Dr. Alec Spain
- Sources yet to be consulted:
- "Alex Spain: The Sporting Master" by John M. Stronge.
Alec Spain.
See
full size.
Dr. Alec Spain,
Alex W. Spain,
born 22 Sept 1897, Cashel, Co.Tipperary,
poss. descendant of
Edward III and
Aoife Mac Murrough and
Brian Boru.
He was
educ Christian Brothers, Cashel, Co.Tipperary.
Family moved back to Dublin.
He was educ
Blackrock College 1908-15.
Played rugby for Blackrock.
Won
JCT 1911 and 1912.
He was
educ
UCD.
BA 1918.
Studied for priesthood, but left.
Started studying medicine in UCD 1919.
Played rugby for UCD.
Captain of
UCD rugby club.
Captain in 1924 when they won
Leinster Club Senior Cup
(see photo in
Belfield House,
UCD).
Later he was President of the club.
Gynaecologist.
MB, B.Ch., B.A.O., UCD 1924
[NUI, 1964].
Played rugby for Ireland against New Zealand,
in Dublin,
1 Nov 1924,
during the famous
New Zealand tour of 1924-25,
when New Zealand won everything.
Worked Mater Hospital, Dublin, as at 1925.
Assistant Master of
Holles St Hospital
(National Maternity Hospital), Dublin,
1926-27 [plaque in hall].
M.A.O. NUI 1929,
MRCOG 1929.
He
mar 30th July 1929, Killiney RC church, Co.Dublin, to Eileen O'Mara
[Eibhlin, born 7th Aug 1903,
poss. descendant of Edward III],
(todo) see mar of
Alexander W Spain, Rathdown, 3rd qr 1929,
[GROI],
vol 2 p 672.
Lived 31 Lower Baggot St, Dublin, where he started a private practice.
Working Mater Hospital again as at 1938.
President of Blackrock College Union
1938.
Master of
Holles St Hospital
1942-48 [plaque inside door].
Became
FRCOG.
Lived and had practice in 20 Fitzwilliam Square South,
Dublin [NOT 18].
Retired.
Went back to live in Cashel, Co.Tipperary, for some years,
having bought the Mullins shop.
Eileen opened an antiques shop next to Mullins' in Cashel.
Moved back to Dublin, lived Dundrum.
Eileen ran an antiques shop in Ranelagh.
Lived at some point at Faitealan, Carrick Hill, Malahide, N Co.Dublin.
In later years
the two of them were in a nursing home, Our Lady's Manor,
Bullock Harbour, Dalkey, Co.Dublin.
He died 24 Feb 1982, age 84 yrs.
His portrait hangs in Holles St Hospital.
Eileen died 20 Mar 1988, age 84 yrs.
Alec and Eileen
had issue:
- Anne Spain.
- Alex Spain,
mar Maureen Murphy and had issue:
- Alex Spain, mar Michele Murphy and had issue:
- Alex Spain.
- Georgia Spain.
- Cameron Spain.
- John Spain, mar Susan McHenry and had issue:
- Philip Spain.
- Heather Spain.
- William Spain.
- Catherine Spain.
- Brian Spain, had issue:
- Sofia Spain.
- Justin Spain, wrote family history,
mar Sarah O'Riain and had issue.
- Elizabeth Spain, mar Pete Bridge and had issue:
- Imogen Bridge.
- Jake Bridge.
- Lara Bridge.
- Paddy Spain, mar Mary Binchy and had issue:
- Patrick Spain.
- Eddie Spain, mar ---.
- Alexandra Spain.
- Benedicte Spain.
- Stephen Spain.
- Ellen Spain, mar Raymond Davern and had issue:
- Owen Davern, mar Rosarie O'Grady and had issue:
- Sophia Davern.
- Owen Davern.
- Paddy Davern,
mar Anne Kearney and had issue:
- Recie Davern.
- Paddy Davern.
- Dermot Davern.
- Tom Davern.
- Raymond Davern.
- Alex Davern, mar Eileen Henry.
- Ellen Davern.
- Lisa Davern.
- Stephen Davern.
- Malachi Spain, mar Mary Leonard and had issue:
- Malachy Spain, mar Liza MacCarthy and had issue:
- Oisin Spain.
- Ferdia Spain.
- Fachtna Spain.
- Mise Spain.
- Sheila Spain, mar Robert Dargan and had issue:
- Sadie Dargan.
- Aimee Dargan.
- Mia Dargan.
- Julian Spain.
- Mary-Elizabeth Spain, mar Joseph Thompson and had issue:
- Rhys Thompson.
Alec and Eileen's wedding, 1929.
See
full size.
"A beautiful maiden - God knows why
Thought of me as quite a 'Guy'
Before her gaze I was weak as water
And so was wed with an O'Mara daughter."
- From a poem written by Alec to Eileen on their 40th anniversary, 1969.
