Hon Ellen O'Brien
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Lord Chief Justice Peter O'Brien
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Lord Chief Justice Peter O'Brien of Airfield
John O’Brien married Ellen Murphy
born circa 1794 7 Jun 1827
died 6 Feb 1855 Hyde Park, Cork died 19 Dec 1860
Dublin Dublin
John O’Brien son of James O’Brien of Limerick. He graduated Trinity College and attained the
gold medal for of the College Historical Society. He was called to the bar but did not follow
the profession. He married Ellen Murphy on 7 Jun 1827 at Hyde Park, Cork. Ellen was the
only daughter of Jeremiah Murphy of Hyde Park, Cork. They lived at Elmvale, Corofin on 63
acres in Clare. He was high sheriff in 1836 and he was a magistrate. He bought an
(ecclesiastical) estate near Corofin for 6K in May 1838. They moved to Carnelly in 1839 and
the following year he entertained his tenants with a dinner on them attending to pay their rent
and donated £20 towards the repairs at Kilfenora Chapel. He was a subscriber to the
O’Connell Tribute Fund. He kept all labourers employed on the estate and supplied oatmeal
at first cost to the poor of Kilfenora. He advanced £100 to build a school house at Kilfenora
and was elected MP for Limerick in 1841. They later lived at Ballynalacken, Co Clare. They had
at least eleven children. John died on 6 Feb 1855 at Shelbourne Hotel on Stephen’s Green, his
eldest son James and his brother James (Sergeant O’Brien) in attendance. Ellen died on
19 Dec 1860 at 21 Pembroke Place, Dublin.
1 Mary O’Brien born April 1828 at Hyde Park, Cork died 1 Jan 1850.
2 James O’Brien son and heir O’Brien born January 1832 at The Tontine Buildings, Limerick.
He graduated Trinity and entered Kings Inns. Of Ballynalacken Lodge and Elm Vale he
was appointed a magistrate in 1856 and was high sheriff in 1857 and 1858. In 1861 he
returned 2 years rents to many of his tenants which was gratefully acknowledged. He
married widow Georgina Calcutt on 23 Nov 1865 at Three Castles, Kilkenny. Georgina
was the daughter of George Martyro and the widow of Francis McNamara Calcutt, MP.
Georgina died at Ballynalacken on 9 Jan 1894 aged 77 and James died at Ballynalacken on
29 Jan 1904.
3 John O’Brien second son born January 1833 at The Tontine Buildings, Limerick. He
graduated Trinity in 1854. He was a barrister but joined the Cistercians of La Trappe
at Mount Melleray in 1860. Rev Father O'Brien, monk of the order of St Bernard visited
his family in Clare in 1865.
4 Jerome O’Brien born 12 Aug 1834 at the Tontine Buildings, Limerick attended Sandhurst
attained a commission in the 28th Regiment and retired in 1865. As second son he
married Elizabeth Anne Clarke on 14 Feb 1867 at Odagh Church, Kilkenny. Elizabeth was
the daughter of Robert Hare Clarke. His brother Peter a witness. They lived at 77 Marlboro
Road, Donnybrook. Jerome died 16 Jul 1892 at Marlboro Road, Donnybrook.
1 Turlogh O’Brien born on 19 Nov 1867 at 13 Herbert Place.
2 James O’Brien born on 13 Aug 1876 at 13 Herbert Place graduated Trinity and was
called to the bar on 1899.
5 Margaret O’Brien born at the Tontine, Limerick in January 1836 as eldest daughter married
James Martin on 2 Nov 1853 at Elmvale.
6 Catherine (Catto) O’Brien third daughter born in May 1837 at Elmvale. She took the veil of a
novice and entered Laurel Hill Convent, Limerick in 1861.
7 William O’Brien fourth son March 1838 at Tontine buildings, Limerick attended East India
Military College at Addiscombe and was appointed to Bengal Artillery in 1857 served during
the mutiny and attained the rank of captain. He was on his way home from Calcutta in the
French steamer stopping overnight at Point de Falle in Ceylon. He suffered from
somnambulism and during his sleep he walked through an open window and fell from a
considerable height. He died 12 May 1867.
8 Peter Francis Joseph O'Brien fifth son born 29 Jun 1840 at Carnelly was educated at Jesuit
school at Tullabeg, Clongowes Wood and Trinity College. He was called to the bar in 1865
and ‘devilling’ for Christopher Palles and registrar to Justice James O’Brien, his uncle. He
married Anne Clarke on 8 Aug 1867 at Odagh Parish Church, Kilkenny. Annie was the
daughter of Robert Hare Clarke, a Tipperary magistrate of Bansha. He unsuccessfully stood
as the Liberal candidate for County Clare in 1879 and took silk in 1880. He earned the
nickname of ‘Peter the Packer’ because of his ability to select juries free from what he called
'prejudiced persons' and is mentioned by his sobriquet in James Joyce’s Ulysses. In 1882,
he was one of the principal prosecutors in the Phoenix Park and maamtrasna murder trials.
The lived at Herbert Place and at Castletown House in County Kildare from 1894 to 1899 and
was a well known figure at the Kildare Hunt meetings. He was also involved in cricket and
rowing. He served as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland between 1889 and 1913 and they moved to
Newlands Demesne in Clondalkin in 1900. He was created a Baronet in 1891 and raised to
the House of Lords in 1900 as Lord O’Brien, Baron of Kilfenora. They lived at Airfield, Stillorgan
Road from 1905 to 1914. His private secretary Cholmondeley B Clarke also lived in the house.
He retired in 1913 struggling with diabetes and dictated his memoirs to his daughter
Georgina. Sir Peter died at Airfield in 7 Sep 1914 and left 30K in personal estate. He was
buried at Deansgrange. The baronetcy became extinct on his death. Lady O’Brien moved to
London in 1922 and died in December 1928 at Ovington Gardens, London. She was buried at
Kensington cemetery.
1 Premature son O’Brien stillborn on 26 Jul 1868 at Swifts Heath, Kilkenny.
2 Hon Anna Georgina O’Brien elder daughter born circa 1870 in Dublin wrote short
stories and novels many of which were published. She acted as her father’s
amanuensis and had her own car while living in Airfield. She edited her father’s
memoirs after his death and published them in 1916. She narrowly escaped fire when
her dog Czecho the dachshund woke her during the night to discover a fused wire
burning the carpet. She died at Boultibrook, Radnorshire on 21 Jan 1943 late of
Ovington Gardens, London and left 20K in personal estate.
3 Hon Ellen Mary (Ellie) O’Brien born 23 Jan 1873 at 13 Herbert Place in Dublin was
presented to the King in 1903 died at Ovington Gardens on 1930.
9 Francis Stack O’Brien born 27 Aug 1842 at Carnelly, Co Clare died in April 1847 at Carnelly
from measles aged five.
10 Terence O’Brien sixth son born January 1844 at Carnelly, Co Clare. He graduated Trinity
College and entered Kings Inns in 1864. He died in Clare in 1867.
11 Ellen O’Brien youngest daughter born August 1846 at Carnelly married Robert Daniell at
Dalkey parish Church on 18 Aug 1864. Robert was the son of Henry Daniell.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - August 2024
Return to Airfield Stillorgan page
John O’Brien married Ellen Murphy
born circa 1794 7 Jun 1827
died 6 Feb 1855 Hyde Park, Cork died 19 Dec 1860
Dublin Dublin
John O’Brien son of James O’Brien of Limerick. He graduated Trinity College and attained the
gold medal for of the College Historical Society. He was called to the bar but did not follow
the profession. He married Ellen Murphy on 7 Jun 1827 at Hyde Park, Cork. Ellen was the
only daughter of Jeremiah Murphy of Hyde Park, Cork. They lived at Elmvale, Corofin on 63
acres in Clare. He was high sheriff in 1836 and he was a magistrate. He bought an
(ecclesiastical) estate near Corofin for 6K in May 1838. They moved to Carnelly in 1839 and
the following year he entertained his tenants with a dinner on them attending to pay their rent
and donated £20 towards the repairs at Kilfenora Chapel. He was a subscriber to the
O’Connell Tribute Fund. He kept all labourers employed on the estate and supplied oatmeal
at first cost to the poor of Kilfenora. He advanced £100 to build a school house at Kilfenora
and was elected MP for Limerick in 1841. They later lived at Ballynalacken, Co Clare. They had
at least eleven children. John died on 6 Feb 1855 at Shelbourne Hotel on Stephen’s Green, his
eldest son James and his brother James (Sergeant O’Brien) in attendance. Ellen died on
19 Dec 1860 at 21 Pembroke Place, Dublin.
1 Mary O’Brien born April 1828 at Hyde Park, Cork died 1 Jan 1850.
2 James O’Brien son and heir O’Brien born January 1832 at The Tontine Buildings, Limerick.
He graduated Trinity and entered Kings Inns. Of Ballynalacken Lodge and Elm Vale he
was appointed a magistrate in 1856 and was high sheriff in 1857 and 1858. In 1861 he
returned 2 years rents to many of his tenants which was gratefully acknowledged. He
married widow Georgina Calcutt on 23 Nov 1865 at Three Castles, Kilkenny. Georgina
was the daughter of George Martyro and the widow of Francis McNamara Calcutt, MP.
Georgina died at Ballynalacken on 9 Jan 1894 aged 77 and James died at Ballynalacken on
29 Jan 1904.
3 John O’Brien second son born January 1833 at The Tontine Buildings, Limerick. He
graduated Trinity in 1854. He was a barrister but joined the Cistercians of La Trappe
at Mount Melleray in 1860. Rev Father O'Brien, monk of the order of St Bernard visited
his family in Clare in 1865.
4 Jerome O’Brien born 12 Aug 1834 at the Tontine Buildings, Limerick attended Sandhurst
attained a commission in the 28th Regiment and retired in 1865. As second son he
married Elizabeth Anne Clarke on 14 Feb 1867 at Odagh Church, Kilkenny. Elizabeth was
the daughter of Robert Hare Clarke. His brother Peter a witness. They lived at 77 Marlboro
Road, Donnybrook. Jerome died 16 Jul 1892 at Marlboro Road, Donnybrook.
1 Turlogh O’Brien born on 19 Nov 1867 at 13 Herbert Place.
2 James O’Brien born on 13 Aug 1876 at 13 Herbert Place graduated Trinity and was
called to the bar on 1899.
5 Margaret O’Brien born at the Tontine, Limerick in January 1836 as eldest daughter married
James Martin on 2 Nov 1853 at Elmvale.
6 Catherine (Catto) O’Brien third daughter born in May 1837 at Elmvale. She took the veil of a
novice and entered Laurel Hill Convent, Limerick in 1861.
7 William O’Brien fourth son March 1838 at Tontine buildings, Limerick attended East India
Military College at Addiscombe and was appointed to Bengal Artillery in 1857 served during
the mutiny and attained the rank of captain. He was on his way home from Calcutta in the
French steamer stopping overnight at Point de Falle in Ceylon. He suffered from
somnambulism and during his sleep he walked through an open window and fell from a
considerable height. He died 12 May 1867.
8 Peter Francis Joseph O'Brien fifth son born 29 Jun 1840 at Carnelly was educated at Jesuit
school at Tullabeg, Clongowes Wood and Trinity College. He was called to the bar in 1865
and ‘devilling’ for Christopher Palles and registrar to Justice James O’Brien, his uncle. He
married Anne Clarke on 8 Aug 1867 at Odagh Parish Church, Kilkenny. Annie was the
daughter of Robert Hare Clarke, a Tipperary magistrate of Bansha. He unsuccessfully stood
as the Liberal candidate for County Clare in 1879 and took silk in 1880. He earned the
nickname of ‘Peter the Packer’ because of his ability to select juries free from what he called
'prejudiced persons' and is mentioned by his sobriquet in James Joyce’s Ulysses. In 1882,
he was one of the principal prosecutors in the Phoenix Park and maamtrasna murder trials.
The lived at Herbert Place and at Castletown House in County Kildare from 1894 to 1899 and
was a well known figure at the Kildare Hunt meetings. He was also involved in cricket and
rowing. He served as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland between 1889 and 1913 and they moved to
Newlands Demesne in Clondalkin in 1900. He was created a Baronet in 1891 and raised to
the House of Lords in 1900 as Lord O’Brien, Baron of Kilfenora. They lived at Airfield, Stillorgan
Road from 1905 to 1914. His private secretary Cholmondeley B Clarke also lived in the house.
He retired in 1913 struggling with diabetes and dictated his memoirs to his daughter
Georgina. Sir Peter died at Airfield in 7 Sep 1914 and left 30K in personal estate. He was
buried at Deansgrange. The baronetcy became extinct on his death. Lady O’Brien moved to
London in 1922 and died in December 1928 at Ovington Gardens, London. She was buried at
Kensington cemetery.
1 Premature son O’Brien stillborn on 26 Jul 1868 at Swifts Heath, Kilkenny.
2 Hon Anna Georgina O’Brien elder daughter born circa 1870 in Dublin wrote short
stories and novels many of which were published. She acted as her father’s
amanuensis and had her own car while living in Airfield. She edited her father’s
memoirs after his death and published them in 1916. She narrowly escaped fire when
her dog Czecho the dachshund woke her during the night to discover a fused wire
burning the carpet. She died at Boultibrook, Radnorshire on 21 Jan 1943 late of
Ovington Gardens, London and left 20K in personal estate.
3 Hon Ellen Mary (Ellie) O’Brien born 23 Jan 1873 at 13 Herbert Place in Dublin was
presented to the King in 1903 died at Ovington Gardens on 1930.
9 Francis Stack O’Brien born 27 Aug 1842 at Carnelly, Co Clare died in April 1847 at Carnelly
from measles aged five.
10 Terence O’Brien sixth son born January 1844 at Carnelly, Co Clare. He graduated Trinity
College and entered Kings Inns in 1864. He died in Clare in 1867.
11 Ellen O’Brien youngest daughter born August 1846 at Carnelly married Robert Daniell at
Dalkey parish Church on 18 Aug 1864. Robert was the son of Henry Daniell.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - August 2024
Return to Airfield Stillorgan page