His father was Paddy Joe Stephenson, former Chief Librarian of Dublin and a founder of the Old Dublin Society, who had fought in the 1916 Rising and had helped to restore Kilmainham Gaol.
His father was Paddy Joe Stephenson, former Chief Librarian of Dublin and a founder of the Old Dublin Society, who had participated in the 1916 Rising and assisted in restoring Kilmainham Gaol.