Bridget Mary Fitzgerald and Brendan Robinson 1932
Fitzgerald family of Ardilea
James Fitzgerald married Bridget Mullarkey
born circa 1816
died 24 Jan 1891
Charlestown, Mayo
James Fitzgerald married Bridget Mullarkey. James died at Charlestown on 24 Jan 1891, his son Martin
the informant. James left 6k in personal estate and Brigid, his wife was his executor.
1 Katherine Fitzgerald born circa 1854 married Michael McDonnell on 15 May 1875 at
Charlestown. Michael was a shopkeeper and publican and the son of Alexander McDonnell.
Katherine died at Rosses Point on 19 Jul 1899. Her brothers, Michael, Martin & James attended
her funeral.
1 Ellen McDonnell born 11 May 1876 at Charlestown.
2 James McDonnell born 21 Mar 1877 at Charlestown.
3 Anne McDonnell born circa 1883.
4 Bride McDonnell born circa 1884 became a nun circa 1905. Sister Gonzaga died in 1916.
2 James Fitzgerald born 27 Aug 1864 at Charlestown was a solicitor of Albert Street Sligo. He
married Mabel Davys, daughter of Coughran Davys at Cassarow Church, Sligo on 12 Dec 1896.
He died aged 42 at his residence Cairsfoot, Sligo on 11 Aug 1907.
3 Martin Thomas Fitzgerald born 9 Nov 1865 at Charlestown, Co Mayo. He was a rectifying
distiller and a wine and spirit merchant with premises at Westland row before moving to
Middle Abbey Street in 1894. These premises were badly damaged in the Dublin City fire of
1898. He was living at Lea House in Pembroke Road in 1901 and was living at Ardilea, Roebuck
when he married Mary Kathleen Fogarty, daughter of William Fogarty and Catherine Quinlivan at
the Church of the Visitation, Fairview on 18 Oct 1904. Catherine's father was a wealthy colonial
merchant with interests in Jamaica. In 1907 Martin offered to promote and back a boxing fight.
On St Patrick's Day 1908, James 'Jem' Roche fought the American Tommy Burns for the world
heavyweight title at the Theatre Royal, Dublin, with a purse of £1,500. The fight lasted 88
seconds. Martin's premises were destroyed again in 1916 during the rising and he traded from
Thomas Street for a time. He was well known in racing circles and a friend of Richard Croker. He
kept race horses sired by Croker's Orby at Ardilea. He was a friend of the English journalist
Hamilton Edwards and together they purchased the Freeman’s journal in 1919. It was a difficult
time for newspapers and in 1920 Martin ended up in Mountjoy jail with Hamilton for publishing a
story on army brutality. In 1922 their printing presses by smashed by irregulars. Martin was
nominated to the Free State Senate in 1922 and served in the Seanad until his death. The
Freeman’s Journal was bought by the Irish Independent in 1924. Martin died at St Winifred’s, 97
Leeson Street, late of Ardilea on 9 Mar 1927 and was buried at Deansgrange. He left personal
estate of 25K. He bequeathed all his property to his wife in trust for their children to be divided
how and when she saw fit and in default to be divided equally between their four children.
Kathleen moved to Danesfield in Ailesbury Road. She died at St Vincent’s Private Nursing
Home, late of Danesfield on 19 Aug 1956 aged 76 and was buried with her husband.
1 Bridget Mary (Biddy) Fitzgerald born 20 Aug 1905 at Ardilea. She married Brendan E W
Robinson at Donnybrook on 5 Jan 1932. Brendan was a merchant, resident at Warwick
and the son of Herbert Robinson. President William Thomas Cosgrave and his wife
attended the wedding. They were living in Birmingham in 1948.
2 Mary P Fitzgerald born 20 Jun 1907 at Ardilea died unmarried at Ailesbury Road and was
buried with her brother James at Deansgrange.
3 Catherine (Kathleen) Fitzgerald born 24 Aug 1910 at Ardilea married Michael Andrew
Bowles, a conductor and musicologist at Donnybrook RC Church on 6 June 1945. Michael
was the director and principal conductor of the Eire Broadcasting Service (Radio Eireann)
before taking up the position of conductor with the National Orchestra in New Zealand in
1950. They had no children and returned to Ireland in 1970.
4 James (Jim) Fitzgerald born 25 Apr 1912 at Ardilea was educated St Gerard's, Bray and
at Ampleforth College, Yorkshire. He was MD of Fitzgerald & Co, wine and spirit merchants
of Westmoreland Street. He died 27 Apr 1948 at 'Merton', Merton Road, Ranelagh and his
funeral mass was held at the Church of the Holy Name. The Taoiseach John Costello
attended the funeral. He was buried at Deansgrange. He was survived by his wife
Margaret and two children.
5 Honoria (Nora) Fitzgerald born 31 Aug 1915 at Ardilea. She lived at 17 Fitzwilliam Place
from 1960 and she was a governor of the Central Remedial Clinic working alongside Lady
Valerie Goulding as well as being chairman and managing director of Messrs Fitzgerald’s &
Co of Westland Row. CRC also nominated her for senator in 1960. She died unmarried on
7 Nov 1968 at St Vincent's Private Nursing Home on Leeson Street. She was buried at
Deansgrange with her parents.
6 Martin Fitzgerald youngest child born 7 Jun 1917 at Ardilea and was educated at St
Gerard's, Bray, Ampleforth College in Yorkshire and later attended Trinity. He enlisted
at the start of the war with the North Irish Horse in 1939. He transferred to the Royal
Armoured Corps of the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, service no 245398. He
married Rosaleen Dunn on 26 Mar 1941 at Portrush. Rosaleen was the youngest
daughter of Andrew E Dunn of Springfield, Co Derry and his wife Edith Ross. He was
awarded the Military Cross for his actions at the liberation of Geffen, Holland in
October 1944. Acting Lieutenant Fitzgerald died from wounds on the Western Front
in Germany on 4 Apr 1945. He is buried and commemorated at the Reichswald Forest
War Cemetery in Germany. He was survived by his wife and two children.
4 Mary Fitzgerald born 25 Mar 1867 at Charlestown married Dr Alexander McDonnel at St Andrew's,
Westland Row on 30 Sep 1890. Alexander was the son of Alexander and Ellen McDonnell of
Kilmovee. They had three sons and four daughters and lived in London. Alexander died in London
in 1923.
5 Eleanor Fitzgerald born 22 Oct 1870 at Charlestown.
6 Michael E Fitzgerald was involved in the Abbey Street business with his brother Martin.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – November 2021
James Fitzgerald married Bridget Mullarkey
born circa 1816
died 24 Jan 1891
Charlestown, Mayo
James Fitzgerald married Bridget Mullarkey. James died at Charlestown on 24 Jan 1891, his son Martin
the informant. James left 6k in personal estate and Brigid, his wife was his executor.
1 Katherine Fitzgerald born circa 1854 married Michael McDonnell on 15 May 1875 at
Charlestown. Michael was a shopkeeper and publican and the son of Alexander McDonnell.
Katherine died at Rosses Point on 19 Jul 1899. Her brothers, Michael, Martin & James attended
her funeral.
1 Ellen McDonnell born 11 May 1876 at Charlestown.
2 James McDonnell born 21 Mar 1877 at Charlestown.
3 Anne McDonnell born circa 1883.
4 Bride McDonnell born circa 1884 became a nun circa 1905. Sister Gonzaga died in 1916.
2 James Fitzgerald born 27 Aug 1864 at Charlestown was a solicitor of Albert Street Sligo. He
married Mabel Davys, daughter of Coughran Davys at Cassarow Church, Sligo on 12 Dec 1896.
He died aged 42 at his residence Cairsfoot, Sligo on 11 Aug 1907.
3 Martin Thomas Fitzgerald born 9 Nov 1865 at Charlestown, Co Mayo. He was a rectifying
distiller and a wine and spirit merchant with premises at Westland row before moving to
Middle Abbey Street in 1894. These premises were badly damaged in the Dublin City fire of
1898. He was living at Lea House in Pembroke Road in 1901 and was living at Ardilea, Roebuck
when he married Mary Kathleen Fogarty, daughter of William Fogarty and Catherine Quinlivan at
the Church of the Visitation, Fairview on 18 Oct 1904. Catherine's father was a wealthy colonial
merchant with interests in Jamaica. In 1907 Martin offered to promote and back a boxing fight.
On St Patrick's Day 1908, James 'Jem' Roche fought the American Tommy Burns for the world
heavyweight title at the Theatre Royal, Dublin, with a purse of £1,500. The fight lasted 88
seconds. Martin's premises were destroyed again in 1916 during the rising and he traded from
Thomas Street for a time. He was well known in racing circles and a friend of Richard Croker. He
kept race horses sired by Croker's Orby at Ardilea. He was a friend of the English journalist
Hamilton Edwards and together they purchased the Freeman’s journal in 1919. It was a difficult
time for newspapers and in 1920 Martin ended up in Mountjoy jail with Hamilton for publishing a
story on army brutality. In 1922 their printing presses by smashed by irregulars. Martin was
nominated to the Free State Senate in 1922 and served in the Seanad until his death. The
Freeman’s Journal was bought by the Irish Independent in 1924. Martin died at St Winifred’s, 97
Leeson Street, late of Ardilea on 9 Mar 1927 and was buried at Deansgrange. He left personal
estate of 25K. He bequeathed all his property to his wife in trust for their children to be divided
how and when she saw fit and in default to be divided equally between their four children.
Kathleen moved to Danesfield in Ailesbury Road. She died at St Vincent’s Private Nursing
Home, late of Danesfield on 19 Aug 1956 aged 76 and was buried with her husband.
1 Bridget Mary (Biddy) Fitzgerald born 20 Aug 1905 at Ardilea. She married Brendan E W
Robinson at Donnybrook on 5 Jan 1932. Brendan was a merchant, resident at Warwick
and the son of Herbert Robinson. President William Thomas Cosgrave and his wife
attended the wedding. They were living in Birmingham in 1948.
2 Mary P Fitzgerald born 20 Jun 1907 at Ardilea died unmarried at Ailesbury Road and was
buried with her brother James at Deansgrange.
3 Catherine (Kathleen) Fitzgerald born 24 Aug 1910 at Ardilea married Michael Andrew
Bowles, a conductor and musicologist at Donnybrook RC Church on 6 June 1945. Michael
was the director and principal conductor of the Eire Broadcasting Service (Radio Eireann)
before taking up the position of conductor with the National Orchestra in New Zealand in
1950. They had no children and returned to Ireland in 1970.
4 James (Jim) Fitzgerald born 25 Apr 1912 at Ardilea was educated St Gerard's, Bray and
at Ampleforth College, Yorkshire. He was MD of Fitzgerald & Co, wine and spirit merchants
of Westmoreland Street. He died 27 Apr 1948 at 'Merton', Merton Road, Ranelagh and his
funeral mass was held at the Church of the Holy Name. The Taoiseach John Costello
attended the funeral. He was buried at Deansgrange. He was survived by his wife
Margaret and two children.
5 Honoria (Nora) Fitzgerald born 31 Aug 1915 at Ardilea. She lived at 17 Fitzwilliam Place
from 1960 and she was a governor of the Central Remedial Clinic working alongside Lady
Valerie Goulding as well as being chairman and managing director of Messrs Fitzgerald’s &
Co of Westland Row. CRC also nominated her for senator in 1960. She died unmarried on
7 Nov 1968 at St Vincent's Private Nursing Home on Leeson Street. She was buried at
Deansgrange with her parents.
6 Martin Fitzgerald youngest child born 7 Jun 1917 at Ardilea and was educated at St
Gerard's, Bray, Ampleforth College in Yorkshire and later attended Trinity. He enlisted
at the start of the war with the North Irish Horse in 1939. He transferred to the Royal
Armoured Corps of the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, service no 245398. He
married Rosaleen Dunn on 26 Mar 1941 at Portrush. Rosaleen was the youngest
daughter of Andrew E Dunn of Springfield, Co Derry and his wife Edith Ross. He was
awarded the Military Cross for his actions at the liberation of Geffen, Holland in
October 1944. Acting Lieutenant Fitzgerald died from wounds on the Western Front
in Germany on 4 Apr 1945. He is buried and commemorated at the Reichswald Forest
War Cemetery in Germany. He was survived by his wife and two children.
4 Mary Fitzgerald born 25 Mar 1867 at Charlestown married Dr Alexander McDonnel at St Andrew's,
Westland Row on 30 Sep 1890. Alexander was the son of Alexander and Ellen McDonnell of
Kilmovee. They had three sons and four daughters and lived in London. Alexander died in London
in 1923.
5 Eleanor Fitzgerald born 22 Oct 1870 at Charlestown.
6 Michael E Fitzgerald was involved in the Abbey Street business with his brother Martin.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – November 2021