Hughes of Holywell, Kilmacud
James Hughes married Estelle (Stella) Porter
born 1877 4 Feb 1920 born 20 Jun 1898
Whitechurch Julianstown West Street, Drogheda
died 12 Mar 1944 died 19 May 1933
James Hughes third son was born 28 Dec 1877 at Stackestown, Whitechurch of William Hughes and
his wife Margaret Bennett. His father was a land steward and caretaker and then in 1884 took on
the tenancy of Hazelbrook farm in Rathfarnham and by 1900 was a diary owner. His father died on
24 Jul 1906 at Hazelbrook farm and was buried at Whitechurch. James and his two brothers (William
and George) took over the running of the dairy and traded as Hughes Brothers. They had nearly 200
dairy cows and James was a recognised authority on dairy cattle and stock breeding. He married
Estelle Blanche Porter at Julianstown on Feb 1920. Estelle was the daughter of George E Porter, a
wine merchant and Ellen Madeline McDougall of Stamullen House, Co Meath. They went to London
on their honeymoon.
James was both farmer and businessman. In 1924 pasteurised milk in sealed bottles were produced
by Hughes Brothers dairies and by 1925 they were selling Ice cream bricks to use up surplus milk
and cream. In 1927 HB ice cream was available from Woolworths; their slogan ‘bring a few bricks to
the match’ and by 1931 they were offering an opportunity to one retailer in every town in the Free
State to sell their product. Stella died on 19 May 1933 at the Adelaide Hospital late of Hazelbrook
farm. In 1939 the firm was taken over by The Royal Bank, who called in many of their loans with the
onset of war. They also took possession of Hazelbrook House. James died 12 Mar 1944 at Holylands,
Rathfarnham. His son William the informant.
1 William Warren (Bill) Hughes eldest child born 16 Nov 1920 at a nursing home on Baggot
Street, his father was resident at Hazelbrook. William was educated at Sandford Park and
joined the family business in 1938 after finishing school. He later studied dairy bacteriology
at Kevin Street. William was kept on at the company after the bank took over its management
and by 1940, he was dairy manager.
William married Georgina Vane Tempest Hemmingway at Christ Church, Taney on
29 Jun 1946. William was resident at Harlech Villas, Goatstown Road. Georgina was the
daughter of Basil Hemmingway, a builder of Churchtown Park House, Dundrum and his wife
Dorothy Allman. He joined the board of Hughes Bros in 1950. In 1964 Hughes Bros was
bought out by American food company, W & R Grace. William became managing director in
1967. The Hughes family lived at Holywell, Dundrum from 1964 to 1970 and William continued
to work for the company which was taken over by Unilever in 1973. William retired in 1982
and went to live at Annestown, Co Waterford, and later at Druids Glen, Co Wicklow.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – July 2020
James Hughes married Estelle (Stella) Porter
born 1877 4 Feb 1920 born 20 Jun 1898
Whitechurch Julianstown West Street, Drogheda
died 12 Mar 1944 died 19 May 1933
James Hughes third son was born 28 Dec 1877 at Stackestown, Whitechurch of William Hughes and
his wife Margaret Bennett. His father was a land steward and caretaker and then in 1884 took on
the tenancy of Hazelbrook farm in Rathfarnham and by 1900 was a diary owner. His father died on
24 Jul 1906 at Hazelbrook farm and was buried at Whitechurch. James and his two brothers (William
and George) took over the running of the dairy and traded as Hughes Brothers. They had nearly 200
dairy cows and James was a recognised authority on dairy cattle and stock breeding. He married
Estelle Blanche Porter at Julianstown on Feb 1920. Estelle was the daughter of George E Porter, a
wine merchant and Ellen Madeline McDougall of Stamullen House, Co Meath. They went to London
on their honeymoon.
James was both farmer and businessman. In 1924 pasteurised milk in sealed bottles were produced
by Hughes Brothers dairies and by 1925 they were selling Ice cream bricks to use up surplus milk
and cream. In 1927 HB ice cream was available from Woolworths; their slogan ‘bring a few bricks to
the match’ and by 1931 they were offering an opportunity to one retailer in every town in the Free
State to sell their product. Stella died on 19 May 1933 at the Adelaide Hospital late of Hazelbrook
farm. In 1939 the firm was taken over by The Royal Bank, who called in many of their loans with the
onset of war. They also took possession of Hazelbrook House. James died 12 Mar 1944 at Holylands,
Rathfarnham. His son William the informant.
1 William Warren (Bill) Hughes eldest child born 16 Nov 1920 at a nursing home on Baggot
Street, his father was resident at Hazelbrook. William was educated at Sandford Park and
joined the family business in 1938 after finishing school. He later studied dairy bacteriology
at Kevin Street. William was kept on at the company after the bank took over its management
and by 1940, he was dairy manager.
William married Georgina Vane Tempest Hemmingway at Christ Church, Taney on
29 Jun 1946. William was resident at Harlech Villas, Goatstown Road. Georgina was the
daughter of Basil Hemmingway, a builder of Churchtown Park House, Dundrum and his wife
Dorothy Allman. He joined the board of Hughes Bros in 1950. In 1964 Hughes Bros was
bought out by American food company, W & R Grace. William became managing director in
1967. The Hughes family lived at Holywell, Dundrum from 1964 to 1970 and William continued
to work for the company which was taken over by Unilever in 1973. William retired in 1982
and went to live at Annestown, Co Waterford, and later at Druids Glen, Co Wicklow.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – July 2020