Pub spins a historical web of intrigue
DURING the 1975 West Mayo by-election, which saw Enda Kenny elected to the Dáil for the first time, the Cobweb Bar - Gréasán An Damhain Alla - on Linenhall Street, Castlebar, was a magnet for both local and national media covering the event, writes Tom Gillespie.
One of the many political visitors to the premises, run by Seanie and Betty O’Kelly was the then infamous Minister for Finance, Richie Ryan. Two years earlier, Fine Gael had come to power in a coalition with the Labour Party, and Ryan became Minister for Finance.
He presided over a tough four years in the National Coalition under Liam Cosgrave, during the 1970s oil crisis, when, in common with most western economies, Ireland faced a significant recession.
He was variously lampooned as ‘Richie Ruin’ on the RTÉ satire show Hall’s Pictorial Weekly, and as ‘Red Richie’ for his government’s introduction of a wealth tax.
Following the 1977 general election, Fine Gael were out of power, and Ryan once again became spokesperson on foreign affairs.
But during the by-election, the Cobweb, formally McGowan’s, was a hive of activity. Seanie O’Kelly was a tradesman with the Western Health Board and opened around six o’clock each evening - except on Sunday, when he remained closed as he only possessed a six-day licence.
The bar itself consisted of a small counter to the left as you came in the door. The premises boasted a huge fireplace and there were log stools around it.
Initially the bar was an all-male preserve but when their wives and girlfriends ventured in, Seanie had to provide a loo for them while the boys still did their business against a wall out the back.
As I said earlier, the Cobweb was a great haunt for the Fourth Estate, which in turn attracted the canvassing politicians.
Often in attendance were Mick Finlan of the Irish Tines, Congo Smith, Irish Independent, Cormac McConnell, Irish Press, Sean Rice, Connacht Tribune, Christy Loftus, Western People, Geraldine Collins, Mayo News, and Tom Rowley, John Melvin and myself from The Connaught Telegraph.
I happened to be there the evening Richie Ryan came in with an entourage. I was with my uncle, blacksmith Denny Fahy, and we, along with the other handful of customers, enjoyed the hospitality of Minister Ryan.
However, before he departed he asked Seanie where was the gents. Out of embarrassment Sean led him to the ‘ladies’, just off the ‘lounge’.
After he left the premises Sean vanished into the loo and returned with a baby Power’s bottle of liquid, which he claimed was Richie Ryan’s 'pee'. He placed it on a shelf behind the bar with the proud boast that he had succeeded in taking the pee out of Richie Ryan.
Ryan was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD for Dublin South–West in a 1959 by-election and retained his seat until he retired at the February 1982 general election to concentrate on his European Parliament seat.
In opposition, Ryan served as Fine Gael spokesperson on health and social welfare (1966 to 1970) and on foreign affairs and Northern Ireland (1970 to 1973).
During this period he was involved in a number of important pro bono legal cases, including the 1963 challenge in the High Court, and then, on appeal, in the Supreme Court in 1964, by Gladys Ryan (no relation) on the constitutionality of the fluoridation of the water supply.
But getting back to the Cobweb, during the by-election politicians of all parties visited the pub. Among them was independent Basil Morahan from Louisburgh, who was campaigning for, among other things, the abolition of the television licence.
During his visit he was challenged by Denny Fahy to outline his policies and Basil stood up on one of the log stools and willingly obliged.
The Fianna Fáil candidate in the by-election was Michael Joe McGreal from Balla, his director of elections Gerry Collins, and his team, with their headquarters in the Welcome Inn Hotel, also frequented the Cobweb.
Ironically, McGreal was unable to vote for himself as he resided in the then East Mayo constituency.
Enda Kenny was elected on the first count having received 15,584, or 52.8% of the first preference votes, with the quota being 14,757. McGreal polled 12,448 - 42.2% - with Basil Morahan receiving 1,481 or 5% of number ones.
The West Mayo electorate in 1975 was 38,249. The valid poll was 29,513 and the turnout was 77.2%.
Seanie and Betty Kelly later extended the bar to include a lounge and ‘proper’ toilets and it proved to be one of the most popular pubs in the county town.
Card games were all the go then and penny poker was the game of the day. But if you raised the pot by any more than a penny you got the wrath of the house and were quickly told of the strict house rules.
One Christmas, Sean and Betty organised a party for customers and we were all bussed to Healy’s Hotel in Pontoon, where Tom Healy and his staff guaranteed us a great night.
There were many loyal customers in the Cobweb, including Pat Flanagan, Michael Mullen, Biney Gannon, Derek and Margaret Mandel, Willie and Mary Heneghan, Pat Tuohy and Dick and Patsy Gillespie.
One entrepreneurial customer introduced the password ‘Belgium’, which you would you add when ordering a round of drinks - meaning ‘Seanie I’ll fix up with you on pay day’.
Thankfully, I did not have to avail of this ploy on too many occasions. But when I did it certainly got me out of an embarrassing impasse which could have been seriously compounded if I skipped my round.
Conversation was the order of the day. There were no distractions like a TV or mobile phones, so you had to talk to the person beside you.
It was a much more civilised way of life, a return to which would be most welcome.
I am hoping there is a publican out there brave enough to introduce a ban on the use of mobile devices on his/her premises. What a perfect world it would create.
After Seanie O’Kelly retired the premises was taken over by Joe Hopkins who, with barman supreme Joe Minogue, had a very loyal Cobweb clientele.
Mr. Hopkins passed away in May 2013 and the premises is now run by the Cresham family. It remains one of the most popular watering holes in Castlebar.