Willis family of Ardmeen House
Ada Louisa Willis youngest daughter of Thomas Willis MD married Right Hon Joseph Michael
Meade a Widower, son of Michael Meade on 02.02.1887 at St Joseph’s Church, 187 Berkeley Road,
Dublin. Joseph a partner in his father’s building firm was previously married to Katherine Carville
who had died in 1884, and they had 6 children. He was a member of Dublin Corporation and was
High Sheriff in 1889 and served two terms as Lord Mayor (1891 and 1892). He was also President
of the Dublin Builders Association and opened the wholesale fruit and vegetable market at Arran
Street East/Mary’s Lane during his term of office. Joseph died on 14.07.1900 at St Michael’s,
Ailesbury Road, Merrion and was buried at Glasnevin. Joseph left 89K in personal estate. After
Joseph died, Ada moved to Ardmeen in Blackrock. They also had a house in Bray called Cloonada
on Strand Road which was purchased after his death by Mrs Lacey and run as a hotel (later know
as the Esplanade Hotel).
Ada Willis Meade widow of the late Right Hon Joseph Meade married secondly Alfred Thomas
Coffey a Barrister at Law of Tritonville Road and son of Thomas Coffey on 14.10.1903 at St Mary’s
Church, Booterstown. Alfred died on 14.04.1919 aged 46 years and Ada died on 07.06.1931 aged
63 years and is buried at Glasnevin with Joseph Meade. Alfred is also buried at Glasnevin in an
unmarked grave.
Ada Louisa Willis Joseph Michael Meade Alfred Thomas Coffey
born 08.02.1865 born 17.01.1839 born circa 1873
at 34 Upper Ormond Quay married 02.02.1887 married 14.10.1903
St Joseph’s Church St Mary’s Church
Berkeley Road Booterstown
died 07.06.1931 (63) died 14.07.1900 (61) died 14.04.1919 (46)
at 56 Northumberland Road at St Michaels, Merrion at 56 Northumberland Road
buried at Glasnevin buried at Glasnevin buried at Glasnevin
1 Thomas George Meade born 23.01.1888 at St Michael’s, Ailesbury Road, Merrion living at
Ardmeen in 1912.
2 Joseph Michael Meade born 28.08.1889 at St Michael’s, Ailesbury Road, Merrion.
3 Kathleen Meade born 28.02.1891 at the Mansion House, Dublin. Her father Joseph was Lord
Mayor at the time.
4 Ada Meade born circa 1893 married Joseph A Carvill son of Louis Carvill on 02.08.1917 at St
Mary’s Church, Haddington Road.
5 Dorothy Maureen Agnes Coffey born 01.07.1905 at Ardmeen, Newtown Park married Edward
Eric Stapleton a Stock Broker son of George Cramer Stapleton on 25.02.1932 at the Roman
Catholic Church, Monkstown.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – October 2021
Ada Louisa Willis youngest daughter of Thomas Willis MD married Right Hon Joseph Michael
Meade a Widower, son of Michael Meade on 02.02.1887 at St Joseph’s Church, 187 Berkeley Road,
Dublin. Joseph a partner in his father’s building firm was previously married to Katherine Carville
who had died in 1884, and they had 6 children. He was a member of Dublin Corporation and was
High Sheriff in 1889 and served two terms as Lord Mayor (1891 and 1892). He was also President
of the Dublin Builders Association and opened the wholesale fruit and vegetable market at Arran
Street East/Mary’s Lane during his term of office. Joseph died on 14.07.1900 at St Michael’s,
Ailesbury Road, Merrion and was buried at Glasnevin. Joseph left 89K in personal estate. After
Joseph died, Ada moved to Ardmeen in Blackrock. They also had a house in Bray called Cloonada
on Strand Road which was purchased after his death by Mrs Lacey and run as a hotel (later know
as the Esplanade Hotel).
Ada Willis Meade widow of the late Right Hon Joseph Meade married secondly Alfred Thomas
Coffey a Barrister at Law of Tritonville Road and son of Thomas Coffey on 14.10.1903 at St Mary’s
Church, Booterstown. Alfred died on 14.04.1919 aged 46 years and Ada died on 07.06.1931 aged
63 years and is buried at Glasnevin with Joseph Meade. Alfred is also buried at Glasnevin in an
unmarked grave.
Ada Louisa Willis Joseph Michael Meade Alfred Thomas Coffey
born 08.02.1865 born 17.01.1839 born circa 1873
at 34 Upper Ormond Quay married 02.02.1887 married 14.10.1903
St Joseph’s Church St Mary’s Church
Berkeley Road Booterstown
died 07.06.1931 (63) died 14.07.1900 (61) died 14.04.1919 (46)
at 56 Northumberland Road at St Michaels, Merrion at 56 Northumberland Road
buried at Glasnevin buried at Glasnevin buried at Glasnevin
1 Thomas George Meade born 23.01.1888 at St Michael’s, Ailesbury Road, Merrion living at
Ardmeen in 1912.
2 Joseph Michael Meade born 28.08.1889 at St Michael’s, Ailesbury Road, Merrion.
3 Kathleen Meade born 28.02.1891 at the Mansion House, Dublin. Her father Joseph was Lord
Mayor at the time.
4 Ada Meade born circa 1893 married Joseph A Carvill son of Louis Carvill on 02.08.1917 at St
Mary’s Church, Haddington Road.
5 Dorothy Maureen Agnes Coffey born 01.07.1905 at Ardmeen, Newtown Park married Edward
Eric Stapleton a Stock Broker son of George Cramer Stapleton on 25.02.1932 at the Roman
Catholic Church, Monkstown.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – October 2021