Johnsons Court, looking from Grafton Street. (Photo credit - Paul Feeney)
A beautiful little, narrow lane linking Grafton St. and Clarendon St., probably best known for its regular buskers, its jewellery stores and for the side entrance to St Teresa’s Church.
Visible in 1836
Visible but without title in 1840
Disappared from 1885 map
Still AWOL in 1912
As far I can tell, it was also the site of HMV’s first Dublin store, 6 Johnsons Court, dating back to at least the mid 1920s.
Dec 19, 1925. Nenagh Guardian
May 12, 1933, Irish Independent
View from Clarendon St. (Picture credit - hc1916)
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
Great shots.
Reading these posts is like enjoying a little treasure every day.
It was also once the site of Friends boutique in the 70’s/80’s.
Lovely place to walk down at Gitmas.
The Danny Malone appearing at the HMV stores for a signing session was an Irish tenor, and here he is singing Danny Boy, with added scenery!:
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=28194
In the early 20th century there was a joint license for 80 grafton street and No.s 1&2 Johnsons Court. 80 grafton street operated as a gin palace from 1889 to 1905(before that was a family grocers) and there was a dispute in the courthouse in Green Street as there was oppositon to such a place being in close proximity to the carmelite church. Dublin at the time had been “continually trying to root out publichouses from laneways where drunkenness could be carried on on the sly”. The Johnsons court premises was directly opposite the church.
By 1906 No. 80 at the entrance to johnsons court was rented out as “the Bera Diamond Palace” separately.
No. 5 Johnson’s Court was the family home of the Morans (my mother, Barbara Farrell’s people), and the property was later purchased by Appleby Jewellers. The Moran family ran a very successful chimney-sweeping business from the late 19th century until the late 1950s. The Gramophone Store next door (No. 6) was owned by the Moiselle family, and at the Clarendon St end of Johnson’s Court was Magill’s fishmongers. Hope this information is of some help.
My grandfather was Christopher Moran of the Moran family from Johnson’s court. He died in about 1968. What age group would your mother be in ? My mother is 85.
Friend of CHTM!, Mick Healy, has passed on this newspaper clipping re: Moran family of Johnson’s Court which should be of interest:
http://tinypic.com/r/30u8zf5/5
We have that photo too, thanks Sam.
Hi O.D just stumbled across this thread. Barbara Farrell (Nee Moran) died in 2004 and was 82 when she died.
Hi I wonder is Brian Farrell still watching this? Maybe he can say hello as I would like to ask a few questions about the Morans if possible. Brendan
Were they anything to the Morans who lived around the Fruit and Veg market? My great grandmother was Mary Moran. They were small low sized people with sallow skin and not very good looking (if genetics is anything to go on..)
Dear FXR: I WILL MAKE IT MY BUSINESS TO FIND OUT FROM MY BROTHER (WHO IS AN EXPERT ON THE FARRELL/MORAN FAMILIES) AS TO WHERE MARY MORAN (MY GRANDMOTHER, ON MY MOTHER’S SIDE) ORIGINATED FROM. I CAN TELL YOU THE MORANS OF JOHNSON’S COURT (JAMES MORAN, MY GRANDFATHER, AND MICHAEL MORAN, MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER) OWNED EXTENSIVE PROPERTY IN CLONSKEAGH AND CLONTARF, AND, FOR A WHILE, OWNED DALKEY CASTLE, (FROM THE PROCEEDS OF CHIMNEY-SWEEPING! AS SOON AS I CAN, I’LL GET BACK TO THIS SPACE WITH ANY INFO I HAVE FOR YOU. MANY THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST.
BRIAN P FARRELL
My great-grandmother was Theresa Moran Kelly (daughter of Denis and Mary Anne) of the Morans of Johnson’s Court. Any information you can share on the Moran family would be appreciated.
C Collins
Hi Brian, it would be great to find out more about Dalkey Castle. My mother is a Moran and we heard that but presumed it was a story. You can contact me at Brendan dot Dixon at ucd dot ie Thanks
Hi Brendan, who was your mother? Barbara Farrell (new Moran) was my GM.
Hi GM
My mother was a daughter to Christopher Moran, you can see him here in the 1911 census. His father was Timothy. http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Pembroke_West/Woodstock_Parade/9594/
Brendan
Brian, are you still following this? It would be great to pick your mind about the Morans. Brendan
Hi Brendan,
My GM Barbara’s father was James Moran, she was born in 1922.
Not sure how much that helps.
My mam believes Christopher may have been a half brother to my GM’s father, James. As his father Timothy Snr was married more than once.
Hi Brian I was just speaking recently with Eve Anna Farrell, is that the same Barbara? Brendan
No problem Brian. My grandmother had extensive interests in bread boards…..was there any mention of fish dealers on your side of the line?
i hav loads of 78 LPs in pristine condtion from the hmv shop just wondering if there worth anything they must be 90 years old r der abouts any thoughts
Its wonderful to happen upon these sites. Thanks to all who contribute and share their most interesting memories to enrich our daily lives. Danny Moran’s singing is delightful. Was he one of the morans from Johnson’s Court? I bet he sang in the Royal. I would love to have seen into that gin palace!!
re my comment on 30th I now notice I got Danny’s name wrong. He was a Malone, as in the notice in the shop window and not Moran. Sorry. SK
Anyone heard of G W Sleater the Jewellers of Johnstons Court, George Sleater would have been a Relative of my late Mother Imelda Cahill nee O’ Brien
Yes, It was in business up until the early 1990’s . Slater was in partnership with Donald Holder up until circa 1970 when the partnership ended due to the health issues of Mr Holder. The Holders were neighbours of ours.
Hello John , I have just come across an old jewellery case with the name GW Sleator Grafton street. I think it may have belonged to my grandmother
I too have a little box GW Sleater, Johnson’s Court, Grafton Street containing the gold christening necklace my granny bought for me in 1963.
My Great great Grandparents lived at 12 Clarendon Street in th 1870s – their name was Guilfoyle – the house ‘flew over’ the Clarendon st entrance to Johnston’s court – their name was Guilfoyle
My great grandfather, James Duffy, lived at 6.2 Johnson’s Place, Royal Exchange, Dublin, according to the 1911 census. I’m wondering if it is the same area as in your photos.
Anyone have anything on William Alcock who lived with Margaret Cane at 10 Johnston’s Court 1857. His marriage certificate says he was a labourer and his father, Joseph a smith (blacksmith or silver/gold smith?). Anyone?
[…] Johnsons Court is a narrow lane just off Grafton Street. While I was there, a young couple were looking at rings in a jewellery shop. Well to be more accurate, the young woman was admiring the rings. The poor young man looked terrified. I love the lights above the street. […]
This place always looks so lovely at Christmas time. It’s easy to miss Johnson’s court when walking down Grafton Street but Appleby’s is my favourite place to go Jewellery shopping – especially when looking for a christmas gift!
What was the name of the private library in Johnston court. It would have been in the sixties.
My Great Great Grandfather Richard John Maher ran a billiard rooms at no 7 (1901 census) My father’s Grannie, Katie Maher, Cait Ni Meachair is listed as cailin siopa ( the return is as Gaeilge) I have a business card for billiard table upholstery and supplies at no.7
It was lovely to see this when I opened my emails. I too have fond memories of Johnson’s Coirt. As a young teenager, many moons ago now I worked in Vic’s library, a very time for me. It saddens me now that it’s no longer there. I loved the atmosphere in Johnson’s court.
Hi Michael, we share the same great great grandfather: Richard John Maher of 7 Johnston’s Ct. I think his wife Mary Maher (nee Fortune) ran a tobacconist from the premises previously. My father also shared the same grandmother: Catherine (Maher) who married James.
Hi Daragh
I think it was a billiard hall as well as a tobacconist’s and he ran the repair business out of it too. I have some correspondence between R J Maher and the Ministry of Munitions in London around 1916. He is trying to promote his invention for an incendiary bullet to shoot down airships; they are not buying it.
Families are sometimes more complicated than you think but I’m guessing your Granny might be my father’s Auntie Molly who used to live beside the Cat and Cage? Anyway I have some interesting documents relating to RJ Maher and also to Katie and James George Cummins, probably some photos too you might like to see. Give me a shout on cumminsmichael1(at)gmail.com if you like.
The newspaper clipping about Timothy Moran and his workmen (referred to by ‘Sam’) is from the late, lamented ‘Evening Press’…and was written by my late father Matt Farrell (R.I.P) Deputy Editor, Evening press…. married to my late mother, Barbara Moran (R.I.P)
Do you remember Vics Library? Can you tell me when it closed or how long it was there. I worked in the library in the mid sixties and loved it very much.
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
Hi Brian, I wonder would you have some time to chat about the Morans? My email is brendan dot dixon at ucd dot ie. Thanks Brendan
Does anybody know anything about Carleton’s that ran a tavern and boarding house at no 4 Johnson’s court around 1860
My GGgrandfather was Joseph Carleton born to George and Anne of Johnson’s court.
Hi Lee, I’m your mama cousin
I know apart from running the boarding house and tavern he is down on his son Joseph’s marriage cert as a horsedealer