APH
Mattie McNamara
Gentleman, Motor Racing Champion, Mechanical Expert, Wonderful Friend and Neighbour
Interviewed by Gerry and Helen Ahern
September 2019
———————————–
Mattie and his Family
John McNamara, Mattie’s grandfather (wearing bowler hat), came from Shanaghlish, Co. Clare. He joined the British Army and fought in The Boar War. His job there was looking after the horses. Later on he got a job as a groom . Mary Reilly was his grandmother; she lived with her brother, John, in Kingsland.
Mattie (left) was born on the 10th August 1933. His parents were Thomas and Kathleen (nee Egan) McNamara.
Tom Egan, Kathleen’s father, ran a pub, grocery and farm at Coshla. During the troubles the Black and Tans descended on the pub looking for Tom. The Tans wanted Tom to come outside but his wife would not let him out. They came into the kitchen and shot him dead as his wife watched holding her baby in her arms.
Tom’s body lay on the floor until 4pm the following day as the neighbours were afraid to enter the house and to be seen by the Tans to be assisting the family.
The state educated Tom’s children in Coolarne School.
Riverview House
Mattie’s father, Tommy, built his house, “Riverview House” on the banks of the Clarin River at the end of Barrack Street in 1932 at a cost of £690.
In his youth Tommy worked for the Department of Post and Telegraphs as a telegram boy.
He bought a car from a man who owned Rockfield House and worked as a hackney.
Later he came to own two Hudson cars and a hearse. He was an undertaker similar to Pat Quinn and Michael John Quinn.
Mattie’s paternal uncles were: John who died in his late twenties; Mickey, father of James, Caheroyan; Palmer, Mattie father of Tommy, Prospect and Paddy, Ard Aoibhinn. Bertie who died at seventeen from pneumonia and Christy, father of Cyril.
Earliest memories of Athenry
Barrack Street
Paddy Murphy had a forge at the top of Barrack Street near where the Cattery is now (2019). He lived at the Arch where Ryan’s Shoe Repairs are now. Paddy’s work included repairing ploughs for farmers and back springs for cars. He also put circular bands of iron on cart wheels.
Cross Street
Jones Sweeney owned Sweeney’s Hardware and sold manure, cement, timber and building materials. His sister, Louis, had a blue singer car and was driven around by Mattie’s Uncle Christy, (Cyril’s Dad). Jones, who always wore a hat, had his own motor also driven by Christy.
A fellow from Oranmore named Furey owned a truck and Sonny Heavey delivered the manure etc to the farming community. Loading manure was hard, physical work. The workers shouldered the bags up a big plank onto the truck.
Sweeney’s Counter Book
Mattie’s Uncle Mickie (James’ Dad) worked for Sweeneys. Mattie sometimes went in the delivery truck with his Uncle and Sonny Heavey, which he greatly enjoyed.
Mahons Shop where the Venue is now (2019)
Christy Howley was an outstanding actor and was a most interesting character. He lived in St. Bernadette’s; he was a carpenter by trade. He made toys for Christmas and manufactured kitchen furniture. In later
Cannons Hotel was located where the Opticians are today (2019).
Mattie remembers Mr, Kelly, the vet staying there when he first came to town.
Across the street was Jackie Hessions shop where Tim Holian has his accountancy business (2019).
Jackie bought rabbits caught by the local people and brought them by train to Dublin where he sold them to Jewish merchants.
In 1960 Mattie got a loan of £600 from Mr Kerr, the bank manager to buy a racing car.
During the World War (1939-1945) people came from Co. Meath to Athenry by coach and horses.
The horses were stabled in Gardiners in the Market Square, which was owned by O’Neills chemists at the time.
For years he had a full time job with the Board of Works.
Abbey Row
Leonards and Athenry Town House
Athenry House – home of the Leonard Family
Like all young lads Mattie loved apples, especially the ones growing in Leonard’s beautiful orchard, which also had a walnut tree. The orchard was where the Mid-West Co-op. was in Clarkes Street before it moved to Ballydavid in late 2019. One day, Mattie raided the orchard and was discovered by one of the Miss Leonards. She told him to empty his pockets. She allowed him to keep three and told him she was informing his father about the incident.
The Leonards
The Ball Alley
Athenry Ball Alley is situated only twenty yards from Mattie’s house. Mattie has clear and vivid memories of the many outstanding matches played there. He has one particular memory of a very important match where the viewing steps were full to capacity.
He remembers marvellous handballers: Berla Walsh, Joe Whyte (racket), Joe Howley (the nailer) and many more.
Every Sunday pitch and toss was played on the bottom steps of Abbey House, which is next to the Ball Alley. Money was gambled on the outcome of the pitch and toss game.
The Whelan family, who lived in Abbey House, erected a net between their property and the Alley to stop the balls coming in.
Willie Farrell:
Mr Whelan, Abbey House, had a garage and a cow shed where Rooney’s Monumental Sculptors are today (2019), just across the river from Mattie’s home. Willie operated his business of repairing bicycles in a shed beside the cow shed.
Old Church Street
Sweeney’s Shop
Mr. Sweeney ran a grocery shop and pub where The Fields bar is today (2019). In the yard behind he operated a wool business. He also owned Louis Whelans house, formally The Ivy Hotel.
Patrick Quinn’s business in Cross Street
Tommy Fox’s Business-Tommy had a bar and wool business. He loaned money to farmers.
Christy Broderick’s Chemist Shop–Brodericks first chemist shop was where Mary and Kathleen Gardiner live today (2019). At the back of the house Christy kennelled twenty beagle hounds and went hunting on a Sunday in Raheen, Coshla, Ballygurrane and Park.
North Gate Street/Daly’s Corner
Dalys had an upmarket Drapery shop where the ‘Gift Centre’ used to operate and which is ‘Peggi Brownes’ is today (2019). Some of the Daly family were Alo and Chris. Chris had horses. Mattie’s father, Tommy, bought the site for his house on Barrack Street from the Dalys. The site had three old houses on it, which Tommy demolished to build his house.
Fitzsimons
Fitzsimons had a drapery at the corner of Northgate Street and Burkes Lane. Eddie Somers served his time there as a draper and later married Rhoda Fitzsimons.
Ruanes Car and Tractor business
Across the road was Ruanes Car and Tractor business. They also had a mineral water works set up by James Ruane, a local Fianna Fail County Councillor. In 1949, the Ruanes supplied electricity to parts of Athenry.
They made and repaired threshing machines. Joe Burke from Kiltulla could make a brand new chassis for these machines.
James Ruane got the Massey Ferguson dealership and made it into a thriving business. The Massey Ferguson Company provided all the equipment a farmer needed for his work.
Two lads worked in the stores and five in the workshop. Joe Burke and Stephen Murphy rebuilt threshing machines.
When Mattie started working in Ruanes his father signed a contract stating Mattie was to be employed for five years.
In 1948 Ruanes got the dealership from Massey Ferguson. Tony McGillick from Navan was the foreman mechanic and Paddy Brown from Galway worked there too.
Ruane’s had several departments: two people worked in the stores and six lads were in the workshop rebuilding and reconditioning tractors.
In 1949 a tractor and a new plough cost £450.
Ruane’s Mineral Business
There was a spa on the site in North Gate Street. Ruanes bottled the water and sold it in the West of Ireland. In 1949 they also provided electricity to parts of Athenry town.
The lads who worked with Mattie were, Audrey Mulveen, Paddy Brennan, Gerry Cronnolly, Joe Burke and Stephen Murphy.
Mrs Brannelly was secretary to James Ruane and Jim Kearns was the book keeper.
The Company went into liquidation in 1962. Mattie said that the business went into liquidation as people owed James a lot of money and failed to pay.
Corbetts
Corbetts had a thriving business in North Gate Street selling all aspects of hardware. They also made harnesses for horses. Michael McGrath was manager of the hardware shop. Tommy Reilly was one of the employees and was very involved with Athenry Drama Group as was Mattie’s Uncle, Mickie.
The Arch
Duffys had a shop at the Arch selling groceries, hardware, they also had a public house there.
They also owned the Railway Hotel, which is now the headquarters of the GRETB.
Tennis Court
The Tennis Court in the field where the Londis supermarket is today (2019).
Small Golf Course:
Mattie remembers that there was a small Golf Course at the back of Pat Holland’s house on the road to Carnaun.
Feeneys
A Feeney family owned the house in Newford where Timmy Caulfield lives. Mr. Feeney owned a garage across the road where Banes house is today (2019).
Mattie went to school with two of the Feeney boys. Later on those boys and their parents contacted T.B. Mattie remembers their funerals.
Friends
Murty Qualter, Tom Cleary and Jackie Egan were Mattie’s best friends. They spent their time fishing for “high swimmers” and “pinkeens” up where the old council works is on the Dublin Road.
Other friends were Sean Dempsey,andJody Curran.
Primary School
Mattie was born in 1933 and went to school in Athenry Convent in 1938. He spent two years there. His teachers were Sister Baptist and Sister Aganatious.
Athenry Boys National School
He then transferred to the boys national school with classmates Tom Curran, the Nolans from Gloves, Jimmy Somers, Tom Fahy, Tommy Sice and Dermot Murray. His teacher was Mr. Walsh who cycled from Galway every day. Mr. Walsh had a talent for seeing what a child was good at. He had a saying “look at the child, look at a job”. Later on he got jobs for many of the lads in the class.
The other teachers were Mr. King who taught third and fourth class and Mrs Woods who taught first and second class. Mr Walsh taught fifth and sixth class and Mattie was taught sums, reading, writing, a little algebra and a little history.
There were two desks at the back of the room for lads who had no interest in school. Some children came to school in their bare feet but had shoes hung over their shoulders. He remembers ‘Bowler’ Nolan from Gloves as being a great character.
Mattie left school at sixteen in 1949. He started working in Ruanes in September of that year.
Mattie’s first interest in cars
From an early age cars were part of Mattie’s everyday life; he learned motoring skills from his Dad. Mattie’s father owned two Hudson cars, a Bedford truck and a hearse, which was a Chrysler car and a hackney car. One was a “terra Plane”. Mattie’s job was to care for them.
Mattie loved cars and was driving aged ten. He was completely at home in a garage fixing and repairing vehicles.
Garda Superintendent Kelly saw Mattie driving at an early age and had a word with Mattie’s Dad about Mattie’s driving activities!
A Hudson Car
In 1939 Treacly in Dublin were agents for the American Hudson car. The Hudson had a four cylinder engine and on the steering column was an electric gear change. There was a rubber pedal on the floor which could change the gear to manual. There were two spare wheels on the side of it. It had twin lamps, a tail lamp and a horn.
Mattie’s father collected people from the boat train, which came into Athenry at ten o’clock at night. One night a lady from Creggs called Annie Nevin came off the late train. She had no way of getting home. Mattie’s Dad brought her to his house and she felt so welcome that she stayed for three years!
Mattie’s father had a truck on hire to Galway County Council, which was driven by his brother, Mattie (Tommy and Paddy’s father), who carried timber from Carnakelly wood to Athenry.
Working in England
Mattie left Ruanes in 1955 earning £7 a week and went to work in England. He worked for the Victoria Motor Company in Bristol for two years. The company was open for twenty four hours, three hundred and sixty five days a year.
Mattie attended school in Fords in Dagenham for two days per month.
In 1965 he was earning £28 a week, £5 of this was merit money.
Merit money was paid to those who were never late, never missed a day and always produced good workmanship.
Mattie never lost the £5.
His work hours were eight am to six pm, Monday to Friday, excluding Thursday. On Thursday he worked from eight am to ten pm.
Mattie and Joy
In 1956 Joy and Mattie married in England. The people at their wedding were friends Peter and Nonie Reilly and his landlady, Mrs Thompson. The day of his marriage Mattie got the day off work but didn’t lose his £5 merit money. His eldest child, Eileen, was born in England.
English Society V Irish Society
The English foreman was a very nice man. Some workers were cold but honest. Fifty lads were employed in the company. In general, the life style was better than ours in Ireland, but was not as nice as home.
Leisure Time
After Sunday Mass Mattie walked the sea strand at Western Super Mare and also at Clifton.
Returning Home
In 1957 Mattie and Joy returned home to Athenry. He bought a prefect car for £500 and started working for Ruanes again.
Mattie and Joy with sons Lester and Frank
In 1962 Ruanes of North Gate Street went into liquidation. The Ruane sons, Tom and Jim reopened the business in 1963-1964. Mattie joined them.
In 1965-1966 they opened their new premises on the Dublin Road; it is now Laffeys garage (2019).
They inherited the Massey Ferguson dealership from their father, James.
They employed twenty five people, nineteen in the workshop, two in the spray shop and four in the office.
Massey Ferguson Tractor (early model)#
In 1974 three hundred second hand tractors were sold as well las eighteen new ones.
On behalf of the company Mattie used to go to Cambridge in England where big tractor auctions were held. He did business with one auctioneer, John Riddy and one of the deals was the purchase of
30 tractors which he got in one job lot.
#
Mattie’s First Car
This was a Triumph 14, a present from his father in 1953. It had a bucket seat and was made in Coventry, England. The car doors known as “suicide doors” opened out. The back number plate of the car was enclosed in glass.
First Car Race
This took place in 1960 in the Phoenix Park, where Mattie drove a Hillman Minx and came 12th in a handicap race.
These handicap races were judged by the committee after they were run and your time was based on the type of car you drove.
Mattie said that the handicap race was illegal under the “sport code”. The rules for this race cannot be changed until after the race.
In 1972 Mattie took part in an International Race in Mondelo Park where he came fifth, being the first Irishman home.
Phoenix Park Race
Mattie in car numbered 70
This was the most important race of the year and was only held once a year. Thirty thousand people came to watch the two mile race. Mattie won it three time
Motor Racing Characters
Robin Rhodes, known as “the wild man from the West,” was the racing commentator in Mondello. He was a great character. He never failed to mention the state of Mattie’s, car which was always perfect. Bosco McDermott, one of the owners of Mondello Racing Park, and Seamus O’Connor were also great characters. Another wonderful character was an Englishman, Gerry Marchel, who won the highest number of races, six hundred, of any man racing in England. Eamonn Cotter from Galway was another character; he owned the Connaught Mineral Company.
Other Drivers in Motor Sport who raced against Mattie
Denis Hogan from Adare, Jackie Patterson from Northern Ireland, J.O’Malley, Dublin, Alec Poole, John Deery, Fintan Newport, Con Lenihan, Steve Griffin, Des Donnolly, John Kearney, Vinnie Moy, David Hall, Maurice Mitton, Vivien Candy, Mike Hyland,(Garbally College), Dickie Barrett, Mike Ivis, Eddie Regan, John – du Moilin, Richie Healy, Don and Gloria Kissane, Tom Stafford (funeral director), Des Cullen,(owned Clontarf Castle). The words “you are been overtaken by the undertaker” were written on the side of Tom Staffords racing car!
Ford Zodiac 1968
All of these were in Mattie’s driving category. Mondello Park opened in 1968 and Mattie’s participation was in the second race.
Mattie drove a Ford Zodiac with a bench front seat assign Angela
on the back. The Zodiac had a 1900 cc engine and Mattie won the race from Alec Poole by 0.2 of a second. Someone once asked Mattie who was his greatest rival in racing, without pausing Mattie said “it was Alec Poole”.
Motor Sport in the Phoenix Park
Top speed in the Park was 155mph. Each car had special tyres with a ten inch width in front and twelve inch width at the back. They were specially designed to stick to the road and were called compound tyres. They was a special set of tyres for dry weather and another special set for wet weather. You will only get three races out of a set of tyres. Top class racing drivers today will only get eighty miles out of a set of tyres at a cost of £80 – 180 per tyre.
Mondello Park, Naas, Co.Kildare
This track was opened in 1968 with a circuit of one mile, it is two miles today (2019). The original circuit had six bends later extended to ten bends. It had a tarmac surface, plenty of bends and was not an easy track to drive on.
Before 2000 all racing cars in Europe had a manual gear change. Now a computer does all the changes automatically.
Mondello Car Racing Victories
Mattie won many races at Mondello. In 1971 he won the Irish Saloon Chain. He went on to win it on four more occasions: every year Mattie won the Walter Sexton Memorial Trophy. He bought a Lotus 11 car in Glasgow and towed it home.
The Phoenix Park
When there was motor car racing in the Park it was closed off to the public. The annual race was a classic of the year. It was the finest racing track in Europe. Trees in the Park made it dangerous for driving whereas Mondello was much safer due to the lack of vegetation.
Saloon car racing and single seater racing were the main sports held in the Park. In fine weather huge crowds were attracted to the Park to watch competitors from all over. Speeds were much higher in the Park as it had long straight stretches of road in comparison to the winding and twisting track at Mondello.
At a Saturday or Sunday race meeting in the Park you would have forty to forty five car racing competitions. Saturday races started at nine in the morning and went on until five or six in the evening.
At Mondello the racing season started on March 17th and went on until September.
Other Racing Tracks
Other racing tracks were Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow and Dunboyne, Co. Meath. The Racing Track at Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow was a small one. At Dunboyne, Co.Meath racing clubs would apply to have roads closed in order to race on them. Mondelo was built in 1968, it was the first permanent motor racing circuit in Ireland. Three motor enthusiastic got together to build the park, they were Stuart Cosgrove, Boaco McDermott and Eddie Regan. When Mondelo was built, Rathdruand Dunboyne closed.
Once, Mattie was invited to race in Barbados with all expenses paid. His car would be gone on a boat for six weeks. Mattie valued his car too much and was unwilling to let it go on “a banana boat” from South Hampton.
Hill Climb and Speed Events
Different motor clubs would hold a speed week end and would close off some place like the Corkscrew Hill in Clare (pictured) for a mile and a quarter. Mattie competed in Galway, Clare, Dungarvan, Wicklow and Donegal and won his class almost every time.
In 1971 Mattie won the Irish Modified Saloon car championship and won it again in 1972.
He was described in the Motor Magazine as “The Man to beat”.
Greatest Victory
This was the Phoenix Park race which he won three times. He also won the Leinster Motor Club Race and received a trophy for this.
Some of the Trophies Won by Mattie
Skills for Motor Racing
Motor Car racing was physically demanding and hard work. The racing Season started on 1st May and ended in September. The top speed around Mondelo was 110mpm. Mondello was a difficult racing track with many bends. When coming to a bend drivers aim the car at the corner in order to get around the bend safely.
Narrow Escapes
Mattie crashed his car in Mondelo when he lost a wheel during a race. In Ballyvaughan he hit a wall but was not injured
Team formation and Sponsorship
Larry Mooney, a motor sport competitor, got sponsorship from an American Motor Oil Company to promote their oil products in Ireland for the first time.
The Company was known as Amoco.
Mattie raced as a member of the team Mac Len racing group.
Con Lenihan and Mattie were personal friends; they were drivers for the team.
A team was formed and named Mac Len.
Larry Mooney was manager. Team Mac Len competed in all aspects of motor racing in Ireland and in some cases in England with Con Lenihan.
They also got sponsorship from the Churchmans cigarette company, all engineered by Larry Mooney.
Mattie was involved in competitive motor racing from 1960 to 1978
His Own Business
Mattie purchased the Bag Factory in Caheroyn and opened his garage there in 1982. Sean Lawless converted the premises for Mattie.
Mattie’s daughter, Margaret and son, Frank, joined him in the business. He had two employees constantly; at one stage there were six employees. The business was very successful. He had the Post Office contract, which was a big plus. Frank sold a lot of Ford RS 2000 line. Mattie said you must treat customers honestly; he said many customers became friends.
Retirement
In 2002 Mattie retired. He sold the business to Frank Parson from Tuam. McHales of Kilconley in Co. Mayo are in business there now. (2019).
———————————————————
Views on Athenry Today
Mattie loves this town. He would love to see a Community Centre for people his age to chat and have a cup of tea.
Teenagers need to have a place to meet.
Athenry needs a committee of young, middle aged and elderly people. A leader is necessary in our community. Mattie would like to see gutters put underground, so many of them are leaking. The streets are so uneven, action needs to be taken.
Views of Irish Society in General
Our government is going away from the Catholic ethos. T.Ds are paid too much. The P.M. in England earns less than our Taoiseach.
We are losing the run of ourselves: crime is out of control. If somebody does ‘good’ they should be named and those doing ‘wrong’ should also be named
.Life has been good to Mattie, family wise, health wise and social wise.
Mattie ended the interview stating:
“The home is the building block, mentally and physically. Treat people with respect and love”.
===================
Mattie and Joy
—————————————
A Tribute to Mattie from
Michael O’Carroll
———————————————————–
|
Jan 12, 2021, 9:06 PM | |||
|
||||
Greetings Michael,
I’m Gerry Ahern and I live in Barrack Street, Athenry where your friend, Mattie MacNamara lives.Im putting together a newspaper account of Mattie and of his motor racing career.
You had a weekly radio programme and wrote for the IEvening Press, but sadly that paper is not online.
I’m writing to you to know if you have any reports on Mattie that I could use or copies of your column where you mention him.
He’s a wonderful neighbour and friend, still active and is hail and hearty.
It would be great if you can assist me.
I hope to put his profile up on my website (www.athenryparishheritage.com)
Thanks Michael.
Best wishes,
Gerry.
|
Feb 15, 2021, 4:05 PM | |||
|
||||
Hi Gerry,
Yes Mattie McNamara is a great and trusted soul, a brilliant motor engineer and superb competitor – keen, competitive, with much sympathy for his engine and car, and totally fair and sporting. I have nothing I can offer you immediately, but I published a book a few weeks ago (web page www.righttimeandplace.com). There may be something in that?
Mattie’s son has copies of The Irish Motorsport Annual, which I used to publish. At 85, as you can guess,, I have slowed up a little and lack the energy to do much.
Mattie
