Remembering iconic Mayo public house, the Humbert Inn

By Tom Gillespie

This weekend marks the 15th anniversary of the closure of one of Castlebar’s most iconic public houses, the Humbert Inn on Main Street.

I am indebted to Karen Conway for her research into the historic building and I am old enough to have frequented the premises under its last three owners.

My first encounter with the pub was when proprietor, Tom Coucil, and his wife Mai (née Moran, a sister of Government Minister Micheál Ó Morain) ran what could only be described as a menagerie.

Tom had trained ravens and a cuckoo and they took pride of place in the bar where their squeaking intermingled with the banter of customers. A sign on the wall that read: ‘The pub is the poor man’s university’.

When Tom Coucil and his Honda motorbike retired to Ross, the premises was taken over by Liam Moran, a nephew of Mai.

I recall when we celebrated colleague John Melvin's 21st birthday there - many moons ago - it was a night to remember.

A large oil painting of The Races of Castlebar, painted by Tom Coucil, hung over the fireplace and added greatly to the atmosphere in the bar.

The Humbert Inn excelled in its hospitality to the public for over 200 years.

Its name was derived from the French General Jean Humbert and his second in command General Sarrazin who located their headquarters within the building during the United Irishmen rebellion of 1798.

For a period Liam Moran ran a restaurant upstairs named Sarrazin’s.

Liam, too, served complimentary food on a Friday evening - one of the first to do so in the town - and was even adventurous enough to add mussels to the regular sausages.

Originally, until 1912 due to rates purposes, the premises also consisted of Paddy Fahey’s shop and over the years has been used as a hotel, restaurant and public house.

In 1798 the site of Paddy Fahey’s and the Humbert Inn, was one premises, known as Geevy’s Hotel. A banquet was held there after the 1798 Rising and it was in the Humbert Inn that John Moore, whose remains are buried on Castlebar’s Mall, was declared the first President of Connaught.

The public bar was unique in appearance with its interior rough cut stone walls, arches, Liscannor stone floor and a façade that had changed little over 50 years.

From 1994 John Connaughton ran the business until it closed on Sunday, September 3, 2006.

Music has always been associated with the Humbert Inn. It was where the group, General Humbert, launched in 1972.

General Humbert consisting of Steve Dunford (bodhra and, bones), John Donegan (mandolin and harmonium), Ruairi Somers (uileann pipes, tin whistles and bagpipes), Shay Kavanagh (guitar and bouzouki) and Mary Black (vocals and bodhran).

Mary Black’s brother Mick was working with the then P&T in Castlebar, and he, along with his brother Shay, formed a group of Humbert musicians including John Hoban and Frank O’Reilly.Mick said he 'had a sister that could sing a bit and would they be interested if she sang with them?'

Mary Black had received her first taste of success with General Humbert in the ‘70s and recorded her first album in 1982.

Mary started singing in Castlebar with traditional group La Salle which included John Dunford, John Donegan, Mary Heverin and Fintan Murphy, in The Humbert a good 10 years before her international success.

La Salle came to fame in 1971 when they won the Castlebar International Song Contest with a song written by former RTÉ newsreader Michael Murphy, and brother of Fintan.

The song ‘Feeling I’ve Got It Made’ initially won the ‘pop’ section and later in the week was deemed the overall winner of the contest that year.

The Humbert Inn had been long associated with encouraging local musicians and providing the public with a steady stream of talent.

Everything from traditional sessions to industrial rock had been catered for, everything from one guitar, six-piece bands to many DJs had enthralled weekly audiences.

The Humbert Inn played host to many local bands including Catherine Maguire, Ellie’s Wrath, Electric Messiah, Hurricane Blue, Impure Thoughts, Nemesis, No Hot Ashes, Livid, Palatic, The Phase, Purge, Seven, Uncle Fuzz with Mick Sheridan and Ward 9.

The Humbert can also boast its very own VIP list among its regulars with two crowned Roses of Tralee - Mindy O’Sullivan and Aoibhinn Ni Shulleabhain - along with Fair City actress Vicky Burke.

Sadly, when John and Helena Connaughton took over The Humbert in 1994, no one could have foreseen that Helena would pass away in October 2004.

John and Helena build up a massive trade in the Humbert and they were renowned for the high standard of food they served daily.

The Humbert Inn was also a venue during the Festival of the Senses, as well as numerous Snugboro and Breaffy lotto nights.

The Humbert raised thousands of euro to aid cancer research through the fundraising of Helena.

It was also a home-from-home for many Galway GAA supporters travelling to Castlebar, who received a warm welcome due to John Connaughton’s roots in Williamstown, and both the Mayo and Galway flags were flown outside the pub on those occasions.

The Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, Valentines Day and Halloween decorations were legendary.

The premises was purchased by local developer, Tony Gaughan, and was converted into retail outlets and apartments.

The Humbert changed very little over the years and was an iconic building for several generations of customers.

It is sadly missed by those who frequented it.