James Foulis and His Resting Place in St. Matthews

Ringsend and District Historical Society member Trevor James has been looking at some of the people buried in the only cemetery in the locality at St. Matthews Church Irishtown. This is the first of a series of articles on some of the more fascinating burials. Today we look at Sir James Foulis

 

Sir James was a Scot, the son of Sir James Foulis of Colinton, Edinburgh, 5th Baronet, and his wife Mary Wightman. He was born about 1745 and became the 6^th baronet on the death of his father in 1791. He married Margaret Dallas in Edinburgh on 14 June 1791. They had no children. The Foulis family had been very active in Scottish politics and they had supported the Royalist cause during the Civil War between King Charles 1 and the Roundheads led by Oliver Cromwell.

 

Sir James joined the Midlothian Fencibles as an officer and was stationed in Ireland in the 1790s. At that time the United Irishmen were on the rise and there were huge tensions in Ireland. The government was clamping down very severely on possible rebels but they were afraid that militia where Catholics were numerous might not be loyal and these were sent to serve in England and were replaced by Scottish and Welsh cavalry, The Midlothian Fencibles were one of these militias. One of their regimental songs at the time runs:

 

"Ye Croppies of Wexford. I'd have you be wise

And not go to meddle with Mid-Lothian boys.

For the Mid-Lothian boys, they vow and declare.

They'll crop off your heads as well as your hair."

 

And crop off their heads they did. There were many outrages, tortures and mass executions committed by all these volunteer troops, but particularly by the Orange yeomanry of the countryⁱ. These were so savage that Major General Sir John Moore famously said, "If I were an Irishman, I would be a rebel!"

 

Following the uprising and the defeat of the rebels at Vinegar Hill, any captured men faced summary court-martials and were quickly executed. Sir James Foulis was in many cases the President of the court martials and he endeavoured to give the rebels a fair and impartial trial and spoke on behalf of some of them at their court-martials. For example, in the case of John Breen and others, the court-martial recommended the death penalty but Sir James added that because the evidence indicated that, “they apparently acted with reluctance, and evidently under compulsion, and they could not have acted otherwise while under the influence of the rebels, nor have attempted to escape without imminent danger to their own and their families lives”, the court should show mercy to these men.ⁱⁱ

 

Sir James remained in Ireland after 1798 and settled in Meath where he was the commander of a cavalry corps there. He sold Colinton in 1800 to Sir William Forbesⁱⁱⁱ, presumably as he had decided to settle in Ireland. Initially he had an estate near Navan. He wrote a number of pamphlets on ‘the Catholic Question” emphasising the need to understand the Catholic position^iv. He was also a member of a number of committees with Daniel O’Connell on the education of the poor^v. Because of his perceived impartiality he seems to have been well respected, at least by Catholics.

 

One 1798 rebel, Thomas Cloney, had been falsely accused of a murder at Vinegar Hill. He was to be executed when Sir James intervened and had him deported instead. Thomas later returned to Ireland where his family’s extensive property provided an income for him. He recounts in his autobiography how grateful he was to Sir James and how he had unsuccessfully tried to trace him^vi. However, he finally traced Sir James on the day after he had died on June 3^rd 1821 in a house in beside Harold’s Cross bridge^vii. Sir James was then in very reduced circumstances and living on a pension of £150 a year^viii, but, as a mark of respect, Thomas arranged for several of the prominent people of Dublin to attend in their carriages which, along with the carriages of his friends, made a fine funeral. Thomas also says in his autobiography that,

“if God grants me a little time to live, I will, with the assistance of other Irishmen who have experienced Sir James’s humanity or been well acquainted with his character, place over his grave a lasting monument of our respect and gratitude to prove that his venerated remains do not rest in the country of the stranger but in one ever ready to appreciate the virtues of the brave, the generous, and the humane”.

 

There is a stone over his grave which reads,

 

Sacred to the memory of

 

Sir JAMES FOULIS Bart.

 

late of Colinton, Nth. Britain

 

Obit 3d June 1824

 

at 79

 

Who placed it there is unknown.

 

 

ⁱ McGee, Thomas D’Arcy. A Popular History of Ireland from the Earliest Period to the Emancipation of the Catholics (Two Volume Set)

ⁱⁱ Dublin Evening Post 27 August 1807

 

ⁱⁱⁱ Margaret Warrender 1890, Walks near Edinburgh, Edinburgh, David Douglas

 

^iv Conspiracy detected and converted, 1803; Death of the Duke D’Enghien,1807

 

^v Dublin Evening Post 16 Jan 1821

 

^vi Cloney, Thomas. A Personal Narrative of Those Transactions in the County Wexford, in which the Author was Engaged, During the Awful Period of 1798. J McMullen 1832’

 

^vii                       1 Parnell Place on death certificate or 4 Parnell Place in Saunders’s Newsletter 25 Feb 1832

 

^viii                     Army widow’s pension record, 10 Aug 1824

 ^{(c) Trevor James}

Bloomsday in Ringsend 2024- THANK YOUS

 

In June 2024 the Ringsend and District Historical Society organised the annual Bloomsday Festival in Ringsend. It was a tremendous success with large crowds at every event. As an organising committee we would like to offer our sincere thanks to the volunteers who helped at the events, the participants, those who attended each of the events and importantly the businesses who sponsored the various events. Without all of you Bloomsday in Ringsend 2024 would not have been the success it was.

THANK YOU

The Orla Murphy Lecture

Dr. Cormac Moore, DCC Historian in Residence

Sarah Reidy & The Staff at Ringsend Library

Sound by Adam

Bloomsday Walking Tour

Eddie Bohan

Bloomsday Bus Tour

Big Bus Tours Bus Hire & Dave McConn

Daniel Camacho, Big Bus Tours

Trevor James, Guide

Open Air Concert

Shay Connolly & Paul Brannock

Johnny Kelly

DCC & Ringsend Library

Sound by Adam

Phillip & Vision Ringsend for the Power Supplier

Musicians

Mick ‘The Busker’ McLaughlin

The Pullovers

The Banjo-men, The Earl String Band

DCC, Les & The Ulyssess Actors

Larry @ RICC

Gazebos            

St. John’s Ambulance

Irishtown Garda Siochana

Plaque Unveiling

DCC Parks & Ringsend Park

Patrick’s Horse & Carraige Hire

Morgan & Mary (James & Nora)

Garda Anthony Kelly & Irishtown Garda Station

St. John’s Ambulance

Dublin City Council

Eanna Ni Lamha

The Bloomsday Brunch

Susan Gregg Farrell

The Ringsend Community Centre & Staff

Staff – Collette, Val, Antoinette, Jennifer & Lesley

Lorraine Barry, RICC Manager

Mark & Pauline Kiernan from ‘M & P Fire’ for Marquee Hire

Kieran – Bread & Scones

Chris Andrews TD – Flowers

Cllr. Daniel Ceitinn – Flowers

Ann Grieg - Photographs

Musicians

Emilie Conway

Lisa Caulfield & Glee Club

Earl Street String Band

Ringsend Mayor Declan Buckley

Best Dressed Spot Prizes – Irishtown House & John Clarke & Sons, Ringsend

Pauline , Best Dressed Contest Judge

Sound - Adam

Writers Adventure

Thomas Gregg

Shay Connolly

Joe Taylor

The CYMS Hall & Staff

Marie Heeney

Sound by Adam

Alison Rigby (RICC)

John Gormley (Videographer)

Savvi Credit Union

Main Sponsors

Dublin City Council

Savvi

Dublin Port

Sponsors

Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium

 Presto’s, South Lotts Road

Yoi Ramen Restaurant, Barrow Street

David Donohue, Euro Sales Ltd. Ringsend

Slattery’s Pub, South Lotts Road

Spot & Best Dressed Prize Sponsors

Billy Ryan & Paul Brannock

John Clarke & Sons Pub, Bridge Street, Ringsend

Irishtown House

Murphy’s Pub, Rathmines

The Bath Public House, Bath Avenue

AllCare Pharmacy, Thorncastle Street

Lloyd’s Pharmacy, Fitzwilliam Street

Grafton Barbers, Grafton Street.

Spot Prize Winners

1^st          Pauline Kiernan – Hamper

2^nd         Sandra Dunne – €100 Bath Voucher

3^rd          Billy Ryan - €100 Charlotte Quay Voucher

4^th          Georg Hanf - €60 Murphy’s Voucher

5^th          Thomas Gregg – Grafton Barbers Vouchers

Committee Special Thank Yous

                                     Ronan O’Donnell & Brian Hanney Dublin City Council

Ringsend & Irishtown Tidy Towns Committee

Darina Gallagher, The James Joyce Centre, North Great George’s Street

Mick @ RICC Radio

To All the Businesses Who Displayed Posters

The Link Magazine

 

With A Very Special Thanks to Louise Whelan & News Four

 

Go raibh maith agaibh go léir

The Ringsend and District Historical Society Committee

Historic Boat Building in Ringsend 1962

In June 1962, a large crowd gathered on the banks of the River Liffey at Ringsend to watch the local clergy bless seven new boats built locally. The boats, a combination of skiffs, sailing boats and one motor cruiser were built by students from the Ringsend Technical Institute.

 

The project was sponsored by the giant brewer Guinness and the cruiser was named the M Y Goodness, an advertising catchphrase of the company. Father Vincent Kehoe, parish priest of Ringsend, blessed the boats before they were launched into the Liffey and the Rover Dodder. The skiffs were donated to the local boy scouts on the Dodder.

 

Ringsend has had a boat and ship building and repairs industry in the past and it this was one of the last major boat building schemes in the area. It would be nice to see it return.

The Irish Press

 

Sources

The Irish Press

Irish National Archives

Guinness Archives

The Harp Magazine 1962

The History of the Regal Cinema, Ringsend

The History of the Regal Cinema, Ringsend

The closure of the Regal cinema in Ringsend marked the end of an era for the local community and film enthusiasts alike. This beloved establishment, which had been a cornerstone of entertainment and a cultural gathering spot for decades, shut its doors in 1965, leaving a void that was deeply felt by many. The cinema, known for its cozy atmosphere, friendly staff, and selection of both blockbuster hits and second run films, had been a cherished venue for moviegoers seeking a unique viewing experience outside the city centre multiplex circuit.

The reasons behind the closure of Ringsend cinema are multifaceted, reflecting broader challenges within the cinema industry as well as local factors. The rise of television, changing consumer habits, and the economic pressures of maintaining a single-screen cinema in an era dominated by multiplexes and new entertainment platforms have all contributed to its downfall. Moreover, the impact of global events, including an oil crisis and a struggling economy had exacerbated financial strains, making it increasingly difficult for small local cinemas to survive.

 

As the community mourned the loss of their Ringsend cinema, there is also a rallying call for support of local arts and culture. The cinema's closure is a stark reminder of the importance of patronizing and preserving such institutions that add immeasurable value to the fabric of our communities. While the screen may have gone dark in Ringsend, the memories and the impact it has had on fostering a love for film and creating a sense of community will endure. The hope remains that this isn't the final curtain call but rather a pause before the next act in the ever-evolving story for a local cinema. The is the Regal story.

 

The cinema on Fitzwilliam Street was not the first to entertain the locals of the area. In 1913 on the site where later the Ritz and the Oscar stood, the Pembroke Electric Cinema opened its doors on Serpentine Road. Operated by an Anthony Lavery, the cinema ingratiated itself with the local community when they ran a benefit night to raise funds for the families of a number of Ringsend fishermen who were drowned off the Pigeon House lighthouse.

 

In February 1925, the London published ‘Bioscope’ movie magazine reported that new work would commence on the building of a new cinema in Ringsend and that tenders had been invited to build the premises under the direction of the architect Mr. Thomas Francis McNamara with offices at 192 Pearse Street.

The following April 1925, the ‘Bioscope’ reported that,

‘A contract has been accepted by Cities Cinema Limited from Messers McNally & Co. of Dublin for the erection of a new cinema at Ringsend, a suburb of Dublin. The amount of the contract is £7,500 and the theatre will probably be named the ‘Ringsend Cinema’. Ringsend is a populous district but the inhabitants belong mainly to the working classes.’

By August the shell of the building was ready and adverts appeared in the Freeman’s Journals looking for plasterers. In September the Kinematograph Weekly reported that Denis O’Moore, who had been the manager of Corinthian Cinema in the city centre had been appointed the manager of the newly named ‘Rinn’ cinema. Costing a reported £10,000 to build and fit out, The Rinn opened on 29th November 1925. The invited audience filling the nine hundred seats were treated to the silent movie ‘The Devil of Quemada’ starring Fred Thompson. The Bioscope described the film as,

"A former Yale student, returns to the land where his Spanish forefathers once reigned supreme and lives in the Mexican hills, occasionally riding into border towns, where he takes the law into his own hands and protects the weak from crooked elements. Known as Quemado, he prevents the marriage of a girl to a notorious desperado and meets Joanna Thatcher, an eastern girl to whom he makes the promise that she will someday come to love him. Joan becomes engaged to Gretorix, unwilling to admit to herself that she has become infatuated with the daring horseman. On Joan's wedding day, Quemado kidnaps her, forces her to admit that she loves him, and arranges to be wed by a parson on horseback as they ride furiously into the hills to avoid the pursuit of the angry Gretorix.’

The film was followed by ‘other delightful items. Including music from the Carl Rosa Opera Company and ‘an excellent turn’ by Cathal MacGarvey. MacGarvey described himself in his own newspaper advertisements as ‘the King of the Irish Entertainers’. The newspapers reporting on its opening night stated that the directors of the new cinema were ‘Messers J.M. Doran, Padraig Tarrant, J.H, Cox, William Byrne, Michael Carrick, William Murphy, Mrs C. McGuigan and J.E. Boyle.

 

In December 1930 the newspapers were advertising ‘the Grand Re-Opening of the Regal Cinema. But trouble was on the horizon in the form of Dublin Corporation. Cinema owners in Dublin were informed that they would have to have an emergency exit on balcony areas and that for every 150 patrons, this immediately limited The Regal in the numbers they could admit. In July 1932 an advertisement appeared in the Irish newspapers to announce The Rinn cinema was for sale or lease. It was renamed Regal Cinema in the mid-1930’s and was equipped with an updated British Thomson-Houston sound system. One of the cinemas projectionists was Father Shaun Curran who worked there after school at St. Vincents CBS. He would later join the priesthood and was instrumental in the opening of the Glencree Rehabilitation Centre. 

In the late 1930’s, the entertainment hosted in the cinema was a regular feature as Radio Eireann’s outside broadcasts. The cinema was sold once more in 1949 when both the Regal and the Ritz were sold to George Jay who at that time was the Dublin manager for Columbia Pictures.

In 1955, thieves used gelignite to attempt to enter the cinemas safe but they failed to get any of the £500 that was in the safe. The following year, James Walls, with an address at Donard Road; Anthony Francis Ball, described as a casemaker living at 3 Seapoint Terrace, Irishtown, and Charles Armstrong also of 3 Seapoint Terrace, Irishtown were charged and later convicted of having in their possession on February 25 race, 100 detonators wire. They were charged with a number of robberies including a laundry, the Irish Glass Bottle Company offices and the Regal Cinema attempted robbery. Three youths were charged in October 1961 for lighting fireworks in the cinema. They claimed they had bought them from a trader in Moore Street and the judge took a dim view of their actions as it could have caused a fatal panic amongst the patrons of the cinema.

 

In 1965 George Day the managing director of Regal Cinemas Limited, who also owned the Ritz Cinema on Serpentine Road, announced that the rise of overheads and the arrival of an Irish television station RTE, the cinema would close. In the months before its closure, it had become a popular bingo venue. It closed on Sunday 10th January 1965 with the last film shown being, ‘The Birdman of Alcatraz’ starring Burt Lancaster. Its equipment auctioned off the following Tuesday, with the screen was auctioned off for £90. It became a factory and then a community training unit. In 1988 it was sold for £70,000 after being leased for a number of years as the Ringsend Community Centre.  After years of lying derelict, it became the Abundant Grace Pentecostal Church which has occupied what is now known as Regal House since December 2013.

If you have any stories of your time in the Regal Cinema, please let us know as we celebrate this important piece of Ringsend history. 

Sources

The Abundant Grace Ministry

Archiseek,com

The Irish Newspaper Archives

The British Newspaper Archive

The IFI Archives

RTE Archives

Bioscope Magazine

The Hollywood Reporter

Cinema Treasures

IMDB

BLOOMSDAY IN RINGSEND 2024 ITINERARY

 

IF YOU ARE FREE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS OVER THE BLOOMSDAY WEEKEND TO VOLUNTEER WITH THE EVENTS INCLUDING MARSHALLING AND FURNITIURE REMOVALS PLEASE GET IN TOUCH.

Bloomsday Ringsend 2024 - Writing Competition Time

Calling all Writing enthuasists.

Once again "Bloomsday Ringsend" invites all in the Community to partake in this year's Writer's Event.. Have you a short story or a poem telling of your time growing up in and around Ringsend and its district. Would you like to compose one?

Or are you a writer of any description who has written some short pieces over time and wish to have them acknowledged. 

Book token prizes of €200.00, €100.00 and €75.00 respectivly for the top three entrants plus a Framed Certificate will be awarded to all contributors.

Please send your entries by June 10th to: ringsenddistricthistorical@gmail.com

All works will be read out on the day and appear here on the Blog unless your wish is not to have yours read out. The awards ceremony will take place at 3pm in the CYMS Hall in Ringsend on Sunday June 16th as we close our 2024 Festival. 

 

PLAQUE UNVEILING AT MELLON'S SOUTH LOTTS ROAD, THIS FRIDAY 3PM

 

The Ringsend and District Historical Association in association with the Shelbourne Park Residents Association are delighted to announce a unique plaque unveiling. On Friday April 26^th 2024 at 3pm at Mellon’s Shop, South Lotts Road, a plaque, dedicated to the numerous movies, pop videos and documentaries made in the area from The General & In the Name of the Father, with the streets often doubling as Belfast, to Boyzone & The Shoos music videos and RTE documentaries including Marty Morrissey and Liz Gillis’s ‘Big Picture Show’ and the late great Shay Healy’s ‘The Dublin Village’ will be officially unveiled.

 

On the day a number of local celebrities and those who appeared in the various big and small screen moments including the Shoos will be in attendance.  The plaque in erected with the support of Mellon’s Shop, Courtyard Media, RICC, SPRA and the Ringsend and District Historical Society.

The ‘In These Streets’ plaque will be unveiled on Friday April 26^th 2024 at 3pm

MELLON'S SHOP, 56 SOUTH LOTTS ROAD, DUBLIN 4, D04 K665

For further media enquiries contact ringsenddistricthistorical@gmail.com

Refreshments kindly provided by Mellon’s.