Kirk Family of Ruby Lodge, Blackrock
William Kirk from Edinburgh settled in Newry and moved to Cork after his marriage to Elizabeth Bible.
Son Thomas was born in 1781 who after studying in the Dublin Society Schools obtained employment
with Henry Darley the stonecutter. In 1808 Thomas was awarded the commission for the statue of
Nelson to surmount the pillar on Sackville Street and in that same year married Elizabeth Robinson
daughter of Joseph Robinson a builder of Golden Lane. Thomas was a peer and rival of Thomas Farrell
of Redesdale with whom he fabricated bronze panels for the Wellington Testimonial in the Phoenix Park.
He also made the death mask for Nathaniel Sneyd. Thomas died on 19.04.1845 and was buried at
Mount Jerome.
Thomas Kirk married 19.02.1808 Elizabeth Robinson
born circa 1781 Cork born circa 1788
died 19.04.1845 (66) died 25.02.1869 (81)
buried at Mount Jerome * at her son’s residence
at 5 Upper Leeson Street
buried at Mount Jerome
1 Mary Anne Kirk eldest daughter born circa 1811 married Henry Stewart of Dame Street on
16.09.1841 at St Mary’s Church, Dublin. Mary and Henry went to live in America.
1 Thomas Kirk Stewart born 11.11.1848 in New York.
2 Charles Law Stewart died aged 2 months 13 days.
2 Susanna Kirk baptised 05.04.1812 at St Mary’s Church.
3 Catherine Kirk baptised 27.06.1813 at St Mary’s Church.
4 Elizabeth Kirk born circa 1814 trained as a sculptor with her father and won many awards
for her miniature portrait busts. She died on 30.06.1901 at 8 Old Mount Pleasant and was
buried at Mount Jerome.
5 Margaret Kirk baptised on 25.02.1816 at St Mary’s Church. Margaret died on 03.06.1886
aged 67 years at 81 Roseneath Terrace, London Bridge Road, Dublin and is buried at Mount
Jerome. Informant was her sister Elizabeth Kirk.
6 Alice Kirk baptised 16.03.1817 at St Mary’s Church.
7 Catherine Eleanor Kirk born 21.05.1819 and baptised on 30.05.1819 at St Mary’s Church.
Catherine died on 23.11.1892 aged 73 years at 8 Old Mount Pleasant and is buried at
Mount Jerome.
8 Joseph Robinson Kirk eldest son born 25.09.1820 and baptised 15.10.1820 at St Mary’s
Church. Joseph AB TCD ARHA a Sculptor married Jane Rachel Murray daughter of William
Petty Murray of Monkstown on 04.11.1845 at Monkstown Church. Probate was granted to
Joseph on the estate of Thomas Bradley in 1862 and Charlotte Bradley in 1863. They lived
at Ruby Lodge from 1863 to 1868 with Jane's parent's. Eliza Murray, mother of Jane died at
Ruby Lodge on 11.11.1866. A memorial tablet to Dorcas Grady in Stillorgan Church is
though to be his work.
Joseph had a long career and his more famous works include the figures of Divinity, Law,
Medicine and Science on the campanile in TCD. He was also responsible for the Crampton
Fountain on D'Olier Street. This eventually disintegrated by 1959 and was replaced in 1986
by the current 'Long Stone'. Joseph also produced numerous portrait busts which are on view
in various public buildings. He died on 29.08.1894 aged 73 years at Millward Terrace, Bray
and is buried at Mount Jerome. Jane died on 13.01.1914 aged 87 years at 119 Rathmines.
9 Thomas William Kirk born 17.08.1822 baptised 01.09.1822 at St Mary’s Church.
10 Rev William Boyton Kirk 2nd son born 29.05.1824 and married Sarah Watson Mahoney
daughter of Denis Fitzgerald Mahoney in 08.12.1853 at St Anne’s Church. William was the
Vicar of St Peter’s Church, Ashton-under-Lyne and died there on 05.07.1900.
11 Rev Francis Johnston Kirk born 21.10.1826 of Jervis Street and baptised 08.11.1826 at St
Mary’s Church. Francis the curate of Gorey became a Roman Catholic in 1854 and died on
24.08.1911 in London.
12 Richard Kirk of 21 Jervis Street baptised 01.02.1829 at St Mary’s Church.
*There is a life sized female figure on his tomb the work of his son Joseph.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – January 2021
William Kirk from Edinburgh settled in Newry and moved to Cork after his marriage to Elizabeth Bible.
Son Thomas was born in 1781 who after studying in the Dublin Society Schools obtained employment
with Henry Darley the stonecutter. In 1808 Thomas was awarded the commission for the statue of
Nelson to surmount the pillar on Sackville Street and in that same year married Elizabeth Robinson
daughter of Joseph Robinson a builder of Golden Lane. Thomas was a peer and rival of Thomas Farrell
of Redesdale with whom he fabricated bronze panels for the Wellington Testimonial in the Phoenix Park.
He also made the death mask for Nathaniel Sneyd. Thomas died on 19.04.1845 and was buried at
Mount Jerome.
Thomas Kirk married 19.02.1808 Elizabeth Robinson
born circa 1781 Cork born circa 1788
died 19.04.1845 (66) died 25.02.1869 (81)
buried at Mount Jerome * at her son’s residence
at 5 Upper Leeson Street
buried at Mount Jerome
1 Mary Anne Kirk eldest daughter born circa 1811 married Henry Stewart of Dame Street on
16.09.1841 at St Mary’s Church, Dublin. Mary and Henry went to live in America.
1 Thomas Kirk Stewart born 11.11.1848 in New York.
2 Charles Law Stewart died aged 2 months 13 days.
2 Susanna Kirk baptised 05.04.1812 at St Mary’s Church.
3 Catherine Kirk baptised 27.06.1813 at St Mary’s Church.
4 Elizabeth Kirk born circa 1814 trained as a sculptor with her father and won many awards
for her miniature portrait busts. She died on 30.06.1901 at 8 Old Mount Pleasant and was
buried at Mount Jerome.
5 Margaret Kirk baptised on 25.02.1816 at St Mary’s Church. Margaret died on 03.06.1886
aged 67 years at 81 Roseneath Terrace, London Bridge Road, Dublin and is buried at Mount
Jerome. Informant was her sister Elizabeth Kirk.
6 Alice Kirk baptised 16.03.1817 at St Mary’s Church.
7 Catherine Eleanor Kirk born 21.05.1819 and baptised on 30.05.1819 at St Mary’s Church.
Catherine died on 23.11.1892 aged 73 years at 8 Old Mount Pleasant and is buried at
Mount Jerome.
8 Joseph Robinson Kirk eldest son born 25.09.1820 and baptised 15.10.1820 at St Mary’s
Church. Joseph AB TCD ARHA a Sculptor married Jane Rachel Murray daughter of William
Petty Murray of Monkstown on 04.11.1845 at Monkstown Church. Probate was granted to
Joseph on the estate of Thomas Bradley in 1862 and Charlotte Bradley in 1863. They lived
at Ruby Lodge from 1863 to 1868 with Jane's parent's. Eliza Murray, mother of Jane died at
Ruby Lodge on 11.11.1866. A memorial tablet to Dorcas Grady in Stillorgan Church is
though to be his work.
Joseph had a long career and his more famous works include the figures of Divinity, Law,
Medicine and Science on the campanile in TCD. He was also responsible for the Crampton
Fountain on D'Olier Street. This eventually disintegrated by 1959 and was replaced in 1986
by the current 'Long Stone'. Joseph also produced numerous portrait busts which are on view
in various public buildings. He died on 29.08.1894 aged 73 years at Millward Terrace, Bray
and is buried at Mount Jerome. Jane died on 13.01.1914 aged 87 years at 119 Rathmines.
9 Thomas William Kirk born 17.08.1822 baptised 01.09.1822 at St Mary’s Church.
10 Rev William Boyton Kirk 2nd son born 29.05.1824 and married Sarah Watson Mahoney
daughter of Denis Fitzgerald Mahoney in 08.12.1853 at St Anne’s Church. William was the
Vicar of St Peter’s Church, Ashton-under-Lyne and died there on 05.07.1900.
11 Rev Francis Johnston Kirk born 21.10.1826 of Jervis Street and baptised 08.11.1826 at St
Mary’s Church. Francis the curate of Gorey became a Roman Catholic in 1854 and died on
24.08.1911 in London.
12 Richard Kirk of 21 Jervis Street baptised 01.02.1829 at St Mary’s Church.
*There is a life sized female figure on his tomb the work of his son Joseph.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – January 2021