Pullen's of Dublin

[mandilou66]

Hi, I'm trying to find information on the Pullen's.  My husbands father was Tom (Thomas) Pullen born 1920 to John and Catherine Pullen (nee Murphy) who lived at 105 Ringsend Park Road, Ringsend.  This is where it all stops.  I think the grandfather was also called John and we think it was him who received a certificate on vellum for saving lives in the liffey.  Thomas (1920) had brothers called Robert, Raymond, Kit (Christopher) and a sister called Margaret.  All of them resided in Ringsend.  Any information that you can give would be very much appreciated.  We believe that the Pullen's originated in Brixham but I have no way of proving that at the moment because we are lost in the Irish Connection.  Thomas (1920) came to Birmingham when he was 15.  We know most of the brothers worked on the liffey.  There is a story that one of the Pullen's was the first to sail a big sailing ship up the liffey, but again i can't find anything on this either.

[Frazer]

The Heritage group from Dublin City Public Libraries has started a searchable database of births, marriages and burials.   A search for Pullen on the Births database produced 8 names in two parishes.  Although the list didn't include any of the names you mentioned, perhaps they are related to your Pullens since it is such an unusual name.

Here's the url for the search results:

http://www.dublinheritage.ie/index.php?sname=Pullen&fname=&datelo=&datehi=&parish=&db=baptism

If the page doesn't open for you, just google dublinheritage.ie and follow the link to the database.

[mandilou66]

Thank you.  At least I have something to try and link the modern day Pullen's to.  Thank you for your help.  It is much appreciated.  Happy New Year!

[Frazer]

You're welcome.  Incidentally, it might be worth your while having someone search the registers for you because there could well be more Pullens on the registers than the names produced by searching the online database.  The search result for my own forebears was missing quite a few names.

[Cog]

Hi

I think I might know your Pullens.

My mother went to school with them, they lived in Ringsend in
either Cambridge Street or Patricks Villas, she cant quite remember
the name of the street yet (sure it will come to her though).

I have a newspaper photograph  of the confirmation class for
Ringsend Boys National School 1944/45 with the names on, one
boy R Pullen is shown in the same row as T Murphy and Phillip Murphy.
The boys are around 13/14 years old. 

My Mother tells me she remembers the Pullens and the Murphys
very well. Catherine Murphy had a brother called Billy Murphy
and he married my uncles wifes sister Sheila Dunne, they also
lived in Cambridge Street, they had a daughter who was killed
in the Stardust disco fire in 1981 and also a daughter called
margaret who died as a baby from gastrointeritis, about 1949.

The Pullens all worked on the quays and were also fishmongers
and sold their fish in Ringsend.  My mom says the Pullens and
Murphys are still in the area.

If you would like a copy of the photo send me an address
through my PM and I will pass it on to you, unfortunately
it isn't scanning too clear but photocopies ok.  Sorry cant
be of help with the Brixham bit, but suppose any snippets
help eh ?

Carol

[mandilou66]

Hi Carol.  I've sent you a PM regarding your post.  Thanks Mandi

[Cog]

Hi Mandi

I have sent you a mail that maybe incomplete, I erased part of it by mistake, I might have missed a bit off, let me know where I got to !  sorry

Carol

[pidgeonhouse]

There was an article in the Irish Times, March 10th, 2004 on efforts by Ringsend fishermen to have their right to net salmon on the Liffey. Two Ringsend families are mentioned in the article - and one is Pullen:

"Mr Turlough O'Donnell SC, for the 14 fishermen, said the tradition of salmon fishing in Ringsend was an extremely long one. In the case of one of his clients, Mr Anthony Pullen, his great, great grandfather had fished there as far back as 1830 and the fishermen concerned had a long tradition in salmon fishing." [IT, 10/03/04]

My father's family is from Ringsend, and I heard the name Pullen mentioned by old relations. The other family mentioned in the article is the Dents, another well known Ringsend family. One of the Dents - Bill Dent - was killed in a motorcycle accident in c1940s, age about 18. He was a first cousin of my grandmother (Kathleen Nealon).

[Cog]

Hello Pidgeonhouse

I have heard my mom talk of Billy Dent in ringsend.  Do you live on the Pidgeonhouse Road ?  My cousin and his family live there.  Have to ask if you know my aunt Collete Gaffney who lives in Irishtown Road ?

Carol