Richard Altamont Smythe

[AMN]

My grandfather Michael Nolan worked as a gardner for Richard Altamont Smythe in a house in Killiney, south of Dublin around 1920. My grandmother (Bridget) would also have worked in the house at the time and my father was born there in 1917.

I am wondering if anyone can give me more precise details of the family at the time as this would have been my grandfather's second marriage and there had been 6 children of the first marriage.

Does anyone have any photgraphs of the house at the time - Court-na-farragh in Killiney. I would be interested if there are any existing of the staff as I do not posses any pictures of my grandfather.

[dublin1850]

The old Killiney Court Hotel was previously Court na farraige.
http://www.bmol.ie/killiney.html
Developers turned it into apartments
http://www.ellen.ie/killineybay/development.html

[AMN]

Thanks for that do you know of nay information being available of the household back in approx. 1915 - 1920?.

I have visited the area and have seen this property there is currently another house down the road with the name Court-na-farrage but I had thought it was not of the period.

[shanew147]

You can see the location of the original house on the OSI map - see Court-na-Farraga, Station Road, Killiney      (click the 25" option to see the c1890s map)

Thom's 1914 lists :

  Captain R.A. Smythe, J.P., Courtna-farraga, Killiney

I dont see a listing for Richard in 1927, but daughter Olive is still at the address.

  Miss Olive Smythe, Court-na-Farraga, Killiney

Based on the BMD Index Richard seems have died in 1924. This looks like the household in 1911, with Richard age 72, wife Frances and daughter Olive.

  Smythe household - 1911



Shane

[AMN]

I am not sure when my grandfather started to work there as a gardner as he was elsewhere on the 1911 census (Sorrento Road, Dalkey), my father was born at Court - na farragh in 1917 and I know my grandfather died in Liverpool in 1925 but I am not sure when they moved from Ireland.

My grandfather would also at that time left his original children in Ireland but as they were late teens / early twenties this is possible, but the youngest from his first marriage would have been quite young.

[shanew147]

Sorrento Road is close to Station Rd and Court-na-Farraga  - about 2km. So he could have worked for a time at the house whilst still based at the other address. (his occupation on the 1911 census is Gardener, as far as I remember he was a tram driver in 1901)



Shane

[AMN]

Occupations are correct - it is interesting to note that when he moved to Liverpool he was a gardner at one of the large properties in Woolton.

Often wondered whether he was aware of the job before he left Ireland.

[Stareleigh]

My great-grandfather was Richard Altamont Smythe. 
The first picture is as my dad remembered it in the early 1920s.
I have a picture of the wake for RAS, if you want that too?

Very pleased to come across your posting.

[AMN]

I would be interested to know whether you have any photographs of the staff at the time or any reference to my grandfather Michael Nolan.

A picture of RAS wake would be interesting.

Thanks.

Angela