McKenna of Eden Park
Theobald McKenna married Frances Laffan
born 1765 10 Dec 1794 born circa 1757
died circa 10 Dec 1808 Ushers Quay died 13 Sep 1844
Great Denmark Street Georges Street
Theobald McKenna son of Eoin McKenna of Tipperary qualified as a doctor and was a member of the
RIA in 1790. He was president of the Royal Medical Society in Edinburgh in 1797. He married Frances
Laffan of Kilkenny, widow of Anthony McDermott at Ushers Quay circa 10 Dec 1794. He was a member
of the Catholic Association and in 1792 produced a pamphlet ‘A Review of the Catholic Question’– An
investigation into the Constitutional interests of Ireland with regard to that body. In 1793 he published
an essay on Parliamentary Reforms and the practicability of a tranquil emancipation. In later life he
became a barrister. Admitted Freeman of Waterford on 27 Jan 1794. They lived at Grove, Stillorgan from
1800 to 1809. In 1805 he published Thoughts on the Civil Condition and Relations of the Roman Catholic
Clergy, Religion and People in Ireland in which he criticised the government's failure to team union with
emancipation. Theobald died at his residence No 7 Great Denmark Street circa 10 Dec 1808. The
interest in his house at Denmark Street and lands (20 acres) at the Grove, Stillorgan were put up for sale
after his death. Frances of George's Street died 13 Sep 1844 and left £100 in her will to be distributed
to various churches. Her son Theobald was her executor.
1 Catherine Isabella McKenna, only daughter baptised 25 Sep 1795 at Audeon’s married Robert
Taaffe of Smarmore Castle, Ardmulchan, Co. Meath on 30 Apr 1827 at The Pro Cathedral.
Robert was the second son of John Taaffe and died 1854 aged 65.
1 John Robert Taaffe born At Ardumullan, County Meath in April 1821. He was a JP and
married Catalina Aliga Kelly, third daughter of P W Kelly, HM Consul of South America.
Catalina was also the niece of the Marquis of Surco, Comde de Lurigancho. They had five
children, none of whom married.
2 Frances Taaffe died unmarried.
2 Edmund McKenna baptised 1 Oct 1796 at St Audeons.
3 Theobald McKenna baptised at St Audeon's on 15 Nov 1797 graduated Trinity College in 1813
and was called to the Irish Bar in 1821. He married Julia Taaffe, youngest daughter of John Taaffe
of Smarmor Castle at Smarmor Castle, Co Louth on 12 Feb 1828. He was a member of the
General Association of Ireland in 1836. He was secretary to the Lord Mayor and ADC to the Lord
Lieutenant in 1852. He was sworn in Clerk of her Majesty's Privy Council in 1853. He married
Julia Taaffe of Smarmore Castle, Ardmulchan, Co. Meath. Theobald was Assistant Under
Secretary to the Chief Secretary for Ireland and in that role, he was on The temporary Relief
Commission established in November 1845 in response to the failure of the potato crop. They lived
at North Great Georges Street and moved to Mountjoy square circa 1840. Their country house was
Eden Park from 1850 to 1855. Theobald died 29 Jan 1856 at the Shelbourne Hotel. Julia was living at
Otranto Terrace in Dalkey in 1859 and died at Marlborough Villas, Richmond on 19 Feb 1883.
1 Theobald Joshua McKenna born at Georges Street North in May 1829 baptised at the Pro
Cathedral on 17 May 1829. Captain Theobald McKenna of 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment of
Foot died 26 Jun 1859 at Peiho, China. He left 1K in personal estate and his mother Julia was
his executor.
2 John McKenna born 15 Jul 1830 at North Great George’s Street baptised at the Pro Cathedral
on the same day died 31 Jul 1830.
3 John Joshua McKenna baptised at the Pro Cathedral on 26 Aug 1831 was living at Eden Park in
1854.
4 Son McKenna born 1 May 1834.
5 Fanny Mc Kenna eldest daughter born 6 Apr 1835 at Raheny died at the Augustinian Priory,
Newton Abbey, Devonshire on 18 Jan 1866.
6 Julia Mary McKenna, second daughter born September 1842 at Mountjoy Square baptised at
the Pro Cathedral on 12 Sep 1842 died at Ryde, Isle of Wight on 7 Feb 1866.
7 Elizabeth McKenna born 16 Jul 1844 at Killiney died at her residence 24 Charleville Road,
Rathmines in February 1924 aged 78. Elizabeth at her death was described as the last survivor
of the family of Theobald McKenna.
8 Stillborn daughter born December 1846 at Mountjoy Square, North.
9 Catherine Mary McKenna born 18 Mar 1849 at Convent House, Clontarf died at her residence
24 Charleville Road in January 1923 aged 73.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – November 2021
Return to Grove page
Return to Eden Park page
Theobald McKenna married Frances Laffan
born 1765 10 Dec 1794 born circa 1757
died circa 10 Dec 1808 Ushers Quay died 13 Sep 1844
Great Denmark Street Georges Street
Theobald McKenna son of Eoin McKenna of Tipperary qualified as a doctor and was a member of the
RIA in 1790. He was president of the Royal Medical Society in Edinburgh in 1797. He married Frances
Laffan of Kilkenny, widow of Anthony McDermott at Ushers Quay circa 10 Dec 1794. He was a member
of the Catholic Association and in 1792 produced a pamphlet ‘A Review of the Catholic Question’– An
investigation into the Constitutional interests of Ireland with regard to that body. In 1793 he published
an essay on Parliamentary Reforms and the practicability of a tranquil emancipation. In later life he
became a barrister. Admitted Freeman of Waterford on 27 Jan 1794. They lived at Grove, Stillorgan from
1800 to 1809. In 1805 he published Thoughts on the Civil Condition and Relations of the Roman Catholic
Clergy, Religion and People in Ireland in which he criticised the government's failure to team union with
emancipation. Theobald died at his residence No 7 Great Denmark Street circa 10 Dec 1808. The
interest in his house at Denmark Street and lands (20 acres) at the Grove, Stillorgan were put up for sale
after his death. Frances of George's Street died 13 Sep 1844 and left £100 in her will to be distributed
to various churches. Her son Theobald was her executor.
1 Catherine Isabella McKenna, only daughter baptised 25 Sep 1795 at Audeon’s married Robert
Taaffe of Smarmore Castle, Ardmulchan, Co. Meath on 30 Apr 1827 at The Pro Cathedral.
Robert was the second son of John Taaffe and died 1854 aged 65.
1 John Robert Taaffe born At Ardumullan, County Meath in April 1821. He was a JP and
married Catalina Aliga Kelly, third daughter of P W Kelly, HM Consul of South America.
Catalina was also the niece of the Marquis of Surco, Comde de Lurigancho. They had five
children, none of whom married.
2 Frances Taaffe died unmarried.
2 Edmund McKenna baptised 1 Oct 1796 at St Audeons.
3 Theobald McKenna baptised at St Audeon's on 15 Nov 1797 graduated Trinity College in 1813
and was called to the Irish Bar in 1821. He married Julia Taaffe, youngest daughter of John Taaffe
of Smarmor Castle at Smarmor Castle, Co Louth on 12 Feb 1828. He was a member of the
General Association of Ireland in 1836. He was secretary to the Lord Mayor and ADC to the Lord
Lieutenant in 1852. He was sworn in Clerk of her Majesty's Privy Council in 1853. He married
Julia Taaffe of Smarmore Castle, Ardmulchan, Co. Meath. Theobald was Assistant Under
Secretary to the Chief Secretary for Ireland and in that role, he was on The temporary Relief
Commission established in November 1845 in response to the failure of the potato crop. They lived
at North Great Georges Street and moved to Mountjoy square circa 1840. Their country house was
Eden Park from 1850 to 1855. Theobald died 29 Jan 1856 at the Shelbourne Hotel. Julia was living at
Otranto Terrace in Dalkey in 1859 and died at Marlborough Villas, Richmond on 19 Feb 1883.
1 Theobald Joshua McKenna born at Georges Street North in May 1829 baptised at the Pro
Cathedral on 17 May 1829. Captain Theobald McKenna of 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment of
Foot died 26 Jun 1859 at Peiho, China. He left 1K in personal estate and his mother Julia was
his executor.
2 John McKenna born 15 Jul 1830 at North Great George’s Street baptised at the Pro Cathedral
on the same day died 31 Jul 1830.
3 John Joshua McKenna baptised at the Pro Cathedral on 26 Aug 1831 was living at Eden Park in
1854.
4 Son McKenna born 1 May 1834.
5 Fanny Mc Kenna eldest daughter born 6 Apr 1835 at Raheny died at the Augustinian Priory,
Newton Abbey, Devonshire on 18 Jan 1866.
6 Julia Mary McKenna, second daughter born September 1842 at Mountjoy Square baptised at
the Pro Cathedral on 12 Sep 1842 died at Ryde, Isle of Wight on 7 Feb 1866.
7 Elizabeth McKenna born 16 Jul 1844 at Killiney died at her residence 24 Charleville Road,
Rathmines in February 1924 aged 78. Elizabeth at her death was described as the last survivor
of the family of Theobald McKenna.
8 Stillborn daughter born December 1846 at Mountjoy Square, North.
9 Catherine Mary McKenna born 18 Mar 1849 at Convent House, Clontarf died at her residence
24 Charleville Road in January 1923 aged 73.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – November 2021
Return to Grove page
Return to Eden Park page