The D'Arcys of Palmerstown Place, Dublin [Gen-044]

Palmerston Place is off Dominick St., Upper and Mountjoy Street.

As early as 1850 at least there were D'Arcys living in Palmerston Place. William D'Arcy gentlemen (also a plasterer) and his wife Catherine lived at No.1. They had two sons apparently, Captain William D'Arcy who died 14th August, 1864 in Deep Bottom Valley, USA and John D'Arcy who died 4th September, 1880. John lived at 30 Lower Dominick St., Dublin and at 20 Summerhill, Dublin. He was a sculptor. His widow, Elizabeth, lived firstly at 25, Palmerston Place and later at No.1. A Gerald D'Arcy who lived at No. 25 in 1883-4 was probably their son. He was a photographer.

In Thom's Dublin Directories for the years 1887 - 1890 a John P. D'Arcy appears in the Lists of Gentry and his address is given as No. 10 Palmerston Place. This may be a misprint for No. 1 Palmerston Place as the Street Directory for 1887 lists Michael D'Arcy as living at No. 10. (A James E.S. Condon lived at No. 9 up to 1889 according to the same source.)

When Patrick D'Arcy, Michael's brother, married in 1888 he gave his address as 10, Palmerston Place. It seems that Michael D'Arcy lived, firstly at No. 10 and later at No. 9.

There is no known connection between the D'Arcys mentioned in Paragraph 2 above, or the John D'Arcy mentioned in Paragraph 3, and Patrick and Michael D'Arcy: the information given (culled mainly from the Public Record Office Index of Wills and Administrations) may help to avoid confusion at a later date. In this connection it should be noted that the following are listed in the Index for the years shown after their names and not for the years of their deaths: William D'Arcy (1868); Capt. Wm. D'Arcy (1881?); John D'Arcy (1893).

The Michael D'Arcy who lived at No. 9 Palmerston Place was a son of Michael D'Arcy (1833 - 1873). He was married to Anne Eliza Watson who was born in Dublin in1863. According to the 1901 Census returns the following children were living at No. 9 in that year: George M., born 1884, described as a "Silver Chaser'" (He is not mentioned in the 1911 Census return.); John P., born 1888; Francis, born 1890; Isabella, born 1892; Edward, born 1895. All the children were born in Dublin and all, as well as their parents, were described as Roman Catholics. There were two boarders in the house - Isabella Watson, aged 40, a Shop Assistant, born in Belfast and John Watson, aged 25, a plumber, born in Dublin. Both of these are stated to be Church of Ireland. Presumably these Watsons were relations of Mrs. Michael D'Arcy: it will be noted that her only daughter was christened Isabella.

All the persons listed as occupants of No. 9 in the 1901 Census, except George, are mentioned in the 1911 Census Return also.

In passing it may be mentioned that a Richard Connell and his wife Mary lived in No. 10 Palmerston Place in 1901. Both of these were born in Co. Westmeath, however, and do not appear to be connected with the Connells of Windgap and Newbridge.

Michael D'Arcy of Palmerston Place was employed in the Boot and Shoe Department of Clerys, O'Connell St., Dublin. Family tradition is that he founded the carpet section in the store: his occupation as given in the 1901 Census Return is "Carpet Placer".

As far as is known the only one of Michael D'Arcy's children who did not die relatively young was Frank. He married and lived at No. 43, Munster Street, Phibsboro', Dublin. It is understood that some of his children still live at that address (1984). Frank had five children: Brian, Patrick, Doreen, a third son and a second daughter. The family own a carpet shop on Phibshoro' Road.