The Downey family of Ardilea
Thomas Hardway Downey married Elizabeth Harkness
born circa 1849 5 May 1874 born circa 1851
Co Waterford Templemore Templemore, Co Tipperary
died 24 Jun 1947 died 4 May 1926
Ardilea, Foxrock Alma Rd, Monkstown
Thomas Downey, born circa 1849. He was the second son of John Downey, an accountant and Jane
Hardway, his second wife. He was a shopkeeper/provision merchant and later a live stock inspector
for the London and North Western Railway Company and retired in 1909. He married Elizabeth
(Lizzie) Harkness on 5 May 1874 at the Wesleyan Chapel in Templemore. Elizabeth was the third
daughter of William Harkness, a gun maker of Templemore. They were living at Montpelier Place
in 1901 and at Alma Road by 1911. Thomas was appointed a JP in 1920 and was on the Blackrock
Urban District Council from 1921 until his resignation in 1933. Elizabeth died 4 May 1926 at 20
Alma Road, Monkstown and was buried at Mount Jerome. They lived at Foxrock House in 1926.
Thomas died 24 Jun 1947 at a nursing home in Dun Laoghaire late of Ardilea, Foxrock and was
buried with his wife.
1 Herbert John William Downey only child born 7 Jun 1881 at Dungarvan, Co Waterford. He
graduated TCD and was admitted a solicitor of the Supreme Court in 1906. He served his
apprenticeship with Messrs Hayes and Sons and set up practice at 24 Nassau Street. He
married Elizabeth Haughton (Elsie) Hill at Eustace Street Meeting House on 20 Jun 1916.
Elsie was the daughter of James W Hill of Clanaboy, Lucan, a woollen factor trading as Hill
& Co, and his wife Sarah Jane Allen. They lived initially at 8 Lansdowne Road and at Sydney
Parade by 1923. By 1920 Herbert had offices at 118 Grafton Street. Elsie volunteered with
the Dublin Prison Gate Mission. She died on 25 Mar 1952 at Ardilea, Stillorgan. Herbert
was the Dublin Registrar of marriages from circa 1954. Ardilea was put on the market in
1963 and Herbert died 5 Feb 1964 at 17 Greenfield Park, Donnybrook. They are both buried
at Mount Jerome.
1 Raymond Victor Hardway Downey, elder son born at Baggot Street on 13 Nov 1918.
He was a solicitor and married Daphne Frances Russell in 1948 at Marylebone, London.
He became the Dublin District Registrar circa 1959.
2 James Kenneth Downey born 10 Aug 1920 at Baggot Street, Dublin.
3 Phyllis Eileen Downey born 28 Sep 1923 at 89 Lower Baggot Street, father resident at
Elmore, Sydney Parade, Ballsbridge. She was unmarried and living with her father in
1964.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – July 2022
Return to Ardilea page
Thomas Hardway Downey married Elizabeth Harkness
born circa 1849 5 May 1874 born circa 1851
Co Waterford Templemore Templemore, Co Tipperary
died 24 Jun 1947 died 4 May 1926
Ardilea, Foxrock Alma Rd, Monkstown
Thomas Downey, born circa 1849. He was the second son of John Downey, an accountant and Jane
Hardway, his second wife. He was a shopkeeper/provision merchant and later a live stock inspector
for the London and North Western Railway Company and retired in 1909. He married Elizabeth
(Lizzie) Harkness on 5 May 1874 at the Wesleyan Chapel in Templemore. Elizabeth was the third
daughter of William Harkness, a gun maker of Templemore. They were living at Montpelier Place
in 1901 and at Alma Road by 1911. Thomas was appointed a JP in 1920 and was on the Blackrock
Urban District Council from 1921 until his resignation in 1933. Elizabeth died 4 May 1926 at 20
Alma Road, Monkstown and was buried at Mount Jerome. They lived at Foxrock House in 1926.
Thomas died 24 Jun 1947 at a nursing home in Dun Laoghaire late of Ardilea, Foxrock and was
buried with his wife.
1 Herbert John William Downey only child born 7 Jun 1881 at Dungarvan, Co Waterford. He
graduated TCD and was admitted a solicitor of the Supreme Court in 1906. He served his
apprenticeship with Messrs Hayes and Sons and set up practice at 24 Nassau Street. He
married Elizabeth Haughton (Elsie) Hill at Eustace Street Meeting House on 20 Jun 1916.
Elsie was the daughter of James W Hill of Clanaboy, Lucan, a woollen factor trading as Hill
& Co, and his wife Sarah Jane Allen. They lived initially at 8 Lansdowne Road and at Sydney
Parade by 1923. By 1920 Herbert had offices at 118 Grafton Street. Elsie volunteered with
the Dublin Prison Gate Mission. She died on 25 Mar 1952 at Ardilea, Stillorgan. Herbert
was the Dublin Registrar of marriages from circa 1954. Ardilea was put on the market in
1963 and Herbert died 5 Feb 1964 at 17 Greenfield Park, Donnybrook. They are both buried
at Mount Jerome.
1 Raymond Victor Hardway Downey, elder son born at Baggot Street on 13 Nov 1918.
He was a solicitor and married Daphne Frances Russell in 1948 at Marylebone, London.
He became the Dublin District Registrar circa 1959.
2 James Kenneth Downey born 10 Aug 1920 at Baggot Street, Dublin.
3 Phyllis Eileen Downey born 28 Sep 1923 at 89 Lower Baggot Street, father resident at
Elmore, Sydney Parade, Ballsbridge. She was unmarried and living with her father in
1964.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – July 2022
Return to Ardilea page