Entry from the 1939/40 electoral roll John Donegan ...where to go now?

[hallmark]

Just a matter of googling everything...

[Winterbloom21]

Hello Hannah,

I'm just posting on this thread so that I get notified on updates, as you seem to have switched away from the other thread.    Did you pick up my info on that about the academic robe firm in Dublin?

Siobhan

[Hannah K-P]

Apologies Siobhan

In sorting out my multiple post mess things were all consolidated here (with the exception of the thread re the date of the photo). I'll put a note on that thread now as it's probably much easier to keep everything in one place.

Thank you for your patience everyone!

Yes, I did contact the robe firm yesterday thank you. I'm just waiting to hear back from them so I'll post as soon as I hear something.

(As a note to those on this thread, the alternative thread mentioned here is at http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=382380.27)

[hasta]

Found this advert from Dec 1949- Nenagh Guardian

MOIRA HAIR SALON
CATHEDRAL STREET THURLES
Hair-tinting, Artistic Permanent Waving. Facial Contour. New Swirl Cut for Basic Setting. Manicuring.
Under the personal management of John Kearns late of Feminix London and Don Egan's Ltd Dublin.
Phone Thurles 123.

A quick Google shows that Feminix was a hair salon in Piccadilly in 1920's, so maybe he trained there ?
 http://www.rootschat.com/links/01eyy/

[Winterbloom21]

Hannah, are you going to show us the other picture you mentioned?

[Hannah K-P]

Afternoon

Sorry for the silence yesterday I was unable to log on.

Firstly great find Hasta, thank you. It's exciting to get new information. The advert fits exactly with other dates I know in that my uncle was born in Thurles in April 1950. In addition I found the attached advert which shows that Don Egan's was sold in Feb 1949 (which would fit with a new salon later that year). It's frustrating that his name is given as John Kearns but no real shock. My grandmother was known as Moira :-)

The mention of the salon in London is interesting and has made me recall that there was some talk years ago that he trained with/under Mr Teasy-Weasy, lol! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Bessone

Does anyone have any ideas how I might find the ownership of Don Egans in Dublin as it looks to have been well established.

On to the other photo....

Unfortunately I can't put my hand on the one I had in mind but have found the only other picture we have of him. It's not the best quality and his face is partially obscured by a little girl (born 1946). I'm struggling to put an age to my grandfather at the time but I've attached it anyway just in case someone has any ideas.

Finally, it has now been confirmed that the robe is definitely a TCD undergraduate gown. I'm still thinking the photo that I posted with him in it was taken 1917 to 1929 given the dates that College Studios operated. Someone did have a look at the list of graduates between these years but couldn't see a John Donegan. This leads me to believe he either didn't graduate or that he was in fact called Don or John Egan.

I'm contacting TCD to see if they would be willing to look through the undergraduate lists for both Donegan and Egan for the years in question.

Any more news and I'll post...

Many thanks for your continued efforts.

[Hannah K-P]

Photo...

[Winterbloom21]

Well that's definitely the same man - the hairline and thickness of the hair is very distinctive.    This whole thing is so odd.     If that gown, as is now confirmed, is a TCD gown and (as previously stated) not just a student but a scholar's gown, meaning that he was academic enough to get a scholarship, it does seem to be an extremely erratic career path to take.    I look forward with great interest to further instalments!

[Hannah K-P]

I think I have him!!!

TCD replied today with the following information -

" I have consulted the admissions registers for Trinity College Dublin and have found an entry for a John Joseph Donegan, a Roman Catholic, who entered this University in July 1925, aged 19 years, as a pensioner i.e. he paid a fixed annual fee for his education. He was born in Dublin, the son of Edward Donegan whose profession is listed at ‘Commercial’. This student was educated at Belvedere College before beginning his studies at Trinity College, but he does not appear to have proceeded to a degree as there is no entry in the Catalogue of Graduates".

I've looked on the 1911 census and can see him listed at 5 St David's Terrace, Glasnevin (extract attached). I've also found a record of his birth in 1909. (As an aside a Minnie Peach is listed on the census as a border at the house with her husband who I have discovered died in 1917 as a soldier in WW1. The 1939/40 electoral roll entry I have found for what I believe is my John Donegan shows a Minnie Brown at the same address....maybe the same Minnie?).

Next on my list of things to find out is:

a) details of John's first marriage (which we believe happened prior to him meeting my grandmother)
b) if John had any children from his first marriage
c) if John had any siblings (and if they in turn married/had children)
d) any other possible information about his life prior to 1946 when we know for sure he adopted my grandmothers surname - Kearns.

Can anyone help me with anything on this list, or point me in the right direction, as I'm still very inexperienced.

Many many thanks

Hannah