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Richard Humphreys

Richard Humphreys and Deirdre Flanagan.
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Richard Humphreys,
Richard Macartan Humphreys, Dick,
born 26 Mar 1937, Dublin.
Descendant through Blennerhassett of Edward III.
"Richard" when young. "Dick" more common in later life.
He was educ Willow Park.
He was educ Blackrock College.
Schools rugby player:
He played rugby for Blackrock. Was on JCT team:

• Played for Blackrock in the 1952 JCT final, Lansdowne Road, 25 Mar 1952 (age 14). Stephen Spain also on team. They lost narrowly to Clongowes. See preview in Irish Times, March 25, 1952. See match report in Irish Times, March 26, 1952.

Played on Blackrock SCT team in 1955 season:

• He was on team that beat Terenure in quarter-final, March 15, 1955 (him age 17). See report in Irish Times, March 16, 1955.
• He was on team that beat Clongowes in semi-final, March 22, 1955 (him age 17). See report in Irish Times, March 23, 1955.
• Blackrock beat Castleknock in the 1955 final, but think he was a sub, didn't play.

He was educ UCD (Mechanical Engineering).
Auditor of UCD Mechanical Engineering Society (NOT Engineering Society).
BE UCD 1959.
M.I.Mech.E. (Member of Institution of Mechanical Engineers). C.Eng. (Chartered Engineer).
Worked for his relation Aodogán O'Rahilly in gypsum mines, Co.Cavan, as at 1960.
He met Deirdre in June 1960.
He worked in O'Mara family company Donnelly's, Dublin, 1961-1963. Stephen O'Mara was Managing Director.
He started going out with Deirdre c.1963.
Move to Galway, c.1964 to 1971:
He moved to Galway c.1964. Went into marble business. He made souvenirs as Irish Stone Ltd.

He founded "Connemarble" marble business, manufacturer of Connemara marble tiles. Got licence to quarry marble in Recess, W Co.Galway (see map). Factory was at Inverin (or Knock, or Cnoc), just W of Spiddal, on Galway bay, Co.Galway (see map).
Their marble tiles can still be seen today on floor of Dublin airport and Shannon airport. They still made the marble souvenirs also.
They lived 19 Greenfields Rd, Newcastle, Galway city.
He was in marble business until went to Gowan's 1971.

Move to Dublin, 1971:
In Oct 1971 he joined the Gowan motor company (later Gowan Group). Gowan's had been founded in 1969. They were importers (and assemblers) of Peugeot cars for Ireland. He was Sales Manager and Development Manager, Gowan motor company, Dublin, 1971 to 1989.
Family moved to Dublin early Dec 1971.
He worked mainly in Gowan's offices on the Long Mile Road (start of Naas Rd).
The "Thomond" prototype: In the early 1970s, Richard made designs for a prototype car with a novel high-visibility windscreen and seating design. He built a full-size mock-up of the car. He called it the "Thomond" after the Thomond car his father built in the 1920s. See provisional patent application for Thomond design, 1972.
He got MBA UCD 1975.
In 1975 Richard co-founded Deerpark Tennis Club, in Deerpark, Mount Merrion. He was first Chairman. List of Chairpersons starts with him in 1976 and 1977.
Deirdre went back to teaching think 1976. In 1970s she did a H.Dip.Ed. (Higher Diploma in Education) in TCD.
She worked for Mrs. Milmo's pre-school / primary school, 55 Ailesbury Road, think 1976 to 1984.
Richard and Deirdre had a summer house on Gurteen Beach in Roundstone, Co.Galway. This house is now gone.
Deirdre did Dip.Cat. (Diploma in Catechetics) UCD. She became an RE teacher.

Richard was involved with the Pro-Life Amendment Campaign which got the Eighth Amendment passed in 1983 to ban abortion.
He was a founder member of Family Solidarity in 1983.
Deirdre taught Religious Education from c.1985 to c.2000 in Mount Sackville girls' secondary school, Chapelizod, W Dublin. (School is named after "Mount Sackville" lodge, built for George Sackville, 1st Viscount Sackville.)
Richard was spokesman for Family Solidarity in anti-divorce campaign 1986.
He was a lifelong Pioneer.
He sold 36 Pearse St in 1989.
His Gowan's job ended in company restructuring in 1989. Had to get a new job at age 52.

Iceflo Systems, Limerick:
In 1990 Richard joined Iceflo Systems, a small engineering company, based in Limerick. He was Managing Director. Then CEO of Iceflo International Ltd.
Iceflo partnered with McCann's Engineering (soft drink dispensing equipment), Los Angeles (founded 1950).
Richard restored the Old Town Hall, Limerick, in 1992. Charles Humphreys also involved in the project. Opened by Desmond O'Malley 11 Sept 1992.
He was President of MBA Association 1995.
He set up Internet company, "Global Pages", by 1999. Later "Today's Pages". Site created 2000.
Deirdre retired from Mt Sackville c.2000.

Richard was involved in Eurosceptic campaigns against the Nice Treaty in 2001 and 2002.
He was in New York on business when 9/11 happened. See postcard home on 15 Sept 2001.
He was President of Mount Merrion Residents Association 2004-2005 (formed 1935, said to be the oldest residents association in Ireland).
He set up a Eurosceptic group, EUReform, to campaign against the Treaty of Lisbon. Public launch 11 Jan 2008.
See report on EUReform, RTE One TV, 1 o'clock news, 11 January 2008. See from 16:03 to 17:36.
He only died a month after EUReform launch. After his death the Lisbon Treaty would be rejected by the Irish electorate in June 2008. Though they would then be made to vote again in Oct 2009.

Richard dies, 2008:
He died Wed 27 Feb 2008, of sudden and unexpected illness, St Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin, age 70 yrs.
He was bur Saggart, near his parents' grave.
See memorial page.
I did not get to do his DNA because he died too early. Ancestry DNA was only launched in UK/Ireland in 2015. I did his brother Niall's DNA.

Deirdre dies, 2024:
She died 15 March 2024, age 87 yrs, at the Marlay Nursing Home, near Marlay Park.
She was bur Saggart with Richard.
See Photos of Richard Humphreys.
See Photos of Deirdre Flanagan.
Richard and Deirdre had issue:

1. Richard Humphreys.
   He mar 1stly to Liz Purcell and had issue:
   1. Carmel-Deirdre Humphreys.
   He mar 2ndly to Nicole Scannell-O'Leary and had issue:
   1. Eve Humphreys.
   2. Cerys Humphreys.

   
   

2. Mark Humphrys.

   
   

3. Frank Humphreys, mar Andreja Volenec and had issue:
   1. Kian Humphreys.
   2. Nina Humphreys.

4. Joe Humphreys, mar Emer O'Brien and had issue:
   1. Megan Humphreys.
   2. Patrick Humphreys.

Richard and Deirdre.

Grave of Richard and Deirdre, Saggart.
Photo 2024.
See 2008 photo (when it was just Richard).

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The name "Macartan"

When Richard was born on 26 March 1937, at a maternity home at 26 Upper Pembroke St, Dublin, he was given the middle name "Macartan".
This was said to be after St.Macartan (feast day 24 March).
However, we note that the birth was registered by a "M. McCartan", who was "present at birth", living 26 Upper Pembroke St.
Maybe his middle name is a combination of the saint's feast day and a tribute to "M. McCartan" for their assistance.
There is no doctor called "M. McCartan" at this time. However there is a nurse, and she fits the bill.
It must be this person:

• Margaret Mary McCartan,
  born 24 Aug 1917, Newbrook, NW of Hollymount, Co.Mayo. See birth cert from here.
  She was dau of Patrick McCartan, timber merchant, originally of Co.Down.
  She would be age 19 at Richard's birth, Mar 1937.
  She was a nurse at the Mater Hospital, Dublin, 1938 to 1942.
  She is listed as a nurse at the Mater Hospital, Dublin, in Irish Press, July 11, 1940.
  She is listed in Register of Nurses 1943. Living Hollymount, Co.Mayo. She is the only nurse in Ireland called McCartan.
  She mar 1943 in Dublin to Daniel O'Loghlen of Lisdoonvarna.
  See mar cert from here. She is "S.R.N." (State Registered Nurse), living Hollymount, Co.Mayo.
  She would be the person who registered Richard's birth. But whether that definitely influenced his middle name is unclear.

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Patents

Richard's Iceflo patents:

• Irish application 1990/2451 (filed 1990)
• 5354152 (filed 1991)
• 5549421 (filed 1994)
• 6561691 (filed 2000)
• 6953132 (filed 2003)

His "Global Pages" ("Today's Pages") patents:

• Irish application 2000/0545 (filed 2000)