My ancestors - Humphrys - Contents

Mick Humphrys

The Oak. Photo 1999.

Mick Humphrys,
bapt 9th June 1859, Murroe, Co.Limerick,
went to Dublin,
publican, ran a pub at 49 Great Britain St (later Parnell St), Dublin,
"Michael Humphrys", family grocer, and tea, wine and spirit merchant, listed there in [Thoms] 1891 to 1920,
he took over the pub from William Humphrys,
wit his brother Dr.David's marriage settlement, and marriage, Dublin, 1895,
mar 1897 to Annie O'Shaughnessy [or Angela, listed as "Annie" in 1911 census, born 1871, Dublin],
(todo) see mar of Michael Humphrys and Anne O'Shaughnessy, [GROI], Dublin North, 4th qr 1896, vol 2 p 529,
listed at 49 Great Britain St in [Census, 1901], his nephews Tim and Jim and Ned Lloyd there with him as assistants,
he registered Dr.David's death, London, 1903,
when his brother Dr.David's widow Nell and her children came to Dublin in 1909 he was the only relative they had there,
he lived over this pub for many years,
listed at 49 Great Britain St in [Census, 2 April 1911], his nephew Jack there with him as assistant,
think 49 Parnell St is now demolished, site is part of the Ilac Shopping Centre,

he owned and ran a pub at 81 Dame St, Dublin, that is now called The Oak,
pub established 1860, would have been called Humphrys' pub when he ran it,
"Michael Humphrys" listed there in [Thoms] from 1923 on (still called "Humphrys" pub after his death),
his surname, spelt "Humphrys" (the old way), is in a tiled floor at the door of the pub, dating from c.1923,
he did NOT live over this pub,
he is listed as living 29 North Circular Rd in [Thoms] from 1923 on,

think he moved to 81 Dame St in 1922 or earlier (i.e. [Thoms] is a year or two out of date),
because when his nephew Dick Humphreys first set up in business as O'Mara's Rubber Co., by agreement dated 9th Oct 1922, he located at 79 Dame St, two doors away from where his uncle already was,
he was close to his brother Dr.David's family, but sadly they fell out over politics over the Civil War (1922-23), Mick was Free State, his brother's family were strong Republicans,
apparently the top part of 81 Dame St was destroyed during the Civil War, had to be re-built,

he used to hunt with Langans,
[Mary Frawley, née Humphreys] remembered a story that Mick "saved a child" from the Proselytisers (Protestant missionaries who offered food to the Catholic poor if they would convert), some Catholic organisation presented him with a watch,
he might be "M. Humphreys" who was present with other vintners at the Alderman's funeral 1931,
he died at 81 Dame St, Fri 25 May 1934, age 74 yrs,
see death notice in Irish Independent, Saturday, May 26, 1934,
funeral Mon 28th May 1934, bur Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, Location: vC 10.5, no headstone found at that location today,
see funeral report, Irish Times, May 29, 1934, and also in Irish Times, June 2, 1934,
funeral list in Irish Press, Tue 29th May,
Annie fl 1934,
81 Dame St is still called "Michael Humphrys" pub in [Thom's, 1938],
had issue:

1. (5 children) Humphrys.
   1901 census lists no children.
   1911 census says they had 5 children born alive 1897-1911, all of whom were dead by 1911.
   Can't find deaths of their children in [GROI].
   Think NOT Mary Humphreys, died Dublin South, 3rd qr 1904, age 4.
   NOT John Humphreys, died Rathdown, 1st qr 1902, age 0.
   NOT Anthony Humphreys, died Dublin North, 4th qr 1902, age 0.
   NOT Eliza Humphreys, died Dublin North, 4th qr 1906, age 0.
   NOT Beryl Humphreys, died Dublin South, 4th qr 1909, age 1.

The pub at 81 Dame St, Dublin (now The Oak).
"Thomas Read" bar on LHS.
"Balcony TV" on roof.
Photo 2007. See full size.

The Oak (on LHS). Photo 1968.
From here.
Copyright status unknown.

Wider view showing The Oak at 81 Dame St
and, 2 doors away, 79 Dame St (now Hackett's Bookmakers).
Photo 2007. See full size.

Tiled floor at the door of The Oak.
This dates from c.1923.
Same type of tiles as in the National Museum.
Photo 2007. See full size.
See also Photo 1999.

Dame St traffic camera, from W (Civic Offices) looking E.
From Dublin City Council.
Think roof of "Thomas Read" and roof of The Oak visible on LHS.

---

• The pub at 81 Dame St is listed as "Terence P. O'Donnell, licensed grocer" in [Thom's, 1945]. Not yet called The Oak.
• 81 Dame St was re-decorated in 1946 with an interior of wood from the RMS Mauretania.
  • The Mauretania was the sister ship of RMS Lusitania. It was launched 1906, and was then the largest passenger ship in the world. It also held for many years the record for fastest crossing of Atlantic. It was scrapped 1935, furnishings sold at auction.
  • After the re-decoration with the ship's wood, the name of the pub was changed 1946 to The Oak.
• The Oak was a gay pub in the 1970s-80s.

• The Thomas Read Group (or via here) now own The Oak.
  • They are named after the adjacent Thomas Read's Cutlers shop at 4 Parliament St, which was until it closed the oldest surviving shop in Dublin (shop dates from 1670, current building from 1760s). The Thomas Read Group bought it when it closed.
  • The Oak is now joined internally to the trendy "Thomas Read" cafe and bar next door.

• On the roof of The Oak is the music video site Balcony TV (and myspace).