Buck Jones's House, Clonliffe, 1911
Clonliffe House was home for a number of years to Frederick E. Jones, also known as Buck Jones. Jones was a successful and distinguished member of Dublin society in the late 1700s and early 1800s. However, his theatre business went bankrupt and he later died a pauper.
Buck Jones's House, Clonliffe, 1911
Buck Jones's House, Clonliffe, 1911
Clonliffe House was home for a number of years to Frederick E. Jones, also known as Buck Jones. Jones was a successful and distinguished member of Dublin society in the late 1700s and early 1800s. However, his theatre business went bankrupt and he later died a pauper.
Frederick E. Jones, or 'Buck Jones' as he was better known, was a famous resident of Clonliffe in the north of Dublin city. Born around 1770, Jones was considered one of the handsomest men of his time. He was also blessed with beautiful manners.
He acquired a large house near Clonliffe Road, which came to be known as Clonliffe House. He was a cultured man, and after finishing his education abroad, he returned to Dublin and set up a theatre.
Drumcondra in 1906
A 1906 view of Drumcondra taken by Weston St. John Joyce. It appears in Joyce's book The Neighbourhood of Dublin.
Drumcondra in 1906
Drumcondra in 1906
A 1906 view of Drumcondra taken by Weston St. John Joyce. It appears in Joyce's book The Neighbourhood of Dublin.
As well as being involved in the arts, Jones was a magistrate. His job meant that he frequently came into contact with criminals. Once a notoriously dangerous criminal gang decided to break into Clonliffe House. Jones got wind of the plot and lay in wait with a number of soldiers. A great gun battle ensued and several members of the gang were shot dead. Their bodies were displayed for a number of days but nobody claimed them. They were buried near Drumcondra.
Jones became penniless when his theatre business failed after a group of people plotted against him. Due to debt, he spent time in prison and his final abode was a small cabin. He was provided for by a small group of loyal friends until his death in 1834. In the early 1900s, people living in the areas surrounding Clonliffe House believed that Buck Jones's ghost could be seen riding on horseback near his old home. Jones's Road, near Croke Park, is named after him.