The Murphy Family of Glencairn
James Murphy married Mary Josephine Keogh
Born circa 1826 2 Feb 1864 born circa 1841
Co Limerick Powerscourt
died 5 Sep 1901 (75) died 8 Dec 1916
Glencairn 15 Herbert Street
James Murphy, son of Jeremiah Murphy was born at Limerick circa 1826. He graduated
Trinity and was called to the Bar in 1849. He married Mary Josephine Keogh, daughter of
the Rt Hon William Keogh, Judge of the Common pleas.
Contemporary accounts suggest that he was more respected for his efficiency than loved
for his understanding. He worked on the Northern Circuit and was described as a small,
frail looking man who walked with a stick. He was appointed Crown Prosecutor along with
Mr William O'Brien, KC and were generally referred to as 'the Green Street Team'. Their
successful prosecution of 'The Invincibles' (those responsible for the Phoenix Park Murders)
was considered the high point of his career at the Bar. James was a member of the Masonic
order and a supporter of the Masonic Female Orphan School.
Of the many tributes in 1901, The Irish Law Times is perhaps the most impressive ' in his 18
years as a judge no verdict obtained before him was ever set aside. While the few text books
that do exist recall very little of the contribution of Mr Justice Murphy to our jurisprudence, he
has left us with some enduring monuments including a stained glass window in the parish
church of Kilternan in County Dublin which records Moses handing down the laws. The window
incorporates a magnificent reproduction of the Four Courts.'
This memorial along with others to members of the family and a bell are in Kilternan Church.
All five sons were 'Old Carthusians' and the memorial erected by Jessica, Edward and Harold
depicts Thomas Sutton the founder of Charterhouse, a school for boys and a home for elderly
gentlemen. The window was made by A K Nicholson of London.
James died at Glencairne in 1901 and left 17K in personal estate. Mary died at 15 Herbert
Street in 1916.
1 James Keogh Murphy, eldest son born 12 Sep 1869 at Herbert Street , was a doctor of
St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. He married Mabel Roney Schofield in 1897. He
was a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and died 13 Sep 1916 at Plymouth.
2 Jessica Mary Murphy born 3 Sep 1871 at Green Park, Killmallock. She played Hockey
with Dundrum Hockey Club based at Eden Park, Drummartin and played for Ireland in
1898. She married John James Blagden, a surgeon and son of Richard Blayden on
10 Aug 1897 at Kilternan and moved to London the following year. She died there in
October 1948. There is a plaque in her memory at Kilternan Church.
3 William Quinlan Murphy, second son born 17 Sep 1872 was a barrister and died a bachelor
on 10 Feb 1933 late of the University Club at Stephen’s Green.
4 Richard Bayly Murphy, third son born circa 1876 called to the English Bar married Lucie
Haden Freeman on 16 Aug 1909 at Holy Trinity Church, Darlington. He died 10 Sep 1912
at Earls Court Square aged 36.
5 Edward Sullivan Murphy born 3 Feb 1880 at Glencairn, Barrister on the Northern Circuit,
MP for Derry and Lord Justice of Appeal in Northern Ireland Supreme Court died
6 Dec 1945.
6 Harold Lawson Murphy born 12 Dec 1882 at Leeson Street was called to the English Bar.
He was author of A History of Trinity College, Dublin, from Its Foundation to 1702. He was a
Liberal candidate for Christchurch, Bournemouth. He married Elsie Holmes, second
daughter of The Rt Hon Justice Holmes at St Stephen's Church, Dublin on 20 Mar 1913.
Harold died 5 Jan 1942.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – November 2019
James Murphy married Mary Josephine Keogh
Born circa 1826 2 Feb 1864 born circa 1841
Co Limerick Powerscourt
died 5 Sep 1901 (75) died 8 Dec 1916
Glencairn 15 Herbert Street
James Murphy, son of Jeremiah Murphy was born at Limerick circa 1826. He graduated
Trinity and was called to the Bar in 1849. He married Mary Josephine Keogh, daughter of
the Rt Hon William Keogh, Judge of the Common pleas.
Contemporary accounts suggest that he was more respected for his efficiency than loved
for his understanding. He worked on the Northern Circuit and was described as a small,
frail looking man who walked with a stick. He was appointed Crown Prosecutor along with
Mr William O'Brien, KC and were generally referred to as 'the Green Street Team'. Their
successful prosecution of 'The Invincibles' (those responsible for the Phoenix Park Murders)
was considered the high point of his career at the Bar. James was a member of the Masonic
order and a supporter of the Masonic Female Orphan School.
Of the many tributes in 1901, The Irish Law Times is perhaps the most impressive ' in his 18
years as a judge no verdict obtained before him was ever set aside. While the few text books
that do exist recall very little of the contribution of Mr Justice Murphy to our jurisprudence, he
has left us with some enduring monuments including a stained glass window in the parish
church of Kilternan in County Dublin which records Moses handing down the laws. The window
incorporates a magnificent reproduction of the Four Courts.'
This memorial along with others to members of the family and a bell are in Kilternan Church.
All five sons were 'Old Carthusians' and the memorial erected by Jessica, Edward and Harold
depicts Thomas Sutton the founder of Charterhouse, a school for boys and a home for elderly
gentlemen. The window was made by A K Nicholson of London.
James died at Glencairne in 1901 and left 17K in personal estate. Mary died at 15 Herbert
Street in 1916.
1 James Keogh Murphy, eldest son born 12 Sep 1869 at Herbert Street , was a doctor of
St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. He married Mabel Roney Schofield in 1897. He
was a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and died 13 Sep 1916 at Plymouth.
2 Jessica Mary Murphy born 3 Sep 1871 at Green Park, Killmallock. She played Hockey
with Dundrum Hockey Club based at Eden Park, Drummartin and played for Ireland in
1898. She married John James Blagden, a surgeon and son of Richard Blayden on
10 Aug 1897 at Kilternan and moved to London the following year. She died there in
October 1948. There is a plaque in her memory at Kilternan Church.
3 William Quinlan Murphy, second son born 17 Sep 1872 was a barrister and died a bachelor
on 10 Feb 1933 late of the University Club at Stephen’s Green.
4 Richard Bayly Murphy, third son born circa 1876 called to the English Bar married Lucie
Haden Freeman on 16 Aug 1909 at Holy Trinity Church, Darlington. He died 10 Sep 1912
at Earls Court Square aged 36.
5 Edward Sullivan Murphy born 3 Feb 1880 at Glencairn, Barrister on the Northern Circuit,
MP for Derry and Lord Justice of Appeal in Northern Ireland Supreme Court died
6 Dec 1945.
6 Harold Lawson Murphy born 12 Dec 1882 at Leeson Street was called to the English Bar.
He was author of A History of Trinity College, Dublin, from Its Foundation to 1702. He was a
Liberal candidate for Christchurch, Bournemouth. He married Elsie Holmes, second
daughter of The Rt Hon Justice Holmes at St Stephen's Church, Dublin on 20 Mar 1913.
Harold died 5 Jan 1942.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – November 2019