Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
The name "Portmahon" was in use in the area, though maybe not for this house.
Portmahon House
does not appear on the
list of houses
on South Circular Rd
in
[Thom's, 1868].
Maybe it had a different name.
[Scuffil, 1993]
is wrong to identify this with Compton Lodge, which is another building to the W.
Alderman Michael Flanagan
purchased Portmahon House
on 4 Apr 1867
[Deed of 1867].
He is listed at "Portmahon House" (with that name) in
[Thom's, 1870].
His son Patrick was born here 1870.
The Alderman built up market gardening business over surrounding area.
There were extensive vegetable gardens in front of Portmahon House,
and a farmyard (SE of the house) to manage them.
Lot of local women had jobs gathering in vegetables.
Liam Cosgrave
said there were only about 14 acres with Portmahon House.
The Alderman's other land was elsewhere.
The
Grand Canal
used to run past
back of Portmahon House,
down to Guinness' Brewery,
running under old Rialto bridge.
Liam Cosgrave
remembered Portmahon from 1920s with
canal at the back.
Entrance was from the S.
A door in the back garden wall opened onto the path
running along the canal.
There were kitchens
in the basement - many dinner parties given upstairs.
The Alderman had a great reputation for entertaining.
The Alderman died at Portmahon House in 1931.
P.A. O'Farrell died at Portmahon House in 1933.
Portmahon House was sold soon after by Frank Flanagan.
New Ireland Road was built across the front of the house c.1935.
The road S of the
house (built 1930s) is now called "Portmahon Drive".
"Joseph Brennan" is listed as living Portmahon House, S Circular Rd,
in
[Thom's, 1945].
Portmahon House was
sub-divided into cheap flats for many years.
The canal was drained in 1976.
Christy Lynch,
of a flat in Portmahon House,
was convicted in 1977
of the
murder of
Vera Cooney in Strand Rd, Sandymount in 1976.
His conviction was overturned in 1980.
Christy Lynch's nephew
Joe O'Reilly
was convicted in 2007
of the
murder of his wife
Rachel O'Reilly in The Naul in 2004.
Donal Kenny,
of a flat in Portmahon House,
was charged with burglary in 1985.
See
Irish Times, 3 Dec 1985.
Portmahon House was being lived in in 1997, but later got into a bad state.
It was derelict as at 2007,
then for sale (derelict) as at 2010,
then being renovated as at 2012.
It is now renovated and opened as 10 apartments.
Dublin City Council
lists
Portmahon House
in its
Record of Protected Structures.
Portmahon House (above red cross) on the
1829 to 1842 map.
At least, it is a house on the site of the later Portmahon House.
Maybe is an old building, since replaced.
Or maybe the same building with a different name.
Looks like entrance is to N (on canal bank).
[Scuffil, 1993]
said the entrance used to be to the N.
Architects have said that inside the house, the staircase is reversed from its original position facing a N entrance.
There used to be steps up to the main door at the N side.
Steps are gone.
The door has been replaced with a window.
The stairs reversed.
New door opened to S side.
Portmahon House (plot 19, and 19 is also marked on the house) on
[VO] Griffiths Valuation maps,
Dublin city, Ushers Quay ward, sheet 24.
See full size.
Close-up of above.
Looks like entrance is to N (on canal bank).
Looks like steps up to main door on N side.
Portmahon House on
Ordnance Survey of Ireland map.
Date created: 1838.
Date modified: 1864.
From here.
Entrance from outside world is clearly to the N side.
Though a side N entrance takes you round the back to the S side with steps up.
Portmahon House on
map from
askaboutireland.ie.
This was meant to be Griffiths Valuation period.
Must be later map than the above.
Looks like entrance is to the S now.
Note Compton Lodge to the W.
The wall to the NW of the house is still there.
Photo 2012 from inside the house looking N.
See full size.
Portmahon House on
1887 to 1913 map.
Looks like entrance is to the S.
Liam Cosgrave
said entrance was to S.
He said the buildings to the W side of the house were the stables.
The E side (location "Fn") had a tennis court and conservatory.
The location to the SE ("Lodge") was the farmyard.
Note Compton Lodge to the W.
The extensive Flanagan estate round Portmahon House.
On
1887 to 1913 map.
See full estate.
Estate also included
Portmahon Lodge
and Rialto Lodge.
Portmahon House, satellite view.
Portmahon House is at top of Portmahon Drive.
Click to toggle map/satellite view.
Click to zoom in/out.
Drag to move.
From
Google Maps.
Portmahon House. Close-up of above.
Interior. Upstairs landing.
Liam Cosgrave
said that in the 1920s,
when there were two unmarried sons,
Frank's room was on RHS,
Michael's room on LHS,
Alderman at back.
Photo 2012.
See full size.
Please donate to support this site.
I have spent a great deal of time and money on this research.
Research involves travel and many expenses.
Some research "things to do"
are not done for years, because I do not have the money to do them.
Please Donate Here
to support the ongoing research and
to keep this website free.
