Paddy Jennings’ memories of Linenhall Street

By Tom Gillespie

IN the 1992 Castlebar Parish Magazine, local historian, the late Paddy Jennings, a native of Parke, wrote an article under the heading ‘Peadar Earley’s house and Fahey’s forge’.

Paddy had a shoe shop, Wellware, where Kevin Berine has his auctioneering business on the corner of Newantrim Street and Tucker Street.

Referring to the building, he said it was where Peadar Earley, father of Roscommon football stars Dermot and Paul Earley, stayed while attending school in Castlebar.

The adjoining house, where the Blaine brothers lived, was where Fr. Benny McHale was born.

Traditional visiting houses in the area were McNiffs and Nearys. Mrs. Neary was a devoted member of the Legion of Mary and always had a good word for everybody.

On the opposite side of the street was the last thatched house in the town which was still there up to the 1960s. It was occupied by Annie Stewart who always had it beautifully decorated for the Corpus Christi procession. Annie was grandmother of Bridie Maloney, a popular local lady.

Many changes have taken place in this area of the town. Gone are friendly grocery shops owned by the Lawless and Hayes families, Norrie’s pub, run by May and Baby Hoban, John and Tony Conway’s tailor shop, and Denny Fahey’s forge. Johnny Rooney worked with the Fahey family for many years and the forge, with its half-door, was a great social centre.

New shops, new houses, better streets and footpaths are a welcome feature of this revitalised area.

Changes in Linenhall Street include the closure of Thomas McDonnell’s pub and large yard, which now embrace a pedestrian walk to the SuperValu supermarket.

On the opposite side of the street, at Tom Dempsey’s butcher shop, is a bridge and walk which links with Market Square.

There are new footpaths and new business premises on Linenhall Street. They include McDonnell’s new public house, formerly ‘Bucko’ Sheridan’s. Phil Hoban’s cycle shop was a familiar landmark for many years, and there were Healy’s and Lally’s pub where I played darts with Joe Lally.

Gone also are Cis Hoban’s little sweet shop and O’Connor’s pub, grocery and drapery shops. And Frank McNamara’s pub has also disappeared. Frank filled many a good pint in his day.

Big changes have also taken place in Tucker Street. New businesses have sprung up and older premises closed. Mike ‘Chinee’ Carney would never recognise the place. God rest him.

Newantrim Street produced some great footballers including Tom Burke, Paddy Quinn and Jim McGowan, members of the Mayo 1936 team that brought Sam to the county for the first time.

And, of course, the Creshams and the McGoughs also came from this area. They were great footballers and played Gaelic for Mayo and soccer for Castlebar Celtic with great distinction.

And then there was Dan O’Neill who won an All-Ireland medal with Louth in 1957 and five senior county medals with Castlebar Mitchels.

Another man who lived in this area for many years was Longford-born Mick Corkery, who starred with the Mayo senior team on many occasions and also played soccer with Castlebar Celtic and Longford Town - a gentle giant.

John Joe McGowan played with Mayo and Castlebar Mitchels and also won a Sigerson Cup medal with University College Galway.

Tommy Devereaux had a long and distinguished association with Castlebar Mitchels and was deeply involved with the development of MacHale Park in the early days.

Rush Street and Charles Street have also seen big changes.

Popular publican Ned Cunningham retired from business some years ago. Ned, a fine footballer in his younger days, was foreman in the Bacon Factory for many years and always took a great interest in local affairs.

The Brown Cow, at the junction of Charles Street and Thomas Street, has been purchased by Joe Skeffington and is being completely refurbished.

Tommy Cullen’s and Miss Foy’s have long since disappeared, to be replaced by modern premises.

The demolition of the Garden Shop and Exclusive Fabrics, at the junction of Main Street and Lucan Street, has brought further changes to this area.

All the changes have improved the areas concerned and have given them a brighter outlook. Older folk may regret the changes, but in this world nothing stands still.

Time changes everything. Such is the order of things.

Footnote: Paddy Jennings was a regular contributor to The Connaught Telegraph and he wrote several history books, in particular one on Turlough.

A shoemaker by profession, Paddy passed away in December 1996. He was also a noted songwriter and poet. He was a founder member of Parke GAA Club and was made president of the club.

For many years he was secretary of Castlebar Agricultural Show Committee.