Thomas Richard Caffrey, on reaching his 21st birthday, went – or was sent – to be trained in a Belfast brewery which had been owned by a man called Clotworthy Dobbin. Clotworthy and his eponymous son had died in 1854 and 1858 respectively. It seems that none of his four remaining sons were inclined, or able to continue the business. Here, Thomas met Mary Josephine, the youngest daughter of Clotworthy and his wife Mary (néé Warren). Two years later, he and Mary were married. In time, Thomas took over the brewery and it was rebuilt on its present day site on the Glen Road in West Belfast. In 1900, Thomas completed his house, “Airfield”, on the land to the north side of the brewery.