Devlin family of Westbury
Denis Devlin married Ellen McLaughlin
November 1862
Denis Devlin, a dealer married Ellen McLaughlin at St Columb’s Parish Derry In November 1862.
1 William Devlin born 30 Apr 1866 at Derry died young.
2 Hugh Devlin born 24 Nov 1867 at Derry.
3 Mary Devlin born 11 Nov 1871 at Derry.
4 Margaret Devlin born 13 Mar 1874 at Derry.
5 William Devlin born 18 Jun 1877 at Derry. He worked as a post office clerk in Derry
before moving to Scotland. In 1903 he was living at 6 Nelson Street and was granted a
public-house licence for 17 Bearhope Street in Greenock. He married Margaret Veronica
McDermot, daughter of Patrick McDermot of Moville, Co Donegal on 18 Jun 1907 at St
Mary’s RC Church in Greenock, Scotland. Liam was on the committee of the Donegal
Reunion Association and received a marble clock from them on his marriage. In 1913 he
bought the Crown Hotel in Irvine.
He moved back to Ireland circa 1920 and purchased a public house at Parnell Street.
These premises were used as a meeting place by Michael Collins and his associates
during the struggle for independence. In 1924 he sold the pub for 9K and purchased
Westbury in Kilmacud where they lived with their 9 children for 8 years. He operated a
sweet factory at 45 O’Connell Street called Blue Badge (BB) Toffee and by 1925 he had
opened a factory at Gloucester Street. In 1926 he was in partnership with Cornelius
O'Connor of Lakelands Dairy. By the late 1930’s manufacturing had moved to Cork
Street and one of
their most popular products was the ‘Sweet Cigarette’. Liam was involved in various business
over the next two decades including Braid Mills in Ennis and Kossell (Ireland) Concrete
Construction Co Ltd which won the contract to build the last phase of Dublin Corporation’s
housing development at Marino.* BB Toffee was sold to Urney Chocolates in the early 1960s.
The family moved to 39 Upper Mount Street in 1931 before moving to Monkstown. Liam died
29 Sep 1964 aged 87 late of The Slopes, Sloperton Monkstown and was buried at
Deansgrange. Margaret died 15 Jul 1972 aged 74 and was buried with her husband.
1 Denis Devlin born 15 April 1908 in Greenock moved with his parents to Ireland circa
1920. He was educated at Belvedere, graduated BA from UCD in 1930 and published a
book of poetry with lifelong friend Brian Coffey. He travelled to Germany and France
returning in 1933 to UCD to take his masters. He entered the civil service and in 1938
was appointed First Secretary, Italy. He married Marie Caren Randon, daughter of
Louis Randon at St Stephens Church in Washington on 9 Jan 1947. A career diplomat he
last appointment was as Ambassador to Italy. He died 21 Aug 1959 at St Vincent’s
Hospital late of Sloperton, Monkstown and was buried at Deansgrange. Two further
books of poetry were published posthumously.
2 Anne Devlin eldest daughter born 1910 in Greenock married Patrick Smyth, son of
William J Smyth of Baggot Street and lived at Monkstown House.
3 Eileen Devlin born 1911 in Greenock married Brendan O’Connor son of Bartholomew
O’Connor of Eglington Road.
4 Maigread (Moya) Devlin attended UCD. She was an amateur actress and a member of
the University players. She was offered a film contact by the director Walter Forde in
1935 when she was spotted in a show in the Peacock Theatre. Moya married Walton
Lindsay son of the Rev AT Lindsay of Epworth Lodge, Rhyl at St Patrick Church, Monkstown
on 4 Jul 1942.
5 Maureen Devlin born 1914 married Gordon M Toplis only son of Claude M Toplis of
Clapham, Bedford at St Patrick Church Monkstown on 17 Jan 1942.
6 Patrick Devlin born 1916 Ayrshire was employed in the family business which was acquired
by Urneys in the 1960’s.
7 Sheila Devlin born 1917 in Ayrshire.
6 Denis Patrick born 6 Mar 1880 at Derry died 31 Jul 1885 at Waterloo Street, Derry.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – April 2019
*My grandparents lived at Marino and referred to the houses as being 'Jerry built'.
Denis Devlin married Ellen McLaughlin
November 1862
Denis Devlin, a dealer married Ellen McLaughlin at St Columb’s Parish Derry In November 1862.
1 William Devlin born 30 Apr 1866 at Derry died young.
2 Hugh Devlin born 24 Nov 1867 at Derry.
3 Mary Devlin born 11 Nov 1871 at Derry.
4 Margaret Devlin born 13 Mar 1874 at Derry.
5 William Devlin born 18 Jun 1877 at Derry. He worked as a post office clerk in Derry
before moving to Scotland. In 1903 he was living at 6 Nelson Street and was granted a
public-house licence for 17 Bearhope Street in Greenock. He married Margaret Veronica
McDermot, daughter of Patrick McDermot of Moville, Co Donegal on 18 Jun 1907 at St
Mary’s RC Church in Greenock, Scotland. Liam was on the committee of the Donegal
Reunion Association and received a marble clock from them on his marriage. In 1913 he
bought the Crown Hotel in Irvine.
He moved back to Ireland circa 1920 and purchased a public house at Parnell Street.
These premises were used as a meeting place by Michael Collins and his associates
during the struggle for independence. In 1924 he sold the pub for 9K and purchased
Westbury in Kilmacud where they lived with their 9 children for 8 years. He operated a
sweet factory at 45 O’Connell Street called Blue Badge (BB) Toffee and by 1925 he had
opened a factory at Gloucester Street. In 1926 he was in partnership with Cornelius
O'Connor of Lakelands Dairy. By the late 1930’s manufacturing had moved to Cork
Street and one of
their most popular products was the ‘Sweet Cigarette’. Liam was involved in various business
over the next two decades including Braid Mills in Ennis and Kossell (Ireland) Concrete
Construction Co Ltd which won the contract to build the last phase of Dublin Corporation’s
housing development at Marino.* BB Toffee was sold to Urney Chocolates in the early 1960s.
The family moved to 39 Upper Mount Street in 1931 before moving to Monkstown. Liam died
29 Sep 1964 aged 87 late of The Slopes, Sloperton Monkstown and was buried at
Deansgrange. Margaret died 15 Jul 1972 aged 74 and was buried with her husband.
1 Denis Devlin born 15 April 1908 in Greenock moved with his parents to Ireland circa
1920. He was educated at Belvedere, graduated BA from UCD in 1930 and published a
book of poetry with lifelong friend Brian Coffey. He travelled to Germany and France
returning in 1933 to UCD to take his masters. He entered the civil service and in 1938
was appointed First Secretary, Italy. He married Marie Caren Randon, daughter of
Louis Randon at St Stephens Church in Washington on 9 Jan 1947. A career diplomat he
last appointment was as Ambassador to Italy. He died 21 Aug 1959 at St Vincent’s
Hospital late of Sloperton, Monkstown and was buried at Deansgrange. Two further
books of poetry were published posthumously.
2 Anne Devlin eldest daughter born 1910 in Greenock married Patrick Smyth, son of
William J Smyth of Baggot Street and lived at Monkstown House.
3 Eileen Devlin born 1911 in Greenock married Brendan O’Connor son of Bartholomew
O’Connor of Eglington Road.
4 Maigread (Moya) Devlin attended UCD. She was an amateur actress and a member of
the University players. She was offered a film contact by the director Walter Forde in
1935 when she was spotted in a show in the Peacock Theatre. Moya married Walton
Lindsay son of the Rev AT Lindsay of Epworth Lodge, Rhyl at St Patrick Church, Monkstown
on 4 Jul 1942.
5 Maureen Devlin born 1914 married Gordon M Toplis only son of Claude M Toplis of
Clapham, Bedford at St Patrick Church Monkstown on 17 Jan 1942.
6 Patrick Devlin born 1916 Ayrshire was employed in the family business which was acquired
by Urneys in the 1960’s.
7 Sheila Devlin born 1917 in Ayrshire.
6 Denis Patrick born 6 Mar 1880 at Derry died 31 Jul 1885 at Waterloo Street, Derry.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – April 2019
*My grandparents lived at Marino and referred to the houses as being 'Jerry built'.