Shamrock Rovers - Ringsend/Irishtown

[PollyB]

My Grandfather (Patrick Sheridan) was born in The Square, Irishtown (1886), lived in Irishtown Rd (1901) and Rope Walk Place (1911).  He had a brother John Sheridan (3 years older) and a brother Joseph Sheridan (6 years younger).  On a trip to Dublin earlier this week a very helpful, knowledgeable cab driver suggested that my Grandfather may have been a Shamrock Rovers supporter bearing in mind where he lived and the time period he lived there.  I have googled Shamrock Rovers and discovered they were founded where the districts of Ringsend/Irishtown meet in 1901 and played in Ringsend Park right next to where my Grandfather lived.  I have also discovered on Wikipedia the statement: "Until 1926, Shamrock Rovers wore green and white striped jerseys but following a suggestion by a committee member, John Sheridan, the club chose to adopt the green and white hooped strip.".  I'm wondering if the John Sheridan mentioned could be my Great-Uncle.  Does anyone know anything about the founding of Shamrock Rovers?  Was it the local men that set up the club, and does anyone think this John Sheridan mentioned could be my Great-Uncle?  Any info or opinions would be most welcome.

[KGarrad]

There's a bit on the history on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Shamrock_Rovers_F.C.

[aghadowey]

Wikipedia was mentioned in the original post but perhaps this is the source of that quote?
http://www.belfastceltic.org/archive/hoops.html

John Sheridan's son Martin mentioned in the Wikipedia article- does this ring any bells, Polly?

[PollyB]

Thank you KGarrad and aghadowey for taking the time to reply. 

aghadowey, I've been amazed and so interested to read the info on the link you posted regarding John Sheridan's suggestion to change the Shamrock Rovers' strip to hoops.  I do think that the John Sheridan referred to could well be my Great Uncle due to the reference to his son, Martin.  In the 1901 census my grandfather Patrick is living with his older brother, John Sheridan aged 17, in Irishtown Road, John is an apprentice to bottle trade.  In 1911 I have found a John Sheridan living in Thorncastle Street (which I believe is the next street along from Irishtown Road), aged 26, glass bottle maker.  John is living with his wife and his son Martin (who appears to not yet have reached his first birthday).   This John Sheridan would have been the correct age, the area is correct and the occupation tallies up too to be my Great Uncle.  My grandfather in 1911 was living with his older sister Catherine and younger brother Joseph in Rope Walk Place.  On this limited information I think that maybe the Shamrock Rovers' John Sheridan could well be my Great Uncle - what do you think?  Just as an aside, my dad's older brother, my Uncle, was called John Sheridan too.  Thank you for posting this link, its amazing what a chat to a cab driver and a posting on Rootschat can turn up.   

[neasanoc]

Hi Polly.
The John Sheridan you mention was my great-Grandfather, and was indeed intimately involved with Shamrock Rovers. (According to family lore he was one of the founding members but this seems unlikely given the dates.)
My mother tells me the address and job etc match up.
I knew his son Martin well, sadly he passed away 5 years ago at the ripe old age of 96.
I didn't know that John was responsible for the famous hoops, but I'll wear that badge with honour now.

[PollyB]

Hi neasanoc, thank you so much for replying to my post.  If we are talking about the same John Sheridan (which it seems is very possible) that would mean my dad would be your grandparent's first cousin (if I've worked it out right!) and Martin's first cousin too!

My Grandfather's parents were John Sheridan and Margaret Thornton who had (to my knowledge) four children, Catherine (b. 1882/83) John (b. 1883/84) Patrick (b.1886) and Joseph (b. 1892/93).  I wonder if this matches up with the parentage of your John Sheridan?

Just briefly to fill you in, my Grandfather (Patrick Sheridan) left Dublin some time between 1911 and 1927 and came to England.  My last trace of him in Ireland is the 1911 Dublin census and then after that his marriage certificate in London in 1927 to my Grandmother who was from Cork.  They had two sons (John and Patrick (my dad) - obviously not very imaginative when it came to names!!) and he passed away in 1944 when my dad was 13.  As a result of my dad being so young when his father died we knew nothing about his Irish family except they came from the Sandymount area of Dublin and we don't know why he came to England in the first place.  My dad unfortunately passed away in 2007 and his brother, my Uncle John, has also passed away some years ago.  Its always something that has nagged at the back of my mind that we knew absolutely nothing about our Grandfather's family and I've therefore been trying to find out as much as I can from such little information.  My sister and I went to Dublin this March and found his baptism at the Star of the Sea Church which has given me some more leads.

If my Grandfather was actually Martin's Uncle, Martin may have known him before he left for England.  I don't suppose he every mentioned a long lost Uncle Patrick who disappeared to England?  Bit of a long shot I suppose but anything's worth a try!!

If you're able to confirm anything from your or your family's knowledge I'd be most grateful.  It was lovely to hear from you and I'm so pleased that you now know John was responsible for the hoops, it is indeed something for you to be proud of (and maybe me too if it turns out I am related to him too).

With best wishes,

Polly 

[neasanoc]

Hi Polly,
I'm afraid my knowledge of that side of my family is limited at best.
I have sent a link to this forum to my aunt who knows more than I do about this stuff, and hopefully she'll be able to help you out.
Regards, Neasán

[PollyB]

Thank you Neasan that's great and very much appreciated.

Polly

[neasanoc]

Hi Polly,

I'm Neasán's mother and not the best at this kind of thing.
I do know that my grandfather John Sheridan was the son of John Sheridan and Margaret Thornton - she died in 1905 as far as I know.
Neasán has sent the link on to my sister who has done some digging into the family tree and I have also sent it to a cousin that also might be able to help.
It's the same John Sheridan ok.

Hopefully one of the others will get back with some better information.

Mairéad