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Niall Gaffney

Niall Gaffney and family on Gaffney grave, Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.
Photo 2009. See larger and full size.

Niall Gaffney,
born 29 Nov 1902,
solicitor in Limerick.
He qualified as solicitor Michaelmas term 1925.
He is listed with his father in [Thom's, 1929] with offices in Limerick and also at 15 South Frederick St, Dublin.
He registered father's death 1933. He was living family home, 86 O'Connell Street, Limerick.
He inherited his father's firm, 86 O'Connell Street, Limerick.

He mar pre-1934 to Lola Milligan [Lola Lilian, born 20 Feb 1903, Church St, Athlone].
She was dau of Humphreys Milligan, draper, and Lola Bell. See her birth in [GROI].

They lived in a fine house, Shamrockville (or "Shamrock Ville"), North Circular Rd, Limerick, from at least 1938 [son's death] to Lola's death 1980. Think Niall then lived there to 1986.
He is listed as solicitor, 86 O'Connell Street, Limerick (his father's office/residence), in [Thom's] at least 1945 to 1961.
Article about his sister says he was president of Law Society of Ireland.
In 1970s he worked in family firm, P.S. Connolly solicitors, Limerick.
P.S. Connolly merged with other solicitors in 1978 to create Connolly, Sellors, Geraghty solicitors, 6/7 Glentworth St, Limerick (two adjoining Georgian buildings).
Heather Miller recalls that in Niall's house there was a statue of Kaiser Wilhelm, said to have belonged to St John Gaffney, a gift to him from the Kaiser.

Lola dies, 1980:
She died at her home, "Shamrock Ville", North Circular Rd, Limerick, 24 Jan 1980, age 76 yrs.
See death notice in Irish Times, January 25, 1980.
Death notice lists husband and brother but no children. Sadly Brian must have been the only child.
Notice in Irish Times, January 25, 1980, said the offices of Connolly, Sellors, Geraghty, solicitors, would be closed for part of the day owing to her death.
She was bur 26 Jan [death notice, burial record], Gaffney grave, Mount St. Lawrence, Limerick.
Niall apparently lived "Shamrock Ville" until his death 1986.

Niall dies, 1986:
He died 21 Oct 1986, Carrigoran Nursing Home, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co.Clare, age 83 yrs.
See death notice in Irish Times, October 22, 1986, and 23 Oct 1986.
Death notice lists nephews and nieces but no children. Brian must have been the only child.
Notice in Irish Times, October 22, 1986, said the offices of Connolly, Sellors, Geraghty, solicitors, would be closed for part of the day owing to his death. He is described as "our late colleague".
He was bur 23 Oct [death notice, burial record], Gaffney grave, Mount St. Lawrence, Limerick.
"Shamrock Ville" apparently sold 1986.
Niall and Lola had issue:

1. Brian Gaffney,
   Brian St.John Gaffney, born Mar 1934.
   (todo) See birth of Brian St J. Gaffney, Dublin South, 2nd qr 1934, [GROI], vol 2 p 532.
   Their only child dies age 4:
   Brian died at Shamrockville, 30 Dec 1938, after a long illness, age 4 yrs 9 months [grave], or 4 yrs 6 months [burial record].
   See death cert from here.
   Death notices describe him as "darling only child".
   He was bur 31 Dec [burial record] in Gaffney grave, Mount St. Lawrence, Limerick.
   See death notice in Irish Independent, January 2, 1939.
   See death notice in Irish Times, January 3, 1939.

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Shamrockville, North Circular Rd, Limerick

"Shamrockville" (or "Shamrock Ville"), North Circular Rd, Limerick.
Does not exist on 1887 to 1913 map.
Home of Niall Gaffney at least 1938 to 1980, maybe 1986.

Shamrockville on street view.

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Shamrockville for sale as at 2009

Shamrockville was for sale as at 2009. See daft.ie and myhome.ie.
Listed as 4,600 sq. ft., 3 floors, 5 bedrooms, on 1.3 acres, "approached by a sweeping avenue flagged by trees". It was priced at €4.5 m.
See floor plan of ground floor and 1st floor and 2nd floor.

Images from Property Team Cusack Dunne, Limerick. Used with permission.

Shamrockville.

Front garden.

Entrance hall.

Drawing room.

Outbuildings.