James Augustine Jones,
He knew the revolutionary
Dick Humphreys
during the
War of Independence, 1919-1921.
Dick's sister
Sighle Humphreys
recalled in
[Mac Eoin, 1980, p.332]
how Jones often loaned cars to the Volunteers when they were needed.
Although not directly involved in any Republican organisation, he risked his livelihood to help the cause.
Sighle (in person) recalled having to ask him for a car for a jail breakout, and being very reluctant to because of the risks involved,
but when asked Jim said without hesitation that he would be ready when the signal was given.
Sighle recalled:
"He had courage. Others would only be thinking of the risks to their business."
James and Norah lived 17 Sandymount Ave, Pembroke, Co.Dublin.
Listed there in
[Thom's]
approximately 1922 to 1927 (check years again).
James was the builder of the Thomond motor cars - the first cars produced in the Irish Free State.
He built four Thomond cars in 1925 to 1933.
Lived Woodleigh, Upper Hollybank Ave, Ranelagh, Co.Dublin.
Listed there in
[Thom's]
approximately 1927 to 1931 (check years again).
Her will dated 19 Aug 1931.
Lived 9 St.Alban's Park, Sydney Parade, Pembroke, Co.Dublin.
Listed there in
[Thom's]
1934 to 1956.
In 1938, Benny Parsons left Jones to start up his own
garage.
Jim
sold his garage in 1939.
Think he then retired (age only 55).
He was probably able to retire because of Norah's inheritance.
Norah dies, 1942:
She died 7 June 1942, age 67 yrs,
at Royal City of Dublin Hospital, Baggot St
(near Thomond garage).
See death cert
from here.
She is "married" and of "independent means".
Burial record says she is still Protestant.
She was bur 9 June 1942
at Dean's Grange Cemetery, Dublin.
Admin says she
left estate of £1159
[NAI].
James is listed at 9 St.Alban's Park up to
[Thom's, 1956].
His sister
Josephine
was living with him at 9 St.Alban's Park at her death 1951.
James and Mary lived at the cottage at Garoon, Mountmellick.
At some point this was named "Thomond Cottage".
It is unclear when.
When James died in 1957 it is referred to simply as "The Cottage, Garoon".
At some point it got a sign "Thomond Cottage", which it still had in 1984.
James' death after a motorcycle collision, 1957:
Jim had asthma.
He saw a doctor on 17-19 Aug 1957, presumably for treatment of asthma.
About a week later, in the evening,
Jim and Mary and a neighbour Mrs.Furlong went up the road
from the house at Garoon for a walk.
They were only a short distance from the house
when along came a young lad from Portarlington
on a motorbike.
His name was Kenny, age about 18.
As Jim admired a view, the youth ran into him.
Jim was carried along for a few yards before falling off.
He was injured.
They got him home, and took him to hospital in Portlaoise in the morning, where he died a few days later.
He died 30 Aug 1957, Portlaoise County Hospital, Co.Laois, age 73 yrs.
See death cert
from here.
Lists him as "retired engineer".
Death cert lists cause of death as "cardiac failure resulting from an asthmatic attack"
and does not mention the accident.
George Furlong (Mrs.Furlong's husband)
said: "It wasn't much of an accident."
But even so it seems strange it wasn't mentioned.
Inquest into the accident was held on Mon 2 Sept 1957.
The boy was cleared, and Mary got no compensation.
Funeral 3 Sept 1957.
He was buried
at Dean's Grange Cemetery, Dublin.
Not with his 1st wife but
with Mary's parents.
See findagrave.
Mary continued living in Thomond Cottage.
Admin of James' estate granted to her, 21 Apr 1959.
Effects £4519
[NAI].
In 1963 she left Mountmellick.
She lived in a lot of different places.
She lost most of her possessions moving around.
By 1975 she moved to
council flats at Rosemount Court in Dundrum, Co.Dublin (built 1970).
She
was in flat no.69.
She lost most of her surviving possessions in a fire at her flat in March 1983.
(See
2009 street view
of the flats. They were demolished in 2011.)
I track Mary down, 1984:
In a process from April to July 1984, I tracked her down.
Starting in public records. Ending up in Mountmellick and other places, talking to neighbours.
I found her on 29 July 1984 in Leopardstown Park Hospital, Dublin.
My Dad greeted her with the words:
"Are you Mary Jones?"
I visited her over the next 4 years.
She had lost almost all family material.
In 1984 we held a gathering of the
3 widows of the 3 men involved in the Thomond.
Mary dies, 1988:
She died 12.05 am, Tue 9 Aug 1988, age 80 yrs.
Funeral Wed 10 Aug 1988.
She was buried
with Jim and her parents
at Dean's Grange Cemetery, Dublin.
See findagrave.
Note burial record has the wrong last home address.
I was in America for the summer.
My mother wrote to me:
"Thanks to you Mark she was buried with Jim and her parents (I got the grave no. from your papers).
Otherwise she would have been put in an unmarked grave as they had no instructions in Leopardstown Park."
"Thomond Cottage", Garoon, Mountmellick, Co.Laois.
Photo 1984.
See larger
and full size.
See other scan.
See modern
street view
of what appears to be this location.
"Thomond Cottage" sign.
Photo 1984.
See larger
and full size.
See other scan.
Close-up of headstone. Totally illegible.
Photo 2025.
See larger
and full size.
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