The Brewer and the Bishops [Gen-047]

Mrs. Margaret ("Daisy") D'Arcy Toolan maintained that her family (presumably she meant the D'Arcys and/ or Connells) was connected with a D'Arcy who had been Lord Mayor of Dublin and a D'Arcy who had been a Protestant Archbishop of Dublin. She also stated that her family was connected with that of Daniel O'Connell, "the Liberator'.

Little attention was paid to her claim at the time as it was presumed to be based solely on the similarity of the surnames: at no stage did she explain what the exact connections were or give any details in support of her claim. It might be felt that her being aware that a D'Arcy had been Lord Mayor of Dublin a hundred years earlier was evidence of a family tradition regarding a relationship. However, the Coats of Arms of
the Lord Mayors were displayed in the Round Room of the Mansion House in Dublin at one stage and as this room was used for public functions she could have seen the D'Arcy Coat of Arms there.

As regards her reference to the Protestant Archbishop of Dublin, a Charles Frederick D'Arcy (1859 - 1938) was Archbishop of Armagh 1920 - 1938. Previously he had been Archbishop of Dublin. As Mrs. "Daisy" Toolan lived in Dublin all her life she would have had personal knowledge of this. In that pre-ecumenical, pre-radio and pre-television era, a Catholic would hardly be aware of the name of the Protestant Archbishop but as "D'Arcy" was her maiden name, the fact that it was also the Archbishop's would no doubt have impressed itself on her mind.

Another Protestant Archbishop of Dublin was William Conyngham, Lord Plunkett, 4th Baron, grandson of William Conyngham, 1st Baron (1764 - 1854). The Archbishop, born 1828, married Anne, daughter of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, in 1863. He died in Dublin in 1867(?).They probably lived at St. Anne's, Dollymount, Dublin. (The mansion was destroyed accidently by fire in the mid-nineteen-forties and the estate is now a public park owned by the Dublin Corporation.) A biography of the 4th Baron by F.D. How was published in 1900.

It is interesting to note that Benjamin Lee Guinness, a former Lord Mayor of Dublin and his father, Arthur Lee Guinness, attended the funeral of John D'Arcy, former Lord Mayor and owner of the Anchor Brewery. (Freeman's Journal, 2nd March, 1864). However, this may not be of any genealogical significance as apart from their common involvement in local government activities John D'Arcy and the Guinness family were important members of the brewing industry. This John D'Arcy was a Roman Catholic as was his son, Matthew Peter D'Arcy. It is more surprising, perhaps, that when Matthew Peter died in 1889 one of the wreaths was from "His Grace Lord Plunkett, Protestant Archbishop of Dublin, and Miss Plunkett" (Freeman's Journal of 3rd December, 1889.) This may indicate some relationship between the families. On the other hand it may have been merely a mark of neighbourly sympathy as John D'Arcy's family lived in Raheny near the boundary of St. Anne's estate for a number of years.

A Lady Ardilaun lived in St. Anne's, Dollymount at one stage. She was a member of the Guinness family and possibly the widow or a relation of Archbishop Plunkett. In this connection it is interesting to note that in a book entitled "Landlord and tenant in Ireland in the 19th century" the principal landowners in Co. Galway are shown as Sir Thomas Burke (25,258 acres) and Lord Ardilaun (19,994 acres). Lord Ardilaun lived in Ashford Castle, Cong. Judging from the size of their estates, it is likely that Sir Thomas and Lord Ardilaun were both Protestants.

Mrs. D'Arcy Rahilly recalls her mother saying that her family (she was likely referring to the Connell/ Burke side) was "split down the middle because of religion". Although as shown in the "Convert Rolls" a number of D'Arcys registered as converts to Protestantism, none of the connections of the Enniskerry Road D'Arcys or the Connells of Kilkenny and Newbridge was Protestant, as far as is known. It may be therefore that Mrs. Rahilly's mother was referring to the Burkes.

At present (1984) no information is available regarding Mary Burke, wife of William Connell, prior to her marriage. Mrs. Rahilly thought she had heard her mother say that the Burkes had come from Thurles or Limerick or the West of Ireland. (The main branches of the Burkes were in the West of Ireland, with offshoots in Tipperary and Kilkenny). There were several families of Burkes in Windgap, Co. Kilkenny, where William Connell was born but Mrs. Rahilly had never heard Kilkenny mentioned as having any connection with her maternal grandfather or grandmother.

If there had been any connection it would have been interesting as the Will of Barbara Knaresborough, widow of William, proved on 7th May, 1750, mentions a grand-nephew, Michael Burke, son of Mary Pay, a niece, as a beneficiary. The first wife of Matthew Peter D'Arcy, son of John D'Arcy, the Lord Mayor, was Emma Knaresborough, daughter of William Knaresborough of Inch House, Co. Kilkenny. (The Will of Barbara Knaresborough is mentioned in Volume 3 of 'The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory" by Rev. William Carrigan, C.C., M.R.I.A.)

John D'Arcy of Woodville (otherwise Ballygirrane), Co. Galway, was married to a Mary Burke. John was alive in 1806 and probably died before 1832, when his eldest son and heir, Robert, made a loan of £10,000 to Ulick John, Marquess of Clanrickard. The second son of John D'Arcy of Woodville was also named John but there is no information to hand about him.

Efforts to trace the ancestors of John D'Arcy, brewer and sometime Lord Mayor of Dublin have been unsuccessful. A Honoria D'Arcy Redmond (1797 - 1885) is buried in the family vault in the O'Connell Circle in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. The report of John D'Arcy's funeral describes her as his sister. She married a John Redmond of 33, Rathmines Rd., and later of 5, Leeson Park, Dublin. Examination of the pedigrees of several of the more important branches of the D'Arcy family has failed to discover a John D'Arcy with a sister named Honoria. Perhaps "Honoria" was a second name or perhaps the description "sister" was a misnomer. However, she must have been a very close connection to have been buried with the family.

Both John D'Arcy and his son, Matthew Peter, had estates in County Wexford, and there is a possibility that the family came from there. As Matthew represented the County as a Member of Parliament (1868 - 1874) prior to the reform of the Electoral Acts, the family must have had influential connections there. The fact that Honoria was married to a Redmond may indicate a Wexford connection also. It is possible, however, that John D'Arcy inherited the Talbot estates in Co. Wexford (see later) and that he did not come from that County originally. If John D'Arcy were a relation of Jane D'Arcy Talbot, he would also be related to the John D'Arcy who founded Clifden and who founded a brewery there. It may be that John D'Arcy, the Lord Mayor, learnt the brewing business in Clifden: in the deed of purchase of the Anchor Brewery, Dublin (copy in Public Record Office, Dublin) he is described as a brewer.

The executors of M.P. D'Arcy's will were a Henry Evans and a William P. McAvoy (sic) and the beneficiaries under Matthew Peter's will, excluding his widow and children were William P, McAvoy, Alfred John Blunt, Helen Stewart, George Saunderson Lynch, Charles Kernan, and Edward Plunkett Burke.

The fact that Henry Evans was a trustee may indicate a connection with the D'Arcy Evans family who had lands in Counties Cork and Limerick. (See D'Arcy Evans papers D18672 in Mss. Room of National Library, Dublin.) A Mrs. Evans of Clarinda Park sent a wreath to the funeral of Matthew Peter D'Arcy. Henry Evans probably died in 1889.

The name Edward Plunkett Burke may be significant in relation to the attempt to trace a connection between the Enniskerry Road D'Arcys, a Lord Mayor of Dublin and a Protestant Archbishop of the City.

The fact that Edward Plunkett Burke was a beneficiary under Matthew Peter's will may indicate a connection between him and the "Brewery" D'Arcys. The Plunkett part of the name may indicate a connection with the family of Lord Plunkett, Protestant Archbishop of Dublin, and Burke was the surname of William Connell's wife. Plunkett and Burke are not uncommon surnames but their combination in this case, combined with the tradition in the D'Arcy family of Enniskerry Road of a connection with a Lord Mayor and a Protestant Archbishop of Dublin, is noteworthy. Perhaps, after all, there is some basis for the family tradition!

As regards the other beneficiaries, it is possible that Helen Stewart was a daughter of Matthew Peter's brother, William Matthew D'Arcy (1856 - 1896). William's wife's name was Ellen and he had a daughter also named Ellen. At Matthew Peter's funeral one of the wreaths was from the Misses Stewart: perhaps this was a misprint and should have read Mrs. Stewart.

A Charles Kernan was an executor and trustee of the will of John D'Arcy, Matthew Peter's father.

The above information regarding the wills of John D'Arcy and his son, Matthew P., is from an Abstract of Title of the Anchor Brewery, Usher Street, Dublin. (Packet No. 262727 A 1 - Packet 3 - in Dublin Corporation Manuscript Room).

The Synott Papers (Microfilm P7219) in the National Library, Dublin, refer to a number of McEvoys who had estates in Counties Meath, Westmeath, Longford and Leitrim, One of these was a William McEvoy of Longford whose brother Francis lived at 13, Abbey St., Dublin, in 1885.

The Synott Papers also contain an appeal, dated November, 1829, from the tenants of St. John's Well Estate, Kilkenny, to the landlords, including a James McEvoy of Tubbertinan, Enfield, Co. Meath, asking that the rents be not raised. This appeal was signed by Richard Burke, Post Office, Kilkenny, The McEvoy family were connected by marriage with the family of Viscount Netterville. The grandson of the first Viscount Netterville married Cecily, Lady Burke of Glynsk, and their grand-daughter also Cisly (sic), married Sir H. Burke of Glynsk.

John D'Arcy of Kiltullagh House near Athenry, a descendant of James ("Riveagh”) D'Arcy of Galway, was the founder of Clifden, Co. Galway. His first wife, Frances Blake, was daughter of Andrew Netterville Blake, nephew of Viscount Netterville. (Edward, the only brother of Frances, succeeded to the large estates of the Viscount, who was unmarried, in Counties Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow). After the death of Frances, John rented Kiltullagh House and went west to Clifden where he built Clifden Castle. He founded a distillery in Clifden which paid well until about 1828 when the Revenue Police were withdrawn and the making of poitín (illegal spirit) flourished. John mortgaged his entire estates to Charles Eyre of Jermyn St., St. James', Middlesex, England, and Thomas Eyre of Pulteney St., Bath, Somerset, "a Roman Catholic moneylender" on 10th May, 1850 for £25,000. It is ironical that John D'Arcy had become a Protestant on 2nd May, 1800 to retain his estates. (Catholic Emancipation did not become effective until 1829). At first it might appear that John D'Arcy of Clifden was the John D'Arcy who became Lord Mayor of Dublin. However, they were different persons. John D'Arcy of Clifden married twice, firstly to Frances Blake and secondly, in 1820, to Louisa Bagot Sneyd. The Lord Mayor's wife was Eliza (surname unknown) (1797 - 1862), and, furthermore, he bought the Anchor Brewery in 1818 when his namesake was still, presumably, in Clifden. Neither did the Clifden D'Arcy have a sister named Honoria.

As mentioned earlier, John D'Arcy, the Lord Mayor, had estates in County Wexford. It is interesting to note that John D'Arcy of Clifden had an aunt who married a Wexfordman. She was Jane D'Arcy, daughter of John D'Arcy and Catherine Lynch, who married firstly her uncle Count Patrick D'Arcy, a noted mathematician at the French Court. She was a lady-in-waiting to Marie Antoinette. They had no children. She married secondly in 1795, Matthew Talbot of Castle Talbot, Wexford. They had two children - John Hyacinth Talbot (no doubt named John after her father and Hyacinth after her brother [sic]) and Matthew, named after his father, who died without issue. John Talbot married Anna Eliza who died in 1828. Matthew was not a D'Arcy name and it may be significant that John D'Arcy, the Lord Mayor, called his first son Matthew and that this Matthew's second son was named William Matthew and another  Matthew Stephen.

Charles Frederick D'Arcy, Archbishop of Armagh, was descended from John D'Arcy of Hyde Park, Co. Westmeath (See Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland, 1958 Edition, for details). His only son was General John Conyers D'Arcy, born 1894. Conyers is an unusual name but a Charles H. Conyers was witness to a deed between a John Upton and a James D'Arcy in 1766, and a Conyers D'Arcy lived at Chesterfield, Co. Limerick, in the seventeen hundreds. Probate of Conyers D'Arcy's will was granted to William Upton and Henry Mannix, executors, in 1751. (See Prerogative Grants Book, Public Record Office, Dublin, Folio 207B, 14-21-80). A Conyers D'Arcy, probably his son, was granted a commission 1750 - 1751. (Folio 186B, same book). A Nicholas Upton D'Arcy, son of Nicholas Conyers D'Arcy, of Churchtown, Co. Limerick, entered Kings' Inns, Dublin, in 1841. The fourth son of John D'Arcy and Mary Burke of Woodville, Loughrea, Co. Galway was Nicholas - a rare Christian name amongst the D'Arcys. The Upton family had been in County Limerick since 1694 or earlier and held lands at Ballybreny, Ballynaberney, Lisnabreny and part of Ardagh.

The Uptons and the D'Arcys of Limerick are mentioned in the D'Arcy Evans' papers (D 18672) in the Manuscript Room of the National Library, Dublin: these papers are the originals and some are difficult to decipher. The genealogy of the "Galway" D'Arcys will be found in the "History of Clifden 1810 - 1860" by Kathleen Villier-Tuthill (nee Lavelle).

It is fairly safe to assume that the Upton and Conyers families and the D'Arcys of Limerick were related and that these families in turn were connected with the family of Archbishop C.F. D'Arcy. In this connection it is interesting to note that the maiden name of Mrs. Mary Anne Worn of 4, Molesworth Street, Dublin, who was stated to be a relation of the D'Arcys of Enniskerry Road, was an Upton. In the Census Returns of 1901 she is stated to be a Roman Catholic and to have been born in Kingstown. If her family were connected with the Limerick Uptons and the link between her family and the Enniskerry Road D'Arcys were established, the connection between these D'Arcys and Archbishop D'Arcy might become evident. Then there might be two Protestant Archbishops in the family!

A lot more work would have to be done to establish whether any connection exists between the D'Arcys of Enniskerry Road and John D'Arcy, the Lord Mayor, not to speak of the two Protestant Archbishops: the chances of success would be slight. However, it is interesting that although the claim that there was some connection was not taken very seriously at first, subsequent investigations did unearth a few items which appeared to indicate that the claim might not be so far-fetched as it seemed originally.

Of course, if any connection does exist it is likely to remote. The father of Patrick D'Arcy of Enniskerry Road was in poor circumstances and as his mother-in-law, Mary Burke Connell, married her husband William when he was a private in the British Army her immediate family is not likely to have been very high on the social ladder at the time i.e. about 1850. It may be, of course, that her family was reduced to penury as a result of the famine - a common occurrence at the time.