Higgins of Mel Field, NewtownPark
Bernard Ferdinand Higgins married Mary Agatha Fahy
born circa 1873 20 Jan 1902 born circa 1880
England Rathgar England
died 26 Apr 1937 died 11 Nov 1954
Mel Field, Blackrock Booterstown
Bernard Ferdinand Higgins born circa 1873 son of Patrick Higgins in England. He was
working at the Technical School in Gort in 1900. In 1901 he was living with his sister
Frances in Gort He married Mary Agatha Fahey (Fahy) on 20 Feb 1902 at Rathgar RC
Church. Mary Agatha was resident at 10 Windsor Rd, Rathmines and the daughter of
Patrick Fahey.
Bernard’s sister Frances Mary Higgins a typewriter teacher born circa 1871 in England
was living with them in Rathmines in 1911 and four of their five children survived.
Bernard was one of the best known authorities on Pitman Shorthand in Ireland. He
was employed as a national teacher up to 1899, when he left government service to
take up private tuition in commercial subjects, principally shorthand. He was secretary
of the Irish Shorthand Teachers, organised the circulation of shorthand literature in
Ireland. In 1902 he was appointed the first shorthand instructor of the Rathmines
Technical Committee and also taught at the Technical Institute in Parnell Square up
until 1925. He was also the founder of the Emerald Standard School. Bernard
O’Higgins died at Melfield, NewtownPark Avenue on 26 Apr 1937 where they had
lived from 1935. His funeral mass was held at St John the Baptist, Blackrock to
Glasnevin Cemetery. Mary died 11 Nov 1954 at 10 Trimleston Avenue, Booterstown,
her son Seamus the informant. She was buried with her husband.
1 James Anthony (Seamas O’) Higgins born 5 Dec 1902 at 5 Elm Villas, Rathmines
living at Booterstown with his mother in 1954.
2 Joseph Ferdinand Higgins born 24 Mar 1905 at 154 Rathmines Road died same
place 27 Mar 1905.
3 Bernard Ferdinand Higgins born 24 Mar 1907 at 154 Rathmines Road died
15 Sep 1924 at 13 Harcourt Street. He died from TB but it is also noted that he
had grown too tall for his age. His funeral mass was held at the Carmelite
Church and he was buried at Glasnevin.
4 Patrick Joseph Higgins born 20 Dec 1908 at 154 Rathmines Road.
5 Francis F L (Lorcan) Higgins born circa 1910 in Co Dublin. He was a Parliament
Stenographer and moved to Ottawa, Canada where he married.
6 Michael Vincent (Vincent) Higgins born 2 Dec 1912 at 22 Rathmines Road. He
was a commercial traveller and died unmarried at Trimleston Avenue on
24 Oct 1969. He was buried at Glasnevin.
7 Frances Mary Higgins born 4 May 1917 at 22 Rathmines Road lived at Trimleston
Avenue and died unmarried.
8 Andrew John Higgins born 18 April 1919 at 22 Rathmines Road was a bachelor
jeweller and lived at Trimleston Avenue.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - October 2023
Return to Melfield page
Bernard Ferdinand Higgins married Mary Agatha Fahy
born circa 1873 20 Jan 1902 born circa 1880
England Rathgar England
died 26 Apr 1937 died 11 Nov 1954
Mel Field, Blackrock Booterstown
Bernard Ferdinand Higgins born circa 1873 son of Patrick Higgins in England. He was
working at the Technical School in Gort in 1900. In 1901 he was living with his sister
Frances in Gort He married Mary Agatha Fahey (Fahy) on 20 Feb 1902 at Rathgar RC
Church. Mary Agatha was resident at 10 Windsor Rd, Rathmines and the daughter of
Patrick Fahey.
Bernard’s sister Frances Mary Higgins a typewriter teacher born circa 1871 in England
was living with them in Rathmines in 1911 and four of their five children survived.
Bernard was one of the best known authorities on Pitman Shorthand in Ireland. He
was employed as a national teacher up to 1899, when he left government service to
take up private tuition in commercial subjects, principally shorthand. He was secretary
of the Irish Shorthand Teachers, organised the circulation of shorthand literature in
Ireland. In 1902 he was appointed the first shorthand instructor of the Rathmines
Technical Committee and also taught at the Technical Institute in Parnell Square up
until 1925. He was also the founder of the Emerald Standard School. Bernard
O’Higgins died at Melfield, NewtownPark Avenue on 26 Apr 1937 where they had
lived from 1935. His funeral mass was held at St John the Baptist, Blackrock to
Glasnevin Cemetery. Mary died 11 Nov 1954 at 10 Trimleston Avenue, Booterstown,
her son Seamus the informant. She was buried with her husband.
1 James Anthony (Seamas O’) Higgins born 5 Dec 1902 at 5 Elm Villas, Rathmines
living at Booterstown with his mother in 1954.
2 Joseph Ferdinand Higgins born 24 Mar 1905 at 154 Rathmines Road died same
place 27 Mar 1905.
3 Bernard Ferdinand Higgins born 24 Mar 1907 at 154 Rathmines Road died
15 Sep 1924 at 13 Harcourt Street. He died from TB but it is also noted that he
had grown too tall for his age. His funeral mass was held at the Carmelite
Church and he was buried at Glasnevin.
4 Patrick Joseph Higgins born 20 Dec 1908 at 154 Rathmines Road.
5 Francis F L (Lorcan) Higgins born circa 1910 in Co Dublin. He was a Parliament
Stenographer and moved to Ottawa, Canada where he married.
6 Michael Vincent (Vincent) Higgins born 2 Dec 1912 at 22 Rathmines Road. He
was a commercial traveller and died unmarried at Trimleston Avenue on
24 Oct 1969. He was buried at Glasnevin.
7 Frances Mary Higgins born 4 May 1917 at 22 Rathmines Road lived at Trimleston
Avenue and died unmarried.
8 Andrew John Higgins born 18 April 1919 at 22 Rathmines Road was a bachelor
jeweller and lived at Trimleston Avenue.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - October 2023
Return to Melfield page