Dublin Directories

Rather than inundating Shane W with requests for data from Thom's and other directories, it should be remembered that a virtually full set of Thom's directories are on the open shelves of Dublin City Library and Archive, 138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2.
Those who have not used this superb resource, just need the usual two forms of ID to register and access the collection.

To my mind, Thom's directories are the most underused source for local and family history for Dublin and also other areas. Depending on the period, Dublin city was only reached on page 1349 or 1375. Before that are lists relating to every local authority, poor law union and professionals, clergy etc in Ireland, lists of aristocrats, army and navy officers, privy councillors etc throughout the UK. I even found an ancestor working in a colonial position, complete with his salary in rupees, you could see his pay increase each year.

For many, this will seem like useless information, but you never know when some of it may become relevant. It was the internet of it's day.

Thom's directory started about 1844, there was a short overlap with Pettigrew & Oulton. Before this, there was Wilson's directory, published as part of the treble almanac. Some are pre 1800. Of course this was more basic, lists of different trades etc.

Alice died 21 May 1962
Richard died 10 May 1966

You're welcome! Richard stars in a few articles: fined £20 for no insurance; involved in a dispute about inheritance tax; dispute about the Theatre Royal taking light from his premises.... interesting chap.

Richard died in Portobello Nursing home according to a legal ad looking for his creditors.

Here's the marriage announcement:

Hermy wrote: »

Tis great when people fall foul of the law - such wonderful paper trails they leave behind!:)

A small fine for poorly controlled pigs on the road let me eliminate a rake of certs and get the correct death cert for someone. The wonders of minor (unintentional) crime!

Some residents of 16 Old Camden Street from the newspaper archives - no O'Briens so far!

M’Phele, -August 28 at 16 Old Camden Street Cornelius M’Phele, aged 57 years. His remains will be removed this day (Friday) for interment in Mount Jerome Cemetery [Freeman’s Journal 30 Aug 1878 p1]

Burke – December 1 1884, Alice Mary Burke, second eldest daughter of Denis and Bridget Burke R.I.P. Funeral will leave 16 Old Camden Street at 10 o’clock to-morrow (Wednesday) morning. American papers please copy. [Freeman’s Journal 2 Dec 1884 p1]

1887 John Murray 16 Old Camden Street, was charged on remand with th embezzlement of 2s 6d, the property of his employer Mr Henry Calvert, 70 Rathmines road.

Perhaps he was lodging there , or the occupier could have been a relative with a different surname, an in law maybe.
Dunville Avenue is enumerated with house numbers in the 400s, it is likely that many thoroughfares are included in this, and the enumerator just lumped them all together.
He probably did the same in other streets also.

John Grenham often mentioned how addresses missing from the digitised census, could be tracked by finding an adjacent house, removing the last digit from the page number, and substituting the next number. Continuing this on a long line of pages would be time consuming, but it depends how anxious one is to find the missing return.
Otherwise, wait until the NAI reopen after the refurbishment, probably next month, and ask for the original.

This probably won't help but Walter Heinrich, Annerose, and Ottilie Heitler were living at 21 Seapark Road in 1946 when they were granted citizenship certificates [report in Irish Press 30 Oct 1946 p2]