My ancestors - Humphrys - Contents

John Humphreys, of Limerick

Humphreys' bakery, Edward St, Limerick.
Listed under John's father's name.
From [Limerick Directory, 1928, p.19].

John Humphreys,
born 13 Feb 1896, Limerick.
Apprentice baker with Harris' bakery, Mount Kennett Place, off Henry St, Limerick.
In 1914 he and his father set up a bakery at 13 Edward St, Limerick.
When finished the day's business, he used run a delivery service about the city and county with horse and van, delivering to shops, private houses. Known as "The Last Supper".

He mar 1924 to Eileen Sheehan [born 15 Jan 1898, 7 Moore St, Dublin].
She was daughter of Patrick Sheehan from Killarney and Eily O'Leary from The Park Lower, Killarney.
She was baptised at Pro Cathedral, Dublin, sp Bernard Greaves, Rossanna Doran.
Her father died. Her mother re-married to Joe Cleary, of Co.Clare.

John and Eileen both worked to develop the bakery business. Eileen sold bread from shop attached to the bakery.
They modernised the bakery, installing machinery to help with the work.
John's father died 1936.

Dispute with Bakery Union, 1939: His bakery got into a dispute with the Bakery Union in 1939.
When John's baker Mickey Highfield was on holidays, John's teenage son Paddy would come in to do the work. The union objected.
The dispute escalated. The union picketed the bakery. They followed his van on his bread round, and pressurised customers not to buy. Paddy said: "Most of the customers supported my dad but a good deal of business was lost." The state solicitor fought the case for him but lost.
But Mickey Highfield lost his job. Paddy said: "Too bad about Mickey Highfield. He was a nice old soul. He lost his job over the union's action. We could not afford to hire him back because of the loss in trade. That ended our connection with the Bakery Union."
Eileen used say: "The Humphreys are great people, but don't go against them."

John retired 1970. He and Eileen came to live with Paddy in Newport, Co.Tipperary.
Eileen died 20 Nov 1972, Main St, Newport, age 74 yrs.
She was buried Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.
John died 7 Feb 1982, Regional Hospital, Limerick, age 85 yrs.
He was buried Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.
John and Eileen had issue:

1. Paddy Humphreys,
   Patrick, born 25 Jan 1925, 13 Edward St, Limerick,
   baptised Patrick Francis, St.Joseph's Church, Limerick, sp Patrick Humphreys (grandfather), Eily O'Leary (grandmother).

   
   

2. Marie Humphreys,
   mar Jim Fitzgerald
   and had issue:
   1. John Patrick Fitzgerald.
   2. Tony Fitzgerald.
   3. Adrian Gerard Fitzgerald.
   4. Jean Marie Fitzgerald.
   5. Linda Fitzgerald.
   6. Gerard Fitzgerald.
   7. Patrick Fitzgerald.
   8. Desmond Fitzgerald.
   9. Declan Fitzgerald.