Earlscliffe Residents 1945 to 1949

William Martin Murphy

In 1945 Earlscliffe was purchased by William and Norah Martin Murphy. [1]

William was the grandson of William Martin Murphy, a successful businessman born in Bantry, Co. Cork in 1844. The grandfather was the Chairman of the Dublin Tram and Railway Company and also one-time owner of Clery's on O'Connell Street and the Imperial Hotel.  He also controlled the Irish Independent, Evening Herald and Irish Catholic newspapers. However, it was the grandfather's opposition to the trade unions led by James Larkin and the subsequent Dublin Lockout of 1913 that brought him to many people's attention. [2]

His grandson William was born in 1915 (four years before his grandfather died) and was a Barrister and a former director of Independent Newspapers.[3]  William and his wife Norah moved into Earlscliffe with their son, Chris and daughter, Jane, and very soon had a second daughter, Louise.[4] They were good friends with Dr  Robert Rowan Woods (who would subsequently buy Earlscliffe in 1952). [3]

According to Chris and Louise, the whole family thoroughly enjoyed their time at Earlscliffe, but sadly they could only stay a few years.

Some memories of the Martin Murphy's time at Earlscliffe can be found here.

William and Norah sold the house at auction in March 1949 to Lily Margaret Graham Gough for £10,100. [5] Lily Gough's address on the Earlscliffe deeds is stated as Lough Cutra Castle, Gort, Galway. [1] The story was she never occupied Earlscliffe [6] and instead put it up for sale in 1950 when it was bought by Brigadier Arthur Christopher Lancelot ("Kit") Stanley-Clarke for his wife Olive.[1] 

• Earlscliffe Residents 1950 to 1969 - "Kit" and Olive Stanley-Clarke, Dr Robert Rowan Woods, and Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Knowles

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References

• [1] Title deeds and other legal documents that are currently in the possession of Muriel Robinson
• [2] See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Martin_Murphy
• [3] As told by William's son, Chris Martin Murphy, in an email to David Foley, July 3rd 2008. Chris now lives in Australia and is the Managing Director and Principal for Interface and Research and Strategy.
• [4] As told by William's daughter, Louise Martin Murphy, in an email to David Foley, June 23rd 2008. Louise now lives in Ottawa, Canada
• [5] Irish Times, March 16 1949 pg 4, plus copy of deeds currently in the possession of Muriel Robinson
• [6] As told by Olive Stanley Clarke to David Robinson in the 1980s.

This page was last updated on 27-Jun-2010 .