Denis Florence MacCarthy
MacCarthy family of Homestead
John MacCarthy married Sarah Courtney
born circa 1787 born circa 1788
died 8 Apr 1857 died 7 Mar 1845
John MacCarthy, a woollen merchant of Eden Quay Baggot Street. Sarah died on 7 May 1845
and was buried at Glasnevin. The family had moved to Baggot Street by 1846. John died
8 Apr 1857 and was buried with his wife.
1 Denis Florence MacCarthy only son born 26 May 1817* baptised at the Pro Cathedral.
He graduated Trinity, was admitted Kings Inns and called to the Irish bar in 1846. He
married Elizabeth Donnelly on 4 Oct 1848 at St John’s Limerick and they lived at
Blessington Street. Elizabeth was the only daughter of Matthew Donnelly, a hosier of
Westmoreland Street and his wife Bridget of Summerfield House, Dalkey. Her father
died at Blessington Street on 20 Jan 1856 age 73. Denis was a member of the Royal
Irish and the Spanish Academy. They were living at Homestead in 1858 and moved to
Summerfield House on Dalkey Avenue in 1859. Elizabeth’s mother died at Summerfield
on 21 Nov 1861. Denis was the author of the poems ‘The Bridal of the Year’ and
‘Summer Longings’. He also wrote the elaborate descriptive narrative – ‘The Voyage of
St Brendan’. Denis was left all the property of an Anne Fagan in 1862 but the court
overruled her will and her property went to her family. They moved to the continent in
1864 and lived in Spain and Italy before moving to London in 1871.
Elizabeth died 22 August 1874 aged 53 at Eglington Park, Kingstown and was buried at
Glasnevin. In 1879 Denis was crowned Poet Laureate by the Lord Mayor of Dublin. Denis
received a bequest of 3K in 1881 from Peter Depoe (a man who just liked his poetry).
Peter also left 3k to each of Denis’ sons. In later life Denis moved to 4 Herbert Terrace,
Mount Merrion Avenue to be closer to his daughter Mary. He died 7 Apr 1882 at Herbert
Terrace, Blackrock and his funeral mass was held at St Mary’s Booterstown before burial
at Glasnevin. After his death a committee commissioned a bust by Thomas Farrell which,
with the agreement of Dublin Corporation, was displayed in the City Hall in Dublin.
1 Mary MacCarthy eldest daughter born on 26 Dec 1849 at Blessington Street
baptised at St Michan’s. She was educated at St Catherine's Dominican Convent,
Sion Hill. She stayed on and became a novice in 1867 and professed as Sister
Mary Stanislaus in 1870. She taught English literature at the school but she
was also a poet and wrote 'Songs of Sion'. She also taught at St Mary’s College,
Merrion Square. She died from typhoid on 11 Aug 1897 at St Catherine's and
was buried at Sion Hill.
2 John MacCarthy baptised at St Michan’s on 16 Jan 1851 died in London circa
1926.
3 William Desmond (Willie) MacCarthy born 10 Nov 1853 at Blessington Street died
same place on 30 Nov 1854.
4 Josephine Elizabeth MacCarthy born 29 Apr 1855 at 29 Blessington Street baptised
at St Michan’s. She died on 19 Mar 1874 at the Richmond Convent and was buried
at Glasnevin.
5 Florence Edward MacCarthy born 9 Nov 1856 at 1 Cavendish Row baptised at the Pro
Cathedral. He died on 12 Dec 1880 at Ventnor, Isle of Wight and is remembered on
the family headstone at Glasnevin.
6 Ethna MacCarthy born 7 Feb 1858 at Summerfield House, Dalkey baptised at
Kingstown on 10 Feb 1858 died on 16 Dec 1885 at Bruges, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
7 Premature stillborn son MacCarthy born 15 Nov 1858 at Homestead, Dundrum.
8 Elizabeth Gertrude (Lillie) MacCarthy born 1860 at 129 Stephen’s Green baptised at
St Andrew’s Westland Row. Lillie died on 30 Sep 1873 and was buried at Glasnevin.
9 Brendan MacCarthy youngest son born 18 Nov 1861 at 190 Great Brunswick Street,
baptised at St Andrew’s, Westland Row. He was a medical doctor and private secretary
to John O'Hagan. He was also medical inspector with the Local Government Board.
In 1901 he went to the assistance of Dr William Smyth, medical officer of Dungloe and
Burtonport, Co Donegal, to help him transport typhus patients off the fever-stricken
island of Arranmore to Glenties hospital on the mainland. The patients recovered,
but Dr Smyth contracted typhus and died. Brendan married Eleanor Frances Dexter
in 1901 at Kensington, London and they had four children of whom three were alive in
1911. Brendan died on 23 Apr 1934 at ‘Desmond’, Sandymount.
1 Brendan Florence MacCarthy born 18 Apr 1901 at Portobello House, Dublin.
2 Eithne MacCarthy born 2 Apr 1903 in Derry living with her family in 1911.
graduated Trinity College Dublin where she taught languages. She later
studied medicine and was poet and paediatrician. She died 24 May 1959 in
London.
3 Denis Florence MacCarthy born 12 Aug 1904 in Co Londonderry living with
his family in 1911.
4 Desmond Brendan MacCarthy born 26 August 1907 in Londonderry living with
his family in 1911.
* As per headstone
© June Bow & Karen Poff - January 2025
Return to Homestead page
John MacCarthy married Sarah Courtney
born circa 1787 born circa 1788
died 8 Apr 1857 died 7 Mar 1845
John MacCarthy, a woollen merchant of Eden Quay Baggot Street. Sarah died on 7 May 1845
and was buried at Glasnevin. The family had moved to Baggot Street by 1846. John died
8 Apr 1857 and was buried with his wife.
1 Denis Florence MacCarthy only son born 26 May 1817* baptised at the Pro Cathedral.
He graduated Trinity, was admitted Kings Inns and called to the Irish bar in 1846. He
married Elizabeth Donnelly on 4 Oct 1848 at St John’s Limerick and they lived at
Blessington Street. Elizabeth was the only daughter of Matthew Donnelly, a hosier of
Westmoreland Street and his wife Bridget of Summerfield House, Dalkey. Her father
died at Blessington Street on 20 Jan 1856 age 73. Denis was a member of the Royal
Irish and the Spanish Academy. They were living at Homestead in 1858 and moved to
Summerfield House on Dalkey Avenue in 1859. Elizabeth’s mother died at Summerfield
on 21 Nov 1861. Denis was the author of the poems ‘The Bridal of the Year’ and
‘Summer Longings’. He also wrote the elaborate descriptive narrative – ‘The Voyage of
St Brendan’. Denis was left all the property of an Anne Fagan in 1862 but the court
overruled her will and her property went to her family. They moved to the continent in
1864 and lived in Spain and Italy before moving to London in 1871.
Elizabeth died 22 August 1874 aged 53 at Eglington Park, Kingstown and was buried at
Glasnevin. In 1879 Denis was crowned Poet Laureate by the Lord Mayor of Dublin. Denis
received a bequest of 3K in 1881 from Peter Depoe (a man who just liked his poetry).
Peter also left 3k to each of Denis’ sons. In later life Denis moved to 4 Herbert Terrace,
Mount Merrion Avenue to be closer to his daughter Mary. He died 7 Apr 1882 at Herbert
Terrace, Blackrock and his funeral mass was held at St Mary’s Booterstown before burial
at Glasnevin. After his death a committee commissioned a bust by Thomas Farrell which,
with the agreement of Dublin Corporation, was displayed in the City Hall in Dublin.
1 Mary MacCarthy eldest daughter born on 26 Dec 1849 at Blessington Street
baptised at St Michan’s. She was educated at St Catherine's Dominican Convent,
Sion Hill. She stayed on and became a novice in 1867 and professed as Sister
Mary Stanislaus in 1870. She taught English literature at the school but she
was also a poet and wrote 'Songs of Sion'. She also taught at St Mary’s College,
Merrion Square. She died from typhoid on 11 Aug 1897 at St Catherine's and
was buried at Sion Hill.
2 John MacCarthy baptised at St Michan’s on 16 Jan 1851 died in London circa
1926.
3 William Desmond (Willie) MacCarthy born 10 Nov 1853 at Blessington Street died
same place on 30 Nov 1854.
4 Josephine Elizabeth MacCarthy born 29 Apr 1855 at 29 Blessington Street baptised
at St Michan’s. She died on 19 Mar 1874 at the Richmond Convent and was buried
at Glasnevin.
5 Florence Edward MacCarthy born 9 Nov 1856 at 1 Cavendish Row baptised at the Pro
Cathedral. He died on 12 Dec 1880 at Ventnor, Isle of Wight and is remembered on
the family headstone at Glasnevin.
6 Ethna MacCarthy born 7 Feb 1858 at Summerfield House, Dalkey baptised at
Kingstown on 10 Feb 1858 died on 16 Dec 1885 at Bruges, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
7 Premature stillborn son MacCarthy born 15 Nov 1858 at Homestead, Dundrum.
8 Elizabeth Gertrude (Lillie) MacCarthy born 1860 at 129 Stephen’s Green baptised at
St Andrew’s Westland Row. Lillie died on 30 Sep 1873 and was buried at Glasnevin.
9 Brendan MacCarthy youngest son born 18 Nov 1861 at 190 Great Brunswick Street,
baptised at St Andrew’s, Westland Row. He was a medical doctor and private secretary
to John O'Hagan. He was also medical inspector with the Local Government Board.
In 1901 he went to the assistance of Dr William Smyth, medical officer of Dungloe and
Burtonport, Co Donegal, to help him transport typhus patients off the fever-stricken
island of Arranmore to Glenties hospital on the mainland. The patients recovered,
but Dr Smyth contracted typhus and died. Brendan married Eleanor Frances Dexter
in 1901 at Kensington, London and they had four children of whom three were alive in
1911. Brendan died on 23 Apr 1934 at ‘Desmond’, Sandymount.
1 Brendan Florence MacCarthy born 18 Apr 1901 at Portobello House, Dublin.
2 Eithne MacCarthy born 2 Apr 1903 in Derry living with her family in 1911.
graduated Trinity College Dublin where she taught languages. She later
studied medicine and was poet and paediatrician. She died 24 May 1959 in
London.
3 Denis Florence MacCarthy born 12 Aug 1904 in Co Londonderry living with
his family in 1911.
4 Desmond Brendan MacCarthy born 26 August 1907 in Londonderry living with
his family in 1911.
* As per headstone
© June Bow & Karen Poff - January 2025
Return to Homestead page