Noted by Helen Tully

Eamon’s Memories were shared in November 2013. He said he would be 90 in March 2014.

 

MADDEN’S FORGE

Madden’s forge was started by Eamon’s grandfather Thomas Madden, who was from Bawnmore, Athenry. Eamon’s Uncle John worked with his father but, unfortunately, died young. Eamon’s father, Ned, ran the forge with the help of journey men farriers. He later rented it to Pat Brody from Co. Clare. Eamon started working there with Pat. Pat married Eamon’s sister, May, and later opened his own business in Prospect.

EAMON’S MOTHER

Eamon’s mother was Margaret Kindregan from Gloves. Her son, Sonny Tom, inherited the farm in Gloves. His son, Eddie, lives there at present while his daughter, Eileen Grimes, lives locally. Eamon’s aunt, Kate Madden, married James Quinn and they were the grandparents of Tommy, Jimmy, Mary (O’Brien) and Ann (Shields) Quinn.

BROTHERS AND SISTERS

Eamon’s brothers were: Fonsie, (his son Eamon lives near Our Lady’s Well), Sonny Tom, (father of Eddie and Eileen (Grimes) and Patrick who emigrated to England and died tragically in the 1960s as a result of a work accident. He had two children, Johnny and Lena. Eamon’s brother, Johnny, died young.

His sisters were: May (Mrs Pat Brody, mother of Eamon and Frank), Cissie (Mrs. Jack Waldron, mother of Ned, Michéal, Paul and Rose). Eileen (Mrs. Mannion who lived in Killaclogher, Monivea) and Kathleen (Mrs Fahy) who lived in Ballindeereen.

THE FORGE

Eamon’s first customer was John Murphy, father of Michael, Boyhill. A blacksmith made his own tools to suit the purpose. The busiest time in the forge was from September to April when the main work was making farm implements. Gates were made during the summer. Shoeing a horse was very specialized. The hoof had to be trimmed to the level of the foot and the shoe shaped to fit it. The shoe was attached very carefully to the foot so as not to cause bleeding. Eamon said that you had to apply gentleness with contrary horses (‘kickers’) but the owner would always help. The fuel used in the forge was little kernels of coal. Eamon shod horses for Lord Hempel at TuliraCastle and later at Raford House. There was an anvil and bellows there and Eamon brought his own tools.

OTHER FORGES IN AND AROUND ATHENRY

ATHENRY

Maddens.

Pat Quinn’s, Cross Street. Pat Egan was the blacksmith there. Pat was an uncle of Michéal Quinn and Minnie Cleary, grandfather of the late Christy Flynn and grand uncle of Tommy, Jimmy, Mary (O’Brien) and Ann (Shields) Quinn.

Michael Quinn’s, Old Church Street.

Michael was father of Michéal and Minnie Cleary. Jimmy Reilly’s father, Pat, was a blacksmith there.

Paddy Murphys, Barrack Lane.

ROUNDFIELD, MONIVEA

Pat Reilly’s brother (Jimmy’s uncle) had a forge in Roundfield.

MONIVEA

Dolly’s and Pat Murphy’s.

COOLARNE

Conneely’s.

CRAUGHWELL

Tom Kenny (Kenny Park in Athenry is named after him).

KILTULLA

Murphy’s.

CARNAUN

Williams’.

FAILED EVICTION

Paddy Murphy, blacksmith, lived where Finbarr Ryan (Ryan’s Shoe Repairs, The Arch) lives now. Paddy was evicted from his home. Eamon said it was a sad sight to see all his furniture out on the street. The people of the town, led by Bill Waldron, rallied around and paid the money owed and Paddy returned to his home. Paddy’s daughter, May, was married to Tom Connolly and lived in Esker. They had one son, Gerard. Paddy’s first wife died and later on he married Bridget Holian, a grand aunt of Gerry Cronnelly, Frank Coyne, Pat and Gerry Holland and their siblings.

THE 1930s AND THE 1940s

Eamon stressed that Athenry was a self supporting community with farming as its main business. In the 1930s the Town Hall, Clarke Street, was a Co-Operative, owned by farmers but it was unsuccessful.  The farms were small having 20 acres or less. During the Economic War in the 1930s Eamon de Valera protested about the tariffs that had to be paid to England. Food and tea were rationed. Each person was issued with a Ration Book. The establishment of the sugar factories were a great boost to the economy in the 1930s. Cheques were received every October and this was a marvellous help to the farmers. Cattle were sold for £5 in the 1940s. Some farmers in Eamon’s youth were: Joe King, Boyhill; Fahys and Shaughnessys, Moyvilla. Most of the houses were thatched; slates would have to be imported from Wales.

PUBS IN ATHENRY

Cross Street

Jack Geraghty’s, part of O’Neill’s Pharmacy and now Flanagan’s Pharmacy.

Mahon’s, now Iggys.

Cannon’s Hotel, now Athenry Opticians.

Kelly’s, which was later Michael Whelan’s and is now The Square Inn.

Jones Sweeney’s, now Sweeney Auctioneers.

Payne’s, now an Indian Restaurant.

Bridge Street

Headd’s, later Joe Mannion’s and is now Luca’s Takeaway.

Davis Street

Glynn’s, Central Bar, was Stephen Jordan’s.

Rooney’s, was later Rohans. It was opposite Glynn’s, Central Bar.

Brendan Higgins’, now The Hop Inn.

Old Church Street

Broderick’s, was later Hynes’, Johnny Whelan’s and now Melia’s, (The Fields of Athenry Gift Shop).

J.J. Glynn.s (Sonny’s).

Dan Reynold’s, now Keane’s.

Tommy Fox’s, later Thompson’s.

Sweeney’s, now The Fields’ Bar.

Swan Gate

Hanberrys Hotel, now owned by Lily Dunleavy Byrne.

Church Street (Chapel Lane)

Durkin’s, now The Shopping Basket;

Larry Lardiner’s, now Declan Rooney’s Menswear;

Northgate Street

Nolan’s, now The Skillet.

Walshe’s, now Dan’s Bar.

Miss Ryan’s, later Brennan’s, now The Claymore Restaurant (closed).

Houlihan’s, now Dowling’s.

Annie Kelly’s, now Athenry Dry Cleaners (closed).

Ruane’s, now The Castlegate Hotel.

Martin Glynn’s, was Madison’s (closed)

Corbett’s, now This ’n That.

Duffy’s at the Arch, now Murphy’s Pub.

Burkes Lane

Curran’s, now Paddy Power Bookmakers.

BUSINESSES

Paddy Hogan and V.P. Shields were partners in a solicitors’ practice in Cross Street. Albert Cummins had his own practice in Church Street. Paddy Hogan had a solicitors’ office of his own in Ballinasloe. He was a Minister of Agriculture and father of Brigid Hogan O’Higgin’s (former Fine Gael TD).

The Square Inn was owned by Kellys, great grandparents of Gerry McNamara, Ballydavid, (son of the late Gerry and Mary Teresa Morrissey).

Jones Sweeney had a hardware shop and pub where Francis Sweeney, his nephew, has his auctioneering business in Cross Street. Maura Kearney Hardiman’s father, Malachy, and her grandfather worked there at the paint counter. Joe Walsh worked there and he married Patsy Murphy, sister of Richard, Marjorie and Joan, (of Athenry Drama club), Clarke Street. Mikie McNamara, father of James, Caheroyan, worked there. Jones had a garage where O’Hara Solicitors’ premises are today. Christy McNamara, father of Cyril and Gerry, worked there.

Christy Howley had a carpentry business where Maloney’s Piano Shop and Leo Coffey’s shop are today. His mother was a Miss Hynes. Christy was a member of Athenry Drama club. He made wooden toys where Eircom’s premises are on Cross Street.  

Christy Flynn, whose father was from Leitrim, had an iron and welding works where Shields’ solicitors are, opposite The Newpark Hotel.

Payne’s Hall was where the car park is, opposite The Newpark Hotel. The drama club practiced there and courts were held there for many years.

FAMILIES IN ABBEY ROW

Richie and Bernie Murtagh lived in Abbey Row. Eamon said they were two noble men. Joe Howley, a cousin of Christy Howley, lived in Abbey Row. Joe’s father was from Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo. His mother was Tommy Coen’s sister (father of Ina Coen King), Boyhill. After the death of Joe’s father, his mother married Paddy Lynskey. The late Bride Lynskey Monaghan, Kingsland, was a stepsister of Joe’s.

Mrs. Madge Egan (nee Barrett), her son Jackie and her daughter Kathleen lived in house No.2. Mrs Egan’s grandchildren (Burkes) were reared in that house. They later emigrated to England with their grandmother and their parents, Kathleen Egan Burke and Billy Burke (from Rockfield).

The Woods family lived in the house opposite the playground. It was the teacher’s residence. Mrs. Woods taught in the Boys’ National School, which was next door to her. There were three boys in the family and one girl. Jimmy became an engineer, Dessie a surgeon, Paddy a teacher and Peggy married Matt Corcoran, an insurance agent.

CORN AND WOOL

Tommy Fox (Thompson’s) Old Church Street, bought corn and wool and had a pub. Sweeney’s, Old Church Street (now The Fields Bar), bought wool and sold manure and coal. Mike Hession, North Gate Street was a corn and wool buyer. He had a grocery and butcher shop and sold milk.

POST OFFICE AND ESB

The Post Office was where the A.I.B. is today. The ESB office was in Burkes Lane opposite the late Ellen Connors Kelly’s house.

TAYLOR’S MILL

Taylor’s Mill, operated by Herbert and Charles Taylor, gave much needed employment. Some of the employees were: Mattie Ryan, Gerald Collins, Joe Howley and Paddy Greally. They ground corn and made wholemeal. They had a saw mill and made turkey and egg boxes. The dead turkeys were exported to England.

CORBETTS

Corbetts, Northgate Street, had a grocery shop, a hardware shop and a pub. They exported potatoes for years. They bought corn and were coal suppliers. The Corbetts were natives of Newcastle. Mrs. Corley, Cross Street, Ger Browne, Browne’s Shop, Bridge Street, Carmel Coffey Burke, Mellows College, Carmel Broderick Kennedy, Sliverue,  Gretta Kenny, Caheroyan, Paddy Regan, Mellows College, all worked in the office. John Lohan, Willie Kenny, who married to Nano Kennedy, and Frank Kilkelly, uncle of Sean, Christy, Paul and Michael, Ballydavid, worked in the hardware section. Vincent Feeney, Knockbrack and Sean Kilgarriff, Ballygar worked in the grocery. Jackie Monaghan and Jimmy Ryan made windows and doors there during the 1960s. Tommy Reilly (Caheroyan) and John O’Dowd (father of Joan Mongey) worked in the yard. Mr. Hussey and Mr. Cullinane had a room in the yard where they repaired harnesses for horses and donkeys. Jimmy Burke (father of Patricia Hession and Mary Delaney) and Mattie Glavin drove the lorries. Potatoes had to be collected from the farmers and, after being inspected in Corbett’s yard by Department of Agriculture officials, were loaded onto the lorries and driven to Galway Docks for export.

RUANES

Ruanes, North Gate Street, distilled mineral water. They supplied the town with electricity and were agents for tractors and thrashers. They also had a pub.

THE FARMYARD

The Farmyard, now known as Mellows College, gave great employment. It supplied milk to the town as did Hessions, North Gate Street, Coens, Court Lane and Mrs. Aggie Qualter, Abbey Row.

THE RAILWAY

The railway was another great source of employment. There were monthly cattle fairs. The cattle were transported by rail. People employed there were: Christy O’Grady, Roddy Dempsey, Greg Rabbitte, Martin Loughnane and Martin Forde. Michael Hall, The Valley, originally from Co. Leitrim, Jim Clarke from Co. Sligo and Cornelius Fitzpatrick from Co. Cork.

CULLIARBAUN

The Railway Hotel (now V.E.C. Headquarters) was a busy hotel.

ATHENRY AGRICULTURAL SHOW

Athenry Agricultural show committee members were mainly business people: Mike Hession, James Ruane, Chris and Eugene Daly (all living in Northgate Street), Pat Sice, Boyhill, Frank Healy, Rockmore, Stephen Jordan, Davis Street, Mr. Kelly MRCVS, Raheen. The meetings were held in Hanberrys Hotel.

TEACHERS

Mona Finn from St. Johns taught in the convent. She was a grand aunt of Ann Ward Keary N.T., Lisheenkyle. Maisie Flannery, (nee Waldron) Mulpit, also taught there. She was an aunt of Ned and Michéal Waldron.

CHARACTERS

Eamon mentioned a few characters around the parish in the 1940s. Willie Forde, Sliverue was a carpenter with Pat Quinn. One day he went into Mahon’s pub for a pint, which cost one shilling. Miss Katy Mahon counted out the money that Willie gave her and said to her brother, “Mr. Leo! Mr. Forde owes a penny for his pint”. Willie said, “no, Miss Mahon, it’s not me that’s short the penny, it’s you “. Larry Kennedy, also from Sliverue, went to Brendan Higgins pub and got a (medum) medium. He said to the barman “Excuse me! I want my drink in a pint glass.”

OTHER RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN

Ned Kennedy, an uncle of Monsie Kennedy, lived beside the Newpark where Paddy Ryan lives. His wife was a Miss Raftery from Coshla, and she was an aunt of the late Pádraig Raftery and Mrs, Mary O’Brien, Grange. Kathleen Curley, Cross Street, (grand aunt of Maura Hardiman) had a boarding house. Over the years many members of An Garda Siochana were lodgers there. John Joe Glynn, who lived beside his workshop, sold and fixed bicycles at the end of McDonalds Lane. His wife was a clerk in Albert Cummins’, solicitors’ office. Tommy O’Neill was a chemist, where Cannons Hotel was (now Athenry Opticians). He was married to a Miss Hardiman, who was a sister of Mrs. Plunkett, Davis Street. Jack Geraghty had a pub where Flanagan’s chemist shop is. He was married to a Miss Purcell who was a poultry instructress in the farmyard. Kitty Lardiner’s father, Larry, was an auctioneer. He was married to Bridget Kennedy, aunt of Monsie  Kennedy, Swan Gate. Phil Bates came to Athenry from Inchicore railway station in Dublin. The Bates family lived in Caheroyan. His daughter Maggie lived here all of her life. Her sister Lena taught in the De la Salle School in Dublin. Annie married a Frenchman who always wore a beret when they visited every summer. The Cunniffes were weavers and were real natives of Athenry. Their descendents are Jimmy and Martin Cunniffe, Margaret Butler and Susan Francis. Martin Cunniffe was a shoemaker beside the Skillet Bar. He was a granduncle of Margaret Butler and her siblings. He died young in the early 1950s. His wife and family emigrated to the U.S.A. Stephen Jordan came to town as a shoemaker from Newcastle. He had The Central Bar (now owned by Ray Glynn). He was a Fianna Fail T.D. Mary Gardner’s house in Old Church Street was a medical hall owned by Christy Broderick. Mr. Ward and John Caulfield’s (shoemaker) father, Paddy (The Banner), worked there. Sean Broderick, brother of Christy, was a Fine Gael T.D. In the 1930s Willie Curtin was a tailor opposite Paddy Gardner’s house in North Gate Street. Brendan Higgins had a bakery. He supplied Esker Monastery with bread. The baker was called McCarthy. O’Neill’s also had a bakery. Their baker was Tommy Kelly. Josie McCabe baked buns where La Rustica is today.

HANDBALL

Athenry had a lot of young men who played handball: Berlo Walsh, Watt (Michael) Doherty, Joe (“Rocket”) Whyte, Christy Barrett, Joe Howley (“Nailer”), Christy O’Grady, Paddy Curley, John Joe Whyte, Pa Hall, Tom Cleary, Tommy Glynn, Gerry Cronnelly, Michael Kelly (Barman Kelly, son of Nanny) and in later years Seamus Lynch and Tony Curley.

FISHERMEN

Noted fishermen in town were: Ned Kennedy, Cross Street; Mick Goode, Northgate  Street; Paddy Qualter, Church Street; Pa Hall, father of Gerry and Eleanor, The Valley; Tommy Ryan, father of Pádraig (Abbey Row).