Pringle family of Holywell
Robert William Pringle born at Clonedrigle 18 Jan 1871 son of Henry Pringle and Matilda Olive King.
He graduated Trinity in 1894. He married Albert Henshaw on 18 Sep 1901 at St Philip's Church
Milltown. Robert was a barrister and died 25 Oct 1919 at Milltown. Alberta died 1 Sep 1950 at
Milltown. Both were buried at Mount Jerome.
1 Henry Alfred (Denis) Pringle born 16 May 1902 at Herbert Street. He was educated at
Castle Park school, Dalkey and Haileybury college, Hertfordshire. He graduated Trinity
College Dublin and was called to the Bar in 1925. He married Marjorie MacDowell at
Brighton Road Methodist Church on 28 Aug 1929. Marjorie was the daughter of T A
MacDowell, MD. The family lived at Rathmines and at Holywell Park from 1943 to 1957.
He was called to the Bench in 1969. As a judge he presided over many high profile cases
including the trial of Rose Dugdale and the trial of Eddie Gallagher, Marion Coyle for their
part in the kidnapping of Dutch businessman Tiede Herrema. He ruled as unconstitutional
(on the basis of religious discrimination) a part of the 1952 adoption act that required
adoptive parents to be of the same religion as that of the child. He was a governor of the
Rotunda hospital and of the Sheil's Home and was president of Carrickmines Golf Club. He
left an estate 789K.
2 Robert Brian (Brian) Pringle born 4 Jun 1905 was educated at Castle Park School, Dalkey,
Haileybury College, Hertfordshire, and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. He decided
on a career in medicine and was a clinical assistant at St Thomas's Hospital, London. He
married Inez (Jane) Hope Travers at Holy Trinity, Brompton on 28 Apr 1931. Jane was the
daughter of Captain A H Travers of the Grenadier Guards. He returned to Ireland the same
year and became assistant medical officer at Guinness's brewery. He later served as their
chief medical officer and was also medical officer to the commissioners of Irish lights. He
was a keen yachtsman and golfer and the family lived at Bohomer, Raheny.
3 Premature daughter Pringle died 21 Jan 1909 at 2 Herbert Street.
4 Premature Son Pringle died 21 Jan 1909 at 2 Herbert Street.
5 Daughter Pringle (twin) born and died 14 May 1911 at Herbert Street.
6 Gerald King Pringle (twin) born 14 May 1911 at Herbert Street was a theatre producer in
Ireland and later in England. He returned to Ireland and was well known as both an actor
and producer. Productions included ‘My ideal husband’ by Oscar Wilde performed at the Gate
Theatre in 1940 and Hamlet at the Peacock Theatre in 1942. He worked with the Savoy Players
in Belfast and also used the name Gerald King. He moved to Shanagarry, Cork in the late 1950’s
and became a ceramics potter with Philip Pearse. He died 21 Apr 1967 at Shanagarry and left
5K In personal estate in the UK. He funeral service was at Cloyne Cathedral.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – July 2022
Return to Holywell page
Robert William Pringle born at Clonedrigle 18 Jan 1871 son of Henry Pringle and Matilda Olive King.
He graduated Trinity in 1894. He married Albert Henshaw on 18 Sep 1901 at St Philip's Church
Milltown. Robert was a barrister and died 25 Oct 1919 at Milltown. Alberta died 1 Sep 1950 at
Milltown. Both were buried at Mount Jerome.
1 Henry Alfred (Denis) Pringle born 16 May 1902 at Herbert Street. He was educated at
Castle Park school, Dalkey and Haileybury college, Hertfordshire. He graduated Trinity
College Dublin and was called to the Bar in 1925. He married Marjorie MacDowell at
Brighton Road Methodist Church on 28 Aug 1929. Marjorie was the daughter of T A
MacDowell, MD. The family lived at Rathmines and at Holywell Park from 1943 to 1957.
He was called to the Bench in 1969. As a judge he presided over many high profile cases
including the trial of Rose Dugdale and the trial of Eddie Gallagher, Marion Coyle for their
part in the kidnapping of Dutch businessman Tiede Herrema. He ruled as unconstitutional
(on the basis of religious discrimination) a part of the 1952 adoption act that required
adoptive parents to be of the same religion as that of the child. He was a governor of the
Rotunda hospital and of the Sheil's Home and was president of Carrickmines Golf Club. He
left an estate 789K.
2 Robert Brian (Brian) Pringle born 4 Jun 1905 was educated at Castle Park School, Dalkey,
Haileybury College, Hertfordshire, and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. He decided
on a career in medicine and was a clinical assistant at St Thomas's Hospital, London. He
married Inez (Jane) Hope Travers at Holy Trinity, Brompton on 28 Apr 1931. Jane was the
daughter of Captain A H Travers of the Grenadier Guards. He returned to Ireland the same
year and became assistant medical officer at Guinness's brewery. He later served as their
chief medical officer and was also medical officer to the commissioners of Irish lights. He
was a keen yachtsman and golfer and the family lived at Bohomer, Raheny.
3 Premature daughter Pringle died 21 Jan 1909 at 2 Herbert Street.
4 Premature Son Pringle died 21 Jan 1909 at 2 Herbert Street.
5 Daughter Pringle (twin) born and died 14 May 1911 at Herbert Street.
6 Gerald King Pringle (twin) born 14 May 1911 at Herbert Street was a theatre producer in
Ireland and later in England. He returned to Ireland and was well known as both an actor
and producer. Productions included ‘My ideal husband’ by Oscar Wilde performed at the Gate
Theatre in 1940 and Hamlet at the Peacock Theatre in 1942. He worked with the Savoy Players
in Belfast and also used the name Gerald King. He moved to Shanagarry, Cork in the late 1950’s
and became a ceramics potter with Philip Pearse. He died 21 Apr 1967 at Shanagarry and left
5K In personal estate in the UK. He funeral service was at Cloyne Cathedral.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – July 2022
Return to Holywell page