The Chantilly Rialls and their bicycles c.1890. From left: Malcolm, Bertie, Selina (at back), Hilda, Claud, and Edith. Courtesy of Dr Nicholas Riall
|
Edith (at back) and Hilda as nurses c.1915 courtesy of Dr Nicholas Riall
|
The Riall family of Old Conna Hill, Chantilly & Altona
Phineas Riall married Mary Ann Roe
born circa 1830 August 1834
died August 1884 Clonmel May 1860
Phineas Riall eldest son of Charles Riall of Heywood born circa 1830 married Mary Ann Roe at
Clonmel in August 1834. Mary Ann was the daughter of John Roe of Rockwell, Co Tipperary
(later Rockwell College). Phineas succeeded to the Connaught estates and they moved to a
house on Old Connaught Avenue (now known as Graigueconna). From here Phineas managed
the estate. They also had a town house in Fitzwilliam Square. On the death of the last old
retainer in 1857 they moved into Old Conna Hill and within a year they had decided to build a
new house on the site and employed Charles Lanyon to design it. Mary Ann died in May 1860
at Old Conna shortly before the house was finished. Phineas died in 15 Aug 1884 and was
buried at Mount Jerome.
Arthur George Roberts Riall, third son of the above born 9 Feb 1842 was brought up at Old
Conna Hill (later Aravan School). He joined the Royal Navy and attained the rank of
commander. He was involved in the Crimean War and the Second Opium War. He married
Selina Florinda Bookey, eldest daughter of William Truelock Bookey of Derrybawn, Rathdrum,
Co Wicklow & Georgianna Erskine of Beauchamps, Bray at the Parish Church, Bray on
26 Nov 1874. The couple moved to Chantilly in Shankill after their marriage. His older
brother Captain Lewis Riall, of the East Yorkshire Regiment continued to live at Old Conna Hill.
Arthur was a member of the Irish Commission of Lights Board and took an active role in the
inspection of lighthouses. Arthur died 6 Jul 1915 at Chantilly and Selina died same place on
5 Jan 1930 aged 86 leaving 4½ K in personal estate. Both were buried at Deansgrange.
1 Claud Phineas Bookey Riall born 2 Mar 1876 at Crinken was educated at
Charterhouse. He joined the East Yorkshire Regiment (15th Foot) and attained
the rank of Lieut Col. He fought in the Boer war and in Burma and India and was
also active in WW1. He married Ida M Ryder in 1915 at Eastbourne. Claud died
at Old Conna Hill 10 Jun 1952 and Ida died 14 Jun 1956 at Ballyorney House,
Enniskerry.
1 Rosemary Sophia Riall, only daughter born 1918 at Eastbourne, Sussex
married John Raymond Brown on 10 Feb 1943 at St Andrew’s Church,
Southport. They lived at Graigueconna, old Conna and regularly opened
their wonderful garden for gardening seminars in aid of various charities.
Rosemary was a member of the The Alpine Garden Society, wrote for the
Irish Times in the 80s and the garden also featured in a RTE television
programme.
2 Patrick Riall born 1921 joined the Royal Artillery and attained the rank of Major.
2 Edith Mabel (Mabel) Riall (twin) born 20 Jun 1877 at Chantilly died a spinster from
scarlet fever 9 Feb 1936 at Chantilly, Shankill and was buried at Deansgrange.
3 Lewis Erskine Riall (twin) born 20 Jun 1877 at Chantilly died a bachelor on
29 Jan 1904 at the Stewarts Institution in Palmerstown.
4 Malcolm Brown Bookey Riall born on 22 Jul 1879 was educated in England and
joined the West Yorkshire Regiment and served in the 2nd Boer war.
Malcolm also saw active service on the North West Frontier in 1908, which involved
skirmishes etc etc with Afghans and Pathans.
He married Sydney Maude Lefroy, daughter of Captain Robert Lefroy, JP on
22 Jul 1910 at Christ Church in Bray.
Malcolm’s period of service with West Yorkshire Regt ended in the 15 April 1914,
although he tried to extend. He moved his family to Duninga, Goresbridge, Co
Kilkenny, which he was to inherit from his Bookey grandmother. Major Riall was
recalled to the colours 4 August 1914 at the outbreak of World War 1, posted to
3/West Yorks then stationed at Tynemouth, Northumberland, before being transferred
to 1/West Yorks for service in the trenches in Flanders. He was wounded in August 1915,
and spent the remainder of the war in Northern Ireland and England. He returned to
Duninga and his young family in 1919, but left Ireland in 1923 for homes in England
(several moves between 1923 and 1940), finally settling in Merley Moor, near
Wimborne, Dorset in 1943.
1 Arthur Bookey Riall born 7 Dec 1911 at Leeds.
2 Ruth Maud Riall born 13 Feb 1914 at Leeds was living at Tillicum Higher Sea
Lane, Charmouth in 1939 with Lefroy relatives.
3 Barbara Daphne (Daphne) born 20 Oct 1916 at 89 Lower Baggot Street.
5 Bertram Charles Riall born 13 Feb 1881 was educated in England joined the
Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment and attained the rank of Lieut Col. He married
Eva Josephine Marshall, eldest daughter of William Kennedy Marshall of Baronne
Court, Birr, Co Offaly on 1 Oct 1913. Bertram, late of Clonlost, Killiney died at St
Vincent’s Hospital, 97 Leeson Street on 10 Oct 1953. Eva died 18 Feb 1961 at
Guildford in Surrey, both are buried at Deansgrange.
1 Anthony Claud (Tony) Riall, born 28 Dec 1914 at 10 Sydney Place, Cork.
2 Gilbert Charles Riall born 7 Nov 1917 at 89 Baggot Street.
6 Hilda Daphne Riall born 28 Mar 1883 lived at Chantilly in Shankill. She was a
keen lawn tennis player and also took part in bicycle gymkhanas in her youth. An
accomplished golfer she played in the Irish Ladies Championship in Lahinch in 1909.
She never married, but remained in the family home to look after her parents, Arthur and
Selina. As a young girl, she proved to be a keen cyclist, able to ride for long distances with
her siblings. She was also a keen and able sportswoman, playing hockey, tennis, golf and
cricket – all to a high standard. Particularly memorable was a bicycling tour with her
siblings, cousins and friends in 1902, that was put into verse by Ralph Meredith, who
married Hilda’s cousin, Elizabeth. In 1914 a County Dublin Branch of the British Red
Cross Society was inaugurated, with a number of subdistricts being formed. The St John’s
Ambulance Voluntary Aid Detachment, Wicklow 2, was also formed. Edith and Hilda
joined, both learned to drive ambulances and were taught to be nurses. For a time they helped
in Dublin but soon were transferred to a VAD Land Worker Women’s Legion, and attached
to the Army Service Corps. Edith would find herself sent to Salonika and then Egypt, Hilda
to England. Both went eventually to France where they drove ambulances, often finding
themselves close to the front lines.
Hilda and her sister Edith never married, we do not know why, but like their Old Conna
cousins – Olave, Violet and Rose – remained spinsters. Olave and Violet did in fact marry
later in life, swept off their feet by the Whitehead brothers.
In the 1920s and later years Hilda loved to go touring in a variety of modes, both in
Ireland and in England. Chantilly, the home of Arthur and Selina, was leased and on the
death of Selina in 1930, Hilda moved to Altona on the Leopardstown Road.
Hilda died a spinster 14 May 1956 at St John’s hospital, Limerick, late of Quinville Abbey,
Co Clare. She was buried at Kilnasoolagh Graveyard.
Our thanks to Dr Nicholas Riall who provided corrections, lots of additional information
particularly on Hilda & Edith and the lovely photographs.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – July 2019/updated December 2022
*The pedigree of the Riall family is included in Burke's Irish Landed Gentry but should
be taken under caution.
Phineas Riall married Mary Ann Roe
born circa 1830 August 1834
died August 1884 Clonmel May 1860
Phineas Riall eldest son of Charles Riall of Heywood born circa 1830 married Mary Ann Roe at
Clonmel in August 1834. Mary Ann was the daughter of John Roe of Rockwell, Co Tipperary
(later Rockwell College). Phineas succeeded to the Connaught estates and they moved to a
house on Old Connaught Avenue (now known as Graigueconna). From here Phineas managed
the estate. They also had a town house in Fitzwilliam Square. On the death of the last old
retainer in 1857 they moved into Old Conna Hill and within a year they had decided to build a
new house on the site and employed Charles Lanyon to design it. Mary Ann died in May 1860
at Old Conna shortly before the house was finished. Phineas died in 15 Aug 1884 and was
buried at Mount Jerome.
Arthur George Roberts Riall, third son of the above born 9 Feb 1842 was brought up at Old
Conna Hill (later Aravan School). He joined the Royal Navy and attained the rank of
commander. He was involved in the Crimean War and the Second Opium War. He married
Selina Florinda Bookey, eldest daughter of William Truelock Bookey of Derrybawn, Rathdrum,
Co Wicklow & Georgianna Erskine of Beauchamps, Bray at the Parish Church, Bray on
26 Nov 1874. The couple moved to Chantilly in Shankill after their marriage. His older
brother Captain Lewis Riall, of the East Yorkshire Regiment continued to live at Old Conna Hill.
Arthur was a member of the Irish Commission of Lights Board and took an active role in the
inspection of lighthouses. Arthur died 6 Jul 1915 at Chantilly and Selina died same place on
5 Jan 1930 aged 86 leaving 4½ K in personal estate. Both were buried at Deansgrange.
1 Claud Phineas Bookey Riall born 2 Mar 1876 at Crinken was educated at
Charterhouse. He joined the East Yorkshire Regiment (15th Foot) and attained
the rank of Lieut Col. He fought in the Boer war and in Burma and India and was
also active in WW1. He married Ida M Ryder in 1915 at Eastbourne. Claud died
at Old Conna Hill 10 Jun 1952 and Ida died 14 Jun 1956 at Ballyorney House,
Enniskerry.
1 Rosemary Sophia Riall, only daughter born 1918 at Eastbourne, Sussex
married John Raymond Brown on 10 Feb 1943 at St Andrew’s Church,
Southport. They lived at Graigueconna, old Conna and regularly opened
their wonderful garden for gardening seminars in aid of various charities.
Rosemary was a member of the The Alpine Garden Society, wrote for the
Irish Times in the 80s and the garden also featured in a RTE television
programme.
2 Patrick Riall born 1921 joined the Royal Artillery and attained the rank of Major.
2 Edith Mabel (Mabel) Riall (twin) born 20 Jun 1877 at Chantilly died a spinster from
scarlet fever 9 Feb 1936 at Chantilly, Shankill and was buried at Deansgrange.
3 Lewis Erskine Riall (twin) born 20 Jun 1877 at Chantilly died a bachelor on
29 Jan 1904 at the Stewarts Institution in Palmerstown.
4 Malcolm Brown Bookey Riall born on 22 Jul 1879 was educated in England and
joined the West Yorkshire Regiment and served in the 2nd Boer war.
Malcolm also saw active service on the North West Frontier in 1908, which involved
skirmishes etc etc with Afghans and Pathans.
He married Sydney Maude Lefroy, daughter of Captain Robert Lefroy, JP on
22 Jul 1910 at Christ Church in Bray.
Malcolm’s period of service with West Yorkshire Regt ended in the 15 April 1914,
although he tried to extend. He moved his family to Duninga, Goresbridge, Co
Kilkenny, which he was to inherit from his Bookey grandmother. Major Riall was
recalled to the colours 4 August 1914 at the outbreak of World War 1, posted to
3/West Yorks then stationed at Tynemouth, Northumberland, before being transferred
to 1/West Yorks for service in the trenches in Flanders. He was wounded in August 1915,
and spent the remainder of the war in Northern Ireland and England. He returned to
Duninga and his young family in 1919, but left Ireland in 1923 for homes in England
(several moves between 1923 and 1940), finally settling in Merley Moor, near
Wimborne, Dorset in 1943.
1 Arthur Bookey Riall born 7 Dec 1911 at Leeds.
2 Ruth Maud Riall born 13 Feb 1914 at Leeds was living at Tillicum Higher Sea
Lane, Charmouth in 1939 with Lefroy relatives.
3 Barbara Daphne (Daphne) born 20 Oct 1916 at 89 Lower Baggot Street.
5 Bertram Charles Riall born 13 Feb 1881 was educated in England joined the
Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment and attained the rank of Lieut Col. He married
Eva Josephine Marshall, eldest daughter of William Kennedy Marshall of Baronne
Court, Birr, Co Offaly on 1 Oct 1913. Bertram, late of Clonlost, Killiney died at St
Vincent’s Hospital, 97 Leeson Street on 10 Oct 1953. Eva died 18 Feb 1961 at
Guildford in Surrey, both are buried at Deansgrange.
1 Anthony Claud (Tony) Riall, born 28 Dec 1914 at 10 Sydney Place, Cork.
2 Gilbert Charles Riall born 7 Nov 1917 at 89 Baggot Street.
6 Hilda Daphne Riall born 28 Mar 1883 lived at Chantilly in Shankill. She was a
keen lawn tennis player and also took part in bicycle gymkhanas in her youth. An
accomplished golfer she played in the Irish Ladies Championship in Lahinch in 1909.
She never married, but remained in the family home to look after her parents, Arthur and
Selina. As a young girl, she proved to be a keen cyclist, able to ride for long distances with
her siblings. She was also a keen and able sportswoman, playing hockey, tennis, golf and
cricket – all to a high standard. Particularly memorable was a bicycling tour with her
siblings, cousins and friends in 1902, that was put into verse by Ralph Meredith, who
married Hilda’s cousin, Elizabeth. In 1914 a County Dublin Branch of the British Red
Cross Society was inaugurated, with a number of subdistricts being formed. The St John’s
Ambulance Voluntary Aid Detachment, Wicklow 2, was also formed. Edith and Hilda
joined, both learned to drive ambulances and were taught to be nurses. For a time they helped
in Dublin but soon were transferred to a VAD Land Worker Women’s Legion, and attached
to the Army Service Corps. Edith would find herself sent to Salonika and then Egypt, Hilda
to England. Both went eventually to France where they drove ambulances, often finding
themselves close to the front lines.
Hilda and her sister Edith never married, we do not know why, but like their Old Conna
cousins – Olave, Violet and Rose – remained spinsters. Olave and Violet did in fact marry
later in life, swept off their feet by the Whitehead brothers.
In the 1920s and later years Hilda loved to go touring in a variety of modes, both in
Ireland and in England. Chantilly, the home of Arthur and Selina, was leased and on the
death of Selina in 1930, Hilda moved to Altona on the Leopardstown Road.
Hilda died a spinster 14 May 1956 at St John’s hospital, Limerick, late of Quinville Abbey,
Co Clare. She was buried at Kilnasoolagh Graveyard.
Our thanks to Dr Nicholas Riall who provided corrections, lots of additional information
particularly on Hilda & Edith and the lovely photographs.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – July 2019/updated December 2022
*The pedigree of the Riall family is included in Burke's Irish Landed Gentry but should
be taken under caution.