Recent discussions in our private Facebook Group, Society for Old Lucan (SOL) (free to join & open to all) brought up discussions around a beautiful photo of an Edwardian woman and children standing outside what looked to be the Lucan Inn. One of the children was the grandfather of the photograph’s owner, Sue Russell.
One of our active members and researchers in SOL, the veteran local historian Joe Byrne (one of the founders of the former Lucan Historical Society) did further research into this family, and kindly shared his findings with the group.
“Following on from the recent photo posted of a woman and children outside Lucan Inn (Currently O’Neill’s) the following information came to my attention.
The photo shows a Mrs Elizabeth Fahy with nephews outside the Lucan Inn before 1904. Elizabeth Fahy was the wife of Laurence Fahy landlord of the Lucan Inn. Stupidly that’s what I thought, but there is more to the story.
Elizabeth was born in March 1841 to Christopher and Mary Reeves (nee Daly) and christened in St Marys Lucan on the 21st of that month. Her parents had been married in May of the previous year 1840 in the same Church.
Elizabeth was married in Lucan to Patrick Magee (widower) on 1st July 1878. She would have been 38. On the 30th Sept 1879 (not even a year has gone by) she becomes a widow when Patrick dies at the age of 68.
From 1872 Patrick is shown in Thom’s [street directory] as a Vintner. In Thom’s 1881 Mrs Magee is noted as Vintner.
Not letting the grass grow under her feet she again took the plunge on 31st January 1881 when she married a John Murphy in St Mary’s. Elizabeth is married as a spinster and under her maiden name of Reeves. Both are down on Cert as shopkeepers.
John died on 15th April 1883 (2 years of marriage) aged 36. Elizabeth would have been aged 42. John in Thom’s of 1883 and 84 is down as a Vintner. 1885 sees Mrs Murphy as a Vintner.
On the 10th November 1899 Elizabeth again walks down the aisle with a Laurence Fahy. They are married in Palmerstown Chapel (though it’s in Lucan Church records its recorded as Palmerstown). Again she uses her maiden name of Reeves.
This time she dies in Dec 1903 before her husband who dies in 1910. The Lucan Inn is inherited by Winifred Fahy who initially I thought was a daughter but she was a sister of Laurence.
In 1912 Winifred marries a RIC pensioner Christopher Dunne in the Pro Cathedral. Her name appears in Thom’s as Vintner until she dies in 1942 and O’Neill’s become the owners. [This is the current name of the pub to the present day]
However there is still more of a story with Winifred as she appears in the Chancery division before Mr Justice Powell in early June 1921.
Winifred was taking an action against her husband for her to be given the monies in a joint account in the National Bank and that she was entitled to the enjoyment and possession of the Lucan Inn. Much evidence was given by Winifred including that she left him in 1918 and again inn1919 because of constant rows etc.
A settlement was reached financially and Christopher left the premises and we assume Winifred lived happily after until her death in 1942. ” by Joe Byrne.
If any reader has more information on O’Neill’s / Lucan Inn’s history, or any aspect of Lucan’s history, get in touch with us at OldLucan@gmail.com.
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