Mecredy of Galway and Rockville, Dundrum
James Mecredy married Lydia Eaton
born circa 1821 July 1844 born circa 1823
Co Down Collegiate Church
died 22 May 1874 Galway died 13 Feb 1898
23 Harcourt Street Marlborough Road
James Mecredy born circa 1821 in Co Down son of Robert Deane Mecredy, barrister and his
wife Ellen. He was the grandson of Rev Alexander Mecredy of Rockmount near Rathfryland,
Co Down. He married Lydia Eaton in July 1844 at the Collegiate Church, Galway. Lydia was
the eldest daughter of Matthew Eaton, Master of the Erasmus Smith’s Endowed School of
Galway. Jamed took Holy orders and was rector of Spiddal from 1849 and vicar of Killanin
from 1863 to 1874 where his 81 year old father died in 1870. His father was buried at
Mount Jerome with his mother who had died five months earlier at Meath House in Bray.
In 1853 James set up 50 looms in Spiddal to weave gingham and tweeds and was accused
of proselytizing and jumperism. James died 22 May 1874 at Harcourt Street, the residence
of his brother John Chambers Mecredy and was buried at Mount Jerome. Lydia died
13 Feb 1898 Malborough Road and was buried with her husband.
1 Elizabeth Anna Theodosia (Bessie) Mecredy eldest daughter born 15 Apr 1845 at the
College, Galway married James Lancaster Bell on 12 Oct 1865 at Kilkerrin Church.
James died at Ferozepore, India in 1883.
Bessie secondly married Robert Ambrose Cecil King on 10 Dec 1884 in Bengal and
died 31 May 1892 in India.
2 Ellen Mecredy born circa 1847 staying at Gortmore with her brother Richard in 1901.
Ellen died unmarried at the Steward Institution, Palmerstown on 5 Dec 1921 late of
Sandymount Avenue.
3 Aimee Mary Mecredy born circa 1850 in Dublin married Rev William Falkiner on
1 Jul 1875. The lived at The Glebe Killucan. William died 9 Jun 1914 and Aimee died
26 Mar 1920 at Kenilworth Road, Dublin. Both are buried at Mount Jerome.
4 Robert Deane Mecredy born 1851 died 21 Nov 1852.
5 Robert Dean Wills Mecredy eldest born circa 1853 in the Isle of Man married Rosa
Lydia Muldarry in Berkshire in 1887. Dr Mecredy died on 17 Feb 1907 at Darlington.
6 Annie Emily Mecredy born 22 Apr 1855 at Inverin Lodge, Co Galway a spinster living
with her aunt Anna Eaton in 1901 was farming at Pallaskenry in 1911.
7 Clara Elizabeth Vicars Mecredy born 6 Apr 1858 at Inverin Lodge, Co Galway married
Richard Cliffe (Cliffe) Owen at Sandford Church on 11 Nov 1886. Clara was resident at
102 Marlborough Road and Richard, a land agent was the son of Rear Admiral Richard
Owen and Susannah Charlotte Walker of Knockmullen, Galway. They had at least five
children. Clara died at Knockmullen, Gorey on 13 Jul 1914.
8 Daughter Mecredy born 15 Mar 1860 at 2 Montpelier Terrace, Co Galway.
9 Richard James (Arjay) Mecredy second son was born on 18 May 1861 in Ballinasloe, Co
Galway, the residence of Dr Eaton. He was educated at the Portora Royal school and
graduated Trinity College Dublin. He started to compete in cycling in 1883. In 1884 he
completed his law studies and became an apprentice to his uncle Thomas Tighe
Mecredy in Merrion Square. In dropped law to become a journalist when he became
Dublin correspondent for the ‘Irish Cyclist and Athlete’ in 1885 and later the year became
editor. With his brother Alexander they bought out the newspaper for J Hodgins in 1886.
He won the English tricycle championship in 1886 and the five mile English championship
in 1887. He married Catherine Anna Hopkins on 6 Sep 1887 at Dalkey Parish Church.
Richard a journalist is living at 102 Marlborough Road. Catherine the daughter of William
Hopkins was living at Rockfort Terrace, Dalkey. An early advocate of the John Boyd
Dunlop pneumatic tyre, he became a director of the Pneumatic Tyre Company on its
formation by Harvey du Cros in 1889. From 1888 to 1892 they lived at Rockville,
Dundrum and Vallombrosa from 1893 to 1895. By 1896 they were living at Gortmore,
Dundrum and RJ founded Motor News. He is credited as being the inventor of Cycle polo,
the rules of which he drew up in 1890. He took part in the motor tour to Killaloe in 1900
and in the Irish Automobile Club Tour of 1901 and was the first secretary to the Irish
Automobile Club that year. Catherine was also a cyclist and wore 'rational dress', a jacket
and a pair of long and baggy trousers which came together just above the ankle. He
published ‘The Daimler car’ and ‘De Dion Bouton cars and how to drive them’ in 1901. He
secured the Gordon Bennett race for Ireland in 1903. The family were back living at
Vallobrosa in Bray by 1903. In 1913 he rebranded the Irish Cyclist and Athlete as the Irish
Cyclist and Motor Cyclist to reflect changing times. He died at a sanatorium in Dumfries,
Scotland on 26 Apr 1924 late of Vallombrosa, Bray, Co Wicklow and was survived by his
wife and four children.
1 Ralph Jack Richard Mecredy born 12 Jul 1888 at Rockville, Dundrum studied
midwifery in Trinity and attended university in New Zealand. He was a vegetarian
and started a vegetarian cycling club in 1913. He served with the Royal Army
Medical Corps during WW1. He studied TB at a Michigan Sanitorium in America
and survived the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915. After the war he served in
Uganda as a medical officer and moved to New Zealand where he stayed 17 years.
He was a married twice, (his first wife died in New Zealand) and died at Cuckfield,
Sussex in 1968.
2 May Mecredy born 8 Dec 1890 at Rockville, Dundrum baptised at Taney was a
teacher of elocution in 1911. She married John C Melville at St Brigid’s Church,
Kilbride, Bray on 11 July 1929. John was a merchant and the son of Thomas
Melville.
3 Edward Raymond Mecredy 26 Jan 1892 at Rockville, Dundrum baptised at Taney.
He was a motor mechanic for Rolls Royce and was living at Hendon, Middlesex in
1921.
4 Myrtle Mecredy born 10 Jul 1893 at Vallombrosa, Bray died in New Zealand in
1922.
5 Eric James Mecredy born 1896 at Vallombrosa, Bray married Aileen Frances
Barnard at Stoke Bishop in 1925. He died at Lewes, Sussex in 1982.
6 Ivy Mecredy born 22 Oct 1899 at Gortmore baptised at Taney. She married
Captain R D C Highton, late 8th Queens R W Surrey Regiment at St George’s
Cathedral, Madras in 1920. Her mother travelled to India and gave her away.
Ivy wore her mother’s veil and dress.
10 Alexander Dallas Mecredy born circa 1863 married Katherine Anne Nicholson on
11 Jun 1891 at Rathgar Church. Lydia Mecredy and Annie Mecredy the witnesses. He
was a cycle agent of 1 Clare Street and died 17 Sep 1891 at Rathgar. His sister Annie
the informant. Kathleen died 19 Nov 1896 at Leahy’s Terrace, Sandymount.
11 Alice Maude Mary Mecredy born circa 1865 died a spinster 11 Jun 1884 at Rathmines,
her sister Clara, the informant.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - January 2024
Return to Rockville, Dundrum page
James Mecredy married Lydia Eaton
born circa 1821 July 1844 born circa 1823
Co Down Collegiate Church
died 22 May 1874 Galway died 13 Feb 1898
23 Harcourt Street Marlborough Road
James Mecredy born circa 1821 in Co Down son of Robert Deane Mecredy, barrister and his
wife Ellen. He was the grandson of Rev Alexander Mecredy of Rockmount near Rathfryland,
Co Down. He married Lydia Eaton in July 1844 at the Collegiate Church, Galway. Lydia was
the eldest daughter of Matthew Eaton, Master of the Erasmus Smith’s Endowed School of
Galway. Jamed took Holy orders and was rector of Spiddal from 1849 and vicar of Killanin
from 1863 to 1874 where his 81 year old father died in 1870. His father was buried at
Mount Jerome with his mother who had died five months earlier at Meath House in Bray.
In 1853 James set up 50 looms in Spiddal to weave gingham and tweeds and was accused
of proselytizing and jumperism. James died 22 May 1874 at Harcourt Street, the residence
of his brother John Chambers Mecredy and was buried at Mount Jerome. Lydia died
13 Feb 1898 Malborough Road and was buried with her husband.
1 Elizabeth Anna Theodosia (Bessie) Mecredy eldest daughter born 15 Apr 1845 at the
College, Galway married James Lancaster Bell on 12 Oct 1865 at Kilkerrin Church.
James died at Ferozepore, India in 1883.
Bessie secondly married Robert Ambrose Cecil King on 10 Dec 1884 in Bengal and
died 31 May 1892 in India.
2 Ellen Mecredy born circa 1847 staying at Gortmore with her brother Richard in 1901.
Ellen died unmarried at the Steward Institution, Palmerstown on 5 Dec 1921 late of
Sandymount Avenue.
3 Aimee Mary Mecredy born circa 1850 in Dublin married Rev William Falkiner on
1 Jul 1875. The lived at The Glebe Killucan. William died 9 Jun 1914 and Aimee died
26 Mar 1920 at Kenilworth Road, Dublin. Both are buried at Mount Jerome.
4 Robert Deane Mecredy born 1851 died 21 Nov 1852.
5 Robert Dean Wills Mecredy eldest born circa 1853 in the Isle of Man married Rosa
Lydia Muldarry in Berkshire in 1887. Dr Mecredy died on 17 Feb 1907 at Darlington.
6 Annie Emily Mecredy born 22 Apr 1855 at Inverin Lodge, Co Galway a spinster living
with her aunt Anna Eaton in 1901 was farming at Pallaskenry in 1911.
7 Clara Elizabeth Vicars Mecredy born 6 Apr 1858 at Inverin Lodge, Co Galway married
Richard Cliffe (Cliffe) Owen at Sandford Church on 11 Nov 1886. Clara was resident at
102 Marlborough Road and Richard, a land agent was the son of Rear Admiral Richard
Owen and Susannah Charlotte Walker of Knockmullen, Galway. They had at least five
children. Clara died at Knockmullen, Gorey on 13 Jul 1914.
8 Daughter Mecredy born 15 Mar 1860 at 2 Montpelier Terrace, Co Galway.
9 Richard James (Arjay) Mecredy second son was born on 18 May 1861 in Ballinasloe, Co
Galway, the residence of Dr Eaton. He was educated at the Portora Royal school and
graduated Trinity College Dublin. He started to compete in cycling in 1883. In 1884 he
completed his law studies and became an apprentice to his uncle Thomas Tighe
Mecredy in Merrion Square. In dropped law to become a journalist when he became
Dublin correspondent for the ‘Irish Cyclist and Athlete’ in 1885 and later the year became
editor. With his brother Alexander they bought out the newspaper for J Hodgins in 1886.
He won the English tricycle championship in 1886 and the five mile English championship
in 1887. He married Catherine Anna Hopkins on 6 Sep 1887 at Dalkey Parish Church.
Richard a journalist is living at 102 Marlborough Road. Catherine the daughter of William
Hopkins was living at Rockfort Terrace, Dalkey. An early advocate of the John Boyd
Dunlop pneumatic tyre, he became a director of the Pneumatic Tyre Company on its
formation by Harvey du Cros in 1889. From 1888 to 1892 they lived at Rockville,
Dundrum and Vallombrosa from 1893 to 1895. By 1896 they were living at Gortmore,
Dundrum and RJ founded Motor News. He is credited as being the inventor of Cycle polo,
the rules of which he drew up in 1890. He took part in the motor tour to Killaloe in 1900
and in the Irish Automobile Club Tour of 1901 and was the first secretary to the Irish
Automobile Club that year. Catherine was also a cyclist and wore 'rational dress', a jacket
and a pair of long and baggy trousers which came together just above the ankle. He
published ‘The Daimler car’ and ‘De Dion Bouton cars and how to drive them’ in 1901. He
secured the Gordon Bennett race for Ireland in 1903. The family were back living at
Vallobrosa in Bray by 1903. In 1913 he rebranded the Irish Cyclist and Athlete as the Irish
Cyclist and Motor Cyclist to reflect changing times. He died at a sanatorium in Dumfries,
Scotland on 26 Apr 1924 late of Vallombrosa, Bray, Co Wicklow and was survived by his
wife and four children.
1 Ralph Jack Richard Mecredy born 12 Jul 1888 at Rockville, Dundrum studied
midwifery in Trinity and attended university in New Zealand. He was a vegetarian
and started a vegetarian cycling club in 1913. He served with the Royal Army
Medical Corps during WW1. He studied TB at a Michigan Sanitorium in America
and survived the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915. After the war he served in
Uganda as a medical officer and moved to New Zealand where he stayed 17 years.
He was a married twice, (his first wife died in New Zealand) and died at Cuckfield,
Sussex in 1968.
2 May Mecredy born 8 Dec 1890 at Rockville, Dundrum baptised at Taney was a
teacher of elocution in 1911. She married John C Melville at St Brigid’s Church,
Kilbride, Bray on 11 July 1929. John was a merchant and the son of Thomas
Melville.
3 Edward Raymond Mecredy 26 Jan 1892 at Rockville, Dundrum baptised at Taney.
He was a motor mechanic for Rolls Royce and was living at Hendon, Middlesex in
1921.
4 Myrtle Mecredy born 10 Jul 1893 at Vallombrosa, Bray died in New Zealand in
1922.
5 Eric James Mecredy born 1896 at Vallombrosa, Bray married Aileen Frances
Barnard at Stoke Bishop in 1925. He died at Lewes, Sussex in 1982.
6 Ivy Mecredy born 22 Oct 1899 at Gortmore baptised at Taney. She married
Captain R D C Highton, late 8th Queens R W Surrey Regiment at St George’s
Cathedral, Madras in 1920. Her mother travelled to India and gave her away.
Ivy wore her mother’s veil and dress.
10 Alexander Dallas Mecredy born circa 1863 married Katherine Anne Nicholson on
11 Jun 1891 at Rathgar Church. Lydia Mecredy and Annie Mecredy the witnesses. He
was a cycle agent of 1 Clare Street and died 17 Sep 1891 at Rathgar. His sister Annie
the informant. Kathleen died 19 Nov 1896 at Leahy’s Terrace, Sandymount.
11 Alice Maude Mary Mecredy born circa 1865 died a spinster 11 Jun 1884 at Rathmines,
her sister Clara, the informant.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - January 2024
Return to Rockville, Dundrum page