George Bernard Shaw and Dolphin’s Barn

George Bernard Shaw and Dolphin’s Barn

6 Sep 1938

George Carr Shaw and George Clibborn, trading as “Clibborn and Shaw.” of Jervis St.. Dublin_ merchants, secured a loan on the ” mill_ mill pond, mill machinery, water wheel,” and ground and premises bounded on the east by adjoining and frontage to Hall’s Lane, and separated therefrom by a large field held by Mr. Fairbrother, all in Barony of Upper Cross and County of Dublin. Hall’s Lane does not appear as an entry in the modern directory, but it would seem likely that it has been swallowed up in the ” Fairbrothers’ Feld ” area, and no doubt was originally on the Poddle in or about the neighbourhood of ” Black Pitts.”

Sir — Kindly allow me space to reply to “Donnycarney ” re G.B.S.

It is quite true to state that George Bernard Shaw played at Dolphin’s Barn, and that his father was a miller in that locality. In fact the ruins of the mill still stand.
The writer’s father was well acquainted with G.B.S., and recalls an incident in which G.B.S. came to his assistance when he was getting the worst of a schoolboy scrap.
My father, who is older (SO years) than G.B.S. and quite energetic, has no doubt about the above facts, and remembers G.B.S. very well. He refers to the old mill as “Shaw’s Mill.”
I might mention that he was born at Dolphin’s Barn, and still resides there, at this address
Brian P. Murphy.
4 Crumlin Rd., 4/8/38.

Sir — A letter from me regarding the site of the mill once in possession of George Carr Shaw, father of George Bernard Shaw, appeared in your issue of Monday last.

My assumption therein that the premises stood in the neighbourhood of Black Pitts is not correct. I have since become aware that Hall’s Lane, where the mill is. is now known as Rutland Avenue and is only a short distance from the south bank of the Grand Canal at Dolphin’s Barn. “The City Watercourse” a branch of The Poddle from “The Tongue” at Kimmage, supplied the requisite water power.
G. H. Dublin, 5/8/38

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