Findlaters
The Story of a Dublin Merchant Family 1774-2001
CONTENTS
I General Information
II Family Map
III Main Personages
IV Preface
Chapter 1
Alexander Findlater, Exciseman & Robert Burns, the Poet
Alexander Findlater Exciseman & Robert Burns, Poet.
Findlater Castle, Cullen, Banffshire, Scotland.
Poet Robert Burns friendship with Alexander Findlater Scottish Exciseman.
Alexander Findlater's epitaph 'The friend of Burns in life, his vindicator after death'.
Piper Findlater VC, Gordon Highlanders 1897.
Chapter 2
Alexander the Founder (1797-1873) and his Brothers
Alexander Findlater Dublin entrepreneur 1823-1873, life and times.
Cod salting, Newfoundland 1815; Alexander Findlater's indenture.
Scottish Merchant invasion, Dublin, 1800s.
Bank Failures in England 1825.
Findlaters trading in whiskey in 1827.
Adam Seaton Findlater Snr, trading in Bahia, Brazil 1830.
Todd Burns departmental store, Mary Street Dublin 1834.
Findlaters first importation tea from Canton 1835.
Findlaters export bottled stout and porter to Quebec 1836.
Capt John Findlater shipwrecked Bahamas 1836.
Findlater & Mackie, Manchester 1838.
'Findlater Mackie Todd' & Co., Wine Merchants London 1856.
Findlater Mackie Todd after the Findlaters.
'Findlater & Mackie' and 'Mackie & Gladstone' .
Land purchases, Dunedin, New Zealand 1847 by Findlater of Dublin.
Transatlantic Packet Station 1851.
'Tax on Paper is a Tax on Knowledge' 1851.
Great Atlantic Railway (to connect England to America) to Erris Co Mayo 1835.
Findlater's Mountjoy Brewery established 1857.
'Findlaters Church' The Abbey Presbyterian Church Dublin, 1865.
Presbyterian Theological College, Belfast 1870, Findlater support.
Irish Tea, Wine, Spirit and Beer trade in early 1800s.
Findlaters tea imports 1835-61. First Indian tea to Ireland 1861.
Findlater's Grocery Price List 1865.
Findlater family Household Wine expenditure 1880-1899.
Chapter 3
Billy, later Sir William Findlater (1824/1906)
Sir William Findlater President Incorporate Law Society 1878+1897.
Sir William Findlater (Billy) Liberal MP Monaghan 1880-85.
William Findlater & Co, Solicitors, Dublin, 1860s–1906.
Rural conditions prior to Gladstone's Land Acts 1881-2.
William Findlater's support for 1881 Land Act.
Land Act 1881 granting Tenant farmers security of tenure.
William Findlater's speech to the Tenant farmers of Monaghan 1882.
The Findlater Scholarship, Incorporated Law Society Ireland, 1878.
Dublin Artisans' Dwellings Co 1876. William Findlater a founder.
Irish Institute of Chartered Accountants Inaugural dinner 1888.
Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland 1891-92.
Chapter 4
Findlater's Mountjoy Brewery
Findlater's Mountjoy Brewery Dublin, history from 1852.
1865/6 Porter (stout) exports: Guinness No 1, Findlater No 2.
A detailed tour of Findlater's Mountjoy Brewery.
Sir William Findlater, Brewery Proprietor, Dublin 1852-1906.
Findlater Porter and Stout labels.
Findlater & Mackie and Findlater & Gladstone.
DWD, Dublin Whiskey Distillery.
Blood, Wolfe, Inglis and Findlater families, cousins in 1800s.
Chapter 5
Great-Grandfather John Findlater, head of Findlaters 1873-1908
John Findlater, Dublin Entrepreneur 1873-1908, life and
Findlater family household expenditure 1854-1862
'Johnston Mooney & O'Brien' Dublin, millers + bakers, 1889.
Findlaters Christmas Calendars 1889-1894.
Inglis and Johnston families Dublin 1800s
Ch. Lafite, Mouton R and L'Barton, bottled by Findlaters
Findlater's wine buying in Bordeaux 1877.
Findlaters supply Vartry Waterworks extravagant Banquet, Dublin 1892.
Findlater's Ladies' Housekeeping Book / Diary 1890s.
Household Management: Domestic Servants daily work schedule.
Findlater's Court Calendar 1890.
'The Lady of The House' Dublin social monthly 1890-1920.
Alex Findlater & Co: incorporation, flotation and accounts,1899.
Staff Conference Alex Findlater & Co 1902.
Advice to Findlater staff 1902: 'Work with zeal and enthuiasm'.
Findlater shops: O'Connell Street and Dun Laoghaire.
Findlater shops: Leinster Street and Rathmines.
Findlater shops: Howth, Baggot Street + Baggot Street.
Findlater shops: Foxrock and Sandymount.
Findlater shops: Dalkey and Blackrock.
Jameson's Whiskey, Findlater's superior quality, 1902.
Findlaters, Ireland's largest Beer & Stout bottlers, 1902.
John Findlater's Port buying trip to Oporto 1900.
Australian & Californian wine 1902 at Findlaters.
Hock & Moselle Wines 1902 at Findlaters.
Sandich-board Advertising 1903, Findlaters Prosecuted.
Groceries 'Findlater' the 'Original' brand not 'House-brand', 19th century Ireland.
Copper exploration Isle Royale, Michigan 1888. John Findlater.
Dublin Electric Light Company' estd 1880.
William Martin Murphy with John Findlater Dublin.
'Royal Belfast Golf Club', Ireland's first, opened 1882.
Early Dublin Telephones, ABC and Gower-Bell. 1878.
Clontarf Presbyterian Church 1889. Laying foundation stone.
Guinness and Bass Findlaters Bottlings 1902
Chapter 6
Adam Findlater, Southern Unionist Businessman 1855-1911
Adam Findlater. Dublin Unionist businessman 1855-1911.
Adam Findlater, Chairman Kingstown Commissioners 1895.
The Kingstown Programme 1895, seeking legal and social reforms.
Address to Lord Cadogan with demands in the 1895 Kingstown Programme.
Mazawattee Tea, Findlater purchase contract, 1896.
Tea Duty finances Boer War 1899-1902.
Irish tea statistics 1874-1883 for imports from India and China.
Adam Findlater and Southern Unionism 1885.
Adam Findlater seeks Local Government similar to England's 1895.
Adam Findlater on Land Purchase Acts for town leaseholders 1895.
Adam Findlater wants readjustment of financial relations with England 1895.
Adam Findlater seeks a Board of Agriculture and Industry for Ireland 1890s.
The overtaxation of Ireland in late 1890s.
Findlater's Act to enable Private Bill legislation 1890's.
Dublin Corporation, a tale of Municipal Landlordism 1899.
Adam Findlater on Valuation of Licensed Premises 1903.
Adam Findlater v theTemperance Movement, 1903.
Joseph Chamberlain and Adam Findlater on free trade.
First Irish Industrial Development Association (IDA) 1903.
General Election 1906. South Dublin contest.
Taxation and Tariff Reform Ireland 1894.
Michael Davitt's letter to Adam Findlater 1906.
J. P. Nannetti MP, College Green & Dublin Lord Mayor 1906/7.
Carpet-bagger Walter Long, GB Unionist, elected MP South Dublin 1906.
Richard Hazleton. Nationalist candidate 1906 South Dublin.
Willie Redmond MP at 1906 South Dublin Election count.
John Redmond a cheer for Adam Findlater 1906+1911.
John McCurdy, architect, Adam Findlater's father-in-law.
Guinness Stout and Bass Ale bottled by Findlaters 1902/3.
Findlater's immense wine, port and Jameson stocks 1906.
Jameson 8-year-old, matured in Findlater's bond; their speciality.
Findlaters Hallows' Eve (not 'een) 1906 advertisment.
Sir Henry Cochrane, Director Findlaters, 1899-l905.
'Cantrell & Cochrane' Ltd, Mineral Waters 1852.
Dublin City Distillery Co Ltd and Banagher Distillery Co.
Banagher Distillery Co Ltd 1888.
Findlater's St Lawrence Hotel Howth + Royal Hotel Bray 1905.
Motoring Dublin 1906. Adam Findlater's Stanley steam car.
Adam Findlater's Letters to the Editor 1904.
Nelson's Pillar Dublin, traders want it relocated, 1891.
Parnell Monument opposition to proposed site 1908.
TCD's Provost's house, remove high blank wall that conceals it. 1908.
Commercial Travellers Association, Dublin branch, 1903.
Lifeboat Disaster, Kingstown, County Dublin, 1895.
Companions of St Patrick 1906.
Chapter 7
Dublin Theatres: The Star, The Empire Palace, now The Olympia
Dublin Music-Halls and the Findlaters.
Dan Lowrey, Music-Hall proprietor 1879-1892.
Cinematographe in Star Theatre of Varieties, Dublin 1895.
Playing 'God Save the Queen': Arthur Griffith objects. 1903.
Arthur Griffith and the city of dreadful knights. 1903.
Filming Gordon Bennett Race, Dublin, 1903.
The performing elephant on trial in court. 1906.
Chapter 8
Gallipoli 1915
Gallipoli 1915: the Royal Dublin Fusiliers brave warriors
Rugby Football Volunteers 'the Footballers'; Landsdowne Rd.
'The Footballers' Corps, pre-war training 1914.
Royal Dublin Fusiliers, training, Curragh Camp 1914.
Suvla Bay 1916, Dublin Fusiliers Pals 'D' Company.
Kitchener's call-to-arms: 7 Findlater family enlist, 4 killed.
Gallipoli, the greatest disaster in British military history.
Winston Churchill, synonymous with Gallipoli disaster.
The Horrors of the Gallipoli Campaign 1916.
Herbert Findlater, 42, MA, TCD, solicitor; killed Gallipoli 1915.
Charles Findlater, 44, MA, TCD. Engineer; killed Somme, 1916.
Capt. Percival St George Findlater.
Dr Alex Findlater 54, MD, TCD, DSO; doctor Edgeware, Middlesex.
Returning Heros National Outcasts.
Chapter 9
Easter Rising 1916
Easter Rising 1916 and the story of surrenders.
Capt Harry de Courcy-Wheeler's Easter 1916 field diaries.
Sackville Street shattered Easter 1916
Capt Wheeler's daughter Dorethea tells her 1916 Curragh Camp story.
Presentation of 1916 revolvers to Sean T O'Kelly.
Capt Wheeler informed of 1916 Rising.
Nurse Elizabeth O'Farrell, 'the Sinn Fein Nurse' 1916.
Surrender of Padraig Pearse 1916.
General Sir John Maxwell Dublin 1916.
Goods commandeered to the value £25 from Findlaters 1916.
Surrender of James Connolly 1916.
De Valera: 'My immediate superior is Commt MacDonagh'.
Tom Clarke's Newsagent, Nurse O'Farrell, 1916.
The Surrender note signed by Pearse, Connolly and MacDonagh.
Harry Boland's arrest outside GPO Easter 1916.
Michael Collins arrest outside0 GPO Easter 1916.
Sean Lemass arrest outside GPO Easter 1916.
John McEntee arrest outside GPO Easter 1916.
Willie Pearse arrest outside GPO Easter 1916.
Bolands Mills Ringsend, impregnable fortress. Easter 1916.
The failure to arrest Eamon de Valera at Boland's Mills 1916.
Jacobs Biscuit Factory, an embattled fortress, Easter 1916.
College of Surgeons Easter 1916, the surrenders.
Surrender of Michael Mallin 1916.
Surrender Countess Markievicz, College Surgeons Easter 1916.
Lawrence Kettle escourted to Dublin Castle , Easter 1916.
Commandent MacDonagh under fire after surrender. 1916.
Capt Prince Alexander of Battenburg inspects troops in TCD 1916.
Court Martials, Capt Wheeler's evidence Easter 1916.
Prime Minister Asquith visits Richmond Barricks Dublin 1916
Singer Sewing Machine, Liberty Hall, Easter 1916
Chapter 10
The de Courcy-Wheeler Family
The Irish 'de Courcy-Wheeler' family.
Surgeon Wheeler, President College Surgeons 1883.
Shaws of Bushy Park, Bankers; author GBS.
Wheeler family, Robertstown, Co Kildare.
Dr Jack Knox, 10 Irish Rugby Caps incl v All Blacks 1905.
Black and Tans threaten Wheelers and burn Lord Mayo's house 1922.
Harry Wheeler's daughter memories of 1922.
Royal Irish Automobile Club and Irish Grand Prix 1929-31.
National Turf Cutting Competitions, Bog of Allen, 1934-38.
President de Valera inaugurates first turf-cutting competition 1934.
Surgeon Rear Admiral Sir William Ireland de Courcy-Wheeler (Billy).
Spirited salmon catch, Lagduff Lodge, Owenduff River, Mayo 1931.
Dr Diamond (Robert) de Courcy-Wheeler, Monkstown Co Dublin.
Chapter 11
Grandfather William Findlater and the New State
William Findlater MA, TCD. Chairman Findlaters 1911-1941.
John Findlater emigrated to Texas 1884. Findlater Hardware Co.
Findlater Hardware Co, St Angelo, Texas 1895.
Dr Alex Findlater MD TCD. Medical doctor Edgeware, Middlesex.
Willie Findlater reminices on the wine & food trade c 1880.
'The Lady of the House' 1890. Society magazine (now Tatler & Sketch).
Findlaters Ladies Housekeeping Diary.
Findlaters Telephone numbers 1909.
Findlaters 1909 Wines, Spirits, Teas & Grocery.
Findlaters Horse-drawn deliveries and first Trojan Van.
Food shortages, Ireland, World War 1.
Closing for Lunch-hour, staff & customers attitudes positive.
Findlaters staff Bonuses and a Peace Bonus in 1919.
National troubles, a Merchant's perspective 1920-1923.
Treaty negotiations 1921. Businessmen urge Dev & Griffith to accept.
Treaty Condition 5, Dublin Chamber of Commerce trade concerns.
Michael Collins supports business and economic activity.
Dublin Chamber members meeting on Treaty discussions 1921.
Cathal Brugha shot from above Findlaters Sackville Street.
An imposter infilitrates Findlater suppliers 1919.
Protestant businessmen in Irish politics 1920s.
Findlater's only strike 1924. ITGWU and WUI.
Larkin's 1913 Lock-Out. Findlaters happy staff photographs.
Findlater staff names 1936, Willie F's Silver Jubilee.
Chapter 12
My Aunts Doris & Sheila Findlater
Miss Doris Findlater and Miss Sheila Findlater, life and times.
Canon Harry Dobbs, All Saints Blackrock, 1914/49.
Alexandra College Guild, Formation 1897.
Royal College of Science & Munitions 1916, Doris Findlater.
Tiger-shoot Nepal India 1920, Doris Findlater.
Sheila Findlater: Lady Meath's Secretary, Kilruddery, 1919-1961.
Irish Girl Guides from 1911. Lady Powerscourt + Baden-Powell.
Irish Countrywomen's Association + The Country Shop from 1930s.
Kellogg's support Irish Country Women's Association 1952.
Doris & Sheila's Findlater's garden, Glensavage, Blackrock, Dublin.
A walk around Doris & Sheila's Garden Glensavege.
Doris Findlater hybridising Nerines, Glensavage, South County Dublin.
Doris Findlater: pictures of her 87 flowerings mid-winter, January 1955.
Chapter 13
My father Dermot Findlater, 1905-1945
Dermot Findlater, life and times, in Findlater's Dublin from 1927.
Canon Dobbs Words of Wisdom to young Dermot Findlater c1924.
The Findlater family and hockey from 1927.
Ireland's 1930s Economic War, tarrifs & restrictions to trade.
Dermot Findlater and Sean Lemass differ on trade policies 1930s.
Outbreak of war 1939. Findlaters warn the public on food supplies.
Findlaters management of the Nations food and price control 1939-45.
Tea rationing 1941. 2 ounces per week, later half ounce. Findlaters.
Bread part of the nations staple diet. Shortages. Queues 1942.
Sugar rationing. Quarter pound for each person. Findlaters.
Shortage of bacon: Macon = bacon made from mutton.
Factory in Waterford making Carrott tea, employing 5.
Soap from the fat of shark and dog-fish, and wax from holly-leaves.
Findlaters fined for selling quarter pound lard at wrong price.
Wine stocks plentiful, popularity low. Findlaters.
Dev: "Drink a light beer for breakfast not tea!"
Control on remuneration of Directors. Dermot Findlater displeased.
War-time Directors wages control.
Boiling the kettle for tea, fear of the Glimmerman. 1943.
Cigarettes: Smokes rejoice. 20 million arrive from the US.
Pigs, a free market, but no supplies. Quote Findlaters.
Export of Prune wine. Department Secretary indited.
The fight to eradicate Tuberculosis, the epidemic of the 1940s.
The Local Defence Force in Foxrock 1940s. Dermot Findlater
A dry Christmas threatens: No corks for stout and porter.
Food supplies start to reappear, Christmas 1945 looks good.
Bulmer Magner Ltd, Cider Clonmel, founding directors, 1936.
Chapter 14
The Empire Theatre of Varieties Ltd, Belfast
'Belfast Empire Theatre of Varieties' and personalities 1894-196l.
Dan Lowrey father and son, Empire Theatre Belfast 1890s.
Rebuilding fiasco 1895, Empire Theatre. Audience could not see stage!
Famous artists who performed in Empire Belfast.
Joseph Locke. The RUC constable who became a great star.
Dr Hunter's annual Christmas Circus, Empire Theatre Belfast.
'Come to the Show' ran 1500 performances. Empire Belfast.
'We never closed' at start of war on Downing Street's authority.
First theatre broadcast in Ireland. December 1927.
Nude show; welcomed in the Belfast Empire Theatre!
Royal Patronage, Gala Shows, Belfast Empire Theatre.
Sam Thompson's 'Over the Bridge' Belfast Empire Theatre 1960.
Bridie Gallagher, Adieu-farewell, Empire Theatre closes 1961.
Chapter 15
Dermot Findlater from 1945 to 1962
Dermot Findlater, Managing Director Findlaters 1945-1962.
Sean Lemass and Dermot Findlater differ 1946/7.
Food shortages and stock replenishment post 1945. Findlaters.
Findlaters turkey buying: Ballinacargy, Athlone, Mullingar, 1950s+1960s.
Kelloggs first importation post war to Findlaters.
'Free Trade' 1948 advocated by Dermot Findlater.
J. P. Donleavy's 'Ginger Man' shops in Findlater's Howth 1947.
No wash-hand basin and only out-door water tap Findlater's Ranelagh 1951.
Snobbery and prejudices, Brian lnglis 'The West Briton' and GBS.
Meath Hospital, protestants under attack, catholic influences 1940s.
Royal Hospital for Incurables Donnybrook, 1941 cost cutting and funding.
'Wars are good for business' and Findlaters post war funding.
Findlater business difficulties and opportunities post 1945.
Findlaters wine buying post war. Outstanding 1945 vintage.
'The Findlater Service' to customers.
St Lawrence Hotel Howth, 1949 investment.
Bulmers, Tuborg and Guiness: Findlaters bottlings 1947.
Supermarkets: Findlaters missed opportunity 1960.
Findlaters investment in beer bottling facility 1961.
Findlaters employ a Chartered Account for the first time! 1960.
Chapter 16
From Old Findlaters to New
Present day Alex, formative years to 1956.
Alex Findlater & Co Ltd 1823-1968. Penultimate years.
Grappling with the future Findlaters 1962-68.
Beginning of the end, Findlaters staff meeting in Liberty Hall 1968.
Takeover approaches, Findlaters. 1960s.
Galen Weston offer to takeover Findlaters 1967.
Findlaters botched centralized Home Delivery Service.
Findlaters wonderful and loyal staff.
Terry O'Sullivan's Findlater exclusive. Gresham 31st Dec 1968.
Sale of Findlater's Head Quarters O'Connell Street 1968.
Wine trade continues: Findlater Fitzgerald & Co Ltd. 1969.
Findlater Wine Merchants reborn 1974.
Theatrical promotions, Sammy Davis Jnr, Marlene and the Bolshoi.
Findlater wine shop in Upper Rathmines opens 1974.
Humour sells wine for Findlaters; Martyn Turner political cartoonist.
Findlaters Harcourt Vaults restoration and challenge 1991.
Findlaters success leads to Takeover 2001.
The Findlater Wine & Spirit Group lives on and expands.
Chapter 17
Bicycles, Blood, Bloom and Burgundy
Bloomsday Messenger Bike Rally Findlater launch 1994 in aid of Irish Youth Foundation.
Ulysses and Finnegans Wake, Findlater references.
Bindon Blood's patented light-weight tricycle 1876.
Findlater & Martin Bicycle shop Dawson Street 1904.
Chapter 18
Interesting and amusing memories of old Findlaters
T. Mooney on Findlaters 1859 and 54 years of punctuality.
Ned Kelly on Findlaters Trojan vans of the 1920s.
Johnny McDermott on Civil War, Findlaters Baggot Street 1923.
The Imposter. Gentleman who sough favours from Findlater suppliers.
Linda Browne on Mr Willie Findlater and cigarettes, 1930's.
Mary Kane on Mr Vaughan manager Findlaters Blackrock.
Rosalind Matthews description Findlaters Dun Laoghaire 1930s+40s.
Johnny McDermott, on life & observations as Findlater messengerboy.
Canon Dobbs: God likes Fetes and Garden Parties.
Doris Findlater on a Tiger shoot in Nepal India 1920.
Canob Dobbs advice to a young Christian school-leaver.
Johnny McDermott on ration coupons and Ambassadors. Findlaters.
Jimmy Brohan on the LDF and Findlaters Foxrock 1941.
J. P. Donleavy, Ginger Man author, on Findlaters Howth.
15. Alf Delaney, Olympic yachtsman, on Findlaters Wicklow Street.
Dr Eric Fenelon, Adelaide, on helping a friend in need 1949.
Dr Garret FitzGerald on Findlater first-growth wine prices 1953.
Aidan Kelly on practical jokes in Findlaters Head Office.
Pauline Russell on the friendly staff and service Findlaters Howth.
Irene Lawless on Bovril and the Bumblebee, Findlaters Malahide.
Anne Cronin on service at Findlaters Dorset Street 1940s-1960s.
Ann Gaskins, farmer, on the service from Findlaters Bray 1958.
Maureen Haughey on Findlater's delivery and service.
Feargal Quinn on Findlaters special customer services.
Alex aids a heist and bacon mysteriously vanishes in Thomas Street.
Conscience money. Findlaters 1960s.
Joe Murphy founder Tayto on one good turn deserves another.
Chapter 19
Findlaters Grocery Price List 1904
The year of Joyce's Ulysses.
A shilling in 1904 = £3.90 in 2000 and 1 penny = 0.33p;
12 pennies in 1 shilling, 20 shillings in 1 pound £.
To bring an Irish £ in 2000 to euros in 2013: multiply the 2000 figure by 1.59.