
2 Louisa (Lulie) Mary Clery eldest daughter born 29.04.1863 at Shop Street, Galway baptised at St
Nicholas East, Galway City died of TB on 29.03.1877 aged 13½ years at Circular Road at Fort Mary.
3 Thomas Wise Clery baptised on 20.11.1864 at St Nicholas East, Galway City died of TB on
18.10.1880 aged 15 years at Fort Mary, Circular Road, Limerick.
4 Robert Wise Clery born 11.05.1867 at Shop Street, Galway baptised at St Nicholas East, Galway
City. He married Isabell Ivers daughter of Robert Ivers of Castle Ivers, Athlacca and Anne
McCarthy on 09.06.1894 at St Alphonsus Chapel, Limerick. Witnesses: Wm Henry Ievers and
Helen Clery. Isabell was of the Church of Ireland faith. Robert was a director of Clerys on O'Connell
Street and also a director of Cannock & Co, Limerick. He also kept thoroughbred horses. He
died of TB on 08.07.1900 aged 33 years at Athlacca Glebe and was interred at Mount St Lawrence,
Limerick. Under the terms of his Will, Isabell lost custody of their children. In a codicil to his Will
he left £50 for a window to be erected at Athlacca Church in his memory. Isabell was charged and
found guilty with maliciously causing damage to the window on the day it was installed. She
blamed the priests for her losing her children but the judge pointed out that it was her husband's
Will and Testament that had caused the removal of her children. Isabell died on 25.01.1919 aged
46 years at Ulster Terrace, Stillorgan.
1 Helen Ada Clery born 13.10.1894 at Warrenpoint living as a ward of Court in Booterstown
in 1901 and 1911. She died a spinster at Braemar, Killarney Road, Bray and left 37K in
personal estate.
2 Michael John Clery born 12.12.1896 at Athlacca living as a ward of Court in 1901 at
Booterstown. He later attended St Gregory's Roman Catholic College, Downside near
Bath. He enlisted and served with the 3rd Dragoon Guards. Captain Clery died
31.07.1924 in London and left 65K in personal estate with bequests to his two sisters,
mother and to Downside College.
3 Louise (Lulie) Clery younger daughter born 07.01.1897 at the Glebe, Athlacca living as
a ward of Court in 1901 and 1911 at Booterstown. Lulie married Major Christopher
Nixon on 07.07.1917 at St Andrew's Church, Westland Row. In 1940 Denis Guiney
bought out Clerys for 230K.
4 Isabella Josephine Clery born 18.03.1900 at Athlacca died 30.10.1900 at Athlacca
Glebe.
5 Josephine Kate Wise Clery born 11.07.1868 at Shop Street, Galway baptised at St Nicholas East,
Galway City. Josephine only daughter died of TB on 26.01.1889 aged 20 years at Moorefield,
Roebuck.
6 Patrick Sarsfield Clery born 14.03.1870 at Circular Road and died unmarried on 17.11.1893
aged 23 years at Moorfield, Roebuck and was interred at Limerick.
7 Michael Martin Wise Clery born 12.11.1871 at the Circular Road and died unmarried on
23.07.1892 aged 19 years at Moorfield.
8 John Charles Mark Clery born 04.02.1875 at Circular Road and died unmarried on 03.01.1894
aged 19 years at Moorfield, Roebuck.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – January 2022
Return to Moorfield page