Stories from an old Mayo community called Shruffaun

by Auld Stock

NEW Antrim Street, Castlebar, is part of an area known as Srutháin, nowadays spelt Shruffaun, the Irish word for stream.

In former years it was a bastion for Gaelic footballers with names such as McGough, Cresham, Deffely, Quinn, McGowan, Burke and many more.

Shruffaun was a lively spot in the 1930s. With few cars on the road at the time, it was possible to play football on the streets.

Quite a few people from Shruffaun worked in the bacon factory.

With some houses in the area becoming dilapidated, a number of residents moved to McHale Road to join families from other parts of the town.

Auld Stock’s family moved from Spencer Street to McHale Road. We previously lived in a condemned house where Gabriel Downes’ garage is now located.

A strong bond of friendship developed between the various families on McHale Road, young couples starting out in life. There were large families in those days.

I came from a family of twelve; there were other parents on the road with fourteen and fifteen children.

Cash was scarce in those days but families managed to survive with little money at their disposal.

All the original tenants on McHale Road have gone to God, decent people who reared large families in difficult times

They left a legacy which is cherished by their families.

Back to New Antrim Street. One of the best known personalities on the street in the 1940s and early 1950s was Tom Connolly, a fishmonger, who trod the streets of Castlebar selling herrings and mackerel, ‘fresh as the mountain dew,’ he told his clients.

Another popular resident of New Antrim Street was Tommy Lawless, a baker by profession, a decent man. Tommy was father of Sadie Lawless who gave dedicated service to the nursing profession, always nice to meet with her winning smile.

Paddy Quinn, a member of Mayo’s 1936 All-Ireland winning team, lived on New Antrim Street, surely one the county’s genuine football legends.

My old friend, Josie Livingstone, lived on New Antrim. Josie, a painter by profession, was a genuine craftsman.

He married my neighbour, Mary Foy, McHale Road, a colleague of mine in The Connaught Telegraph and an expert at bookkeeping.

Another workmate of mine in the Telegraph in those years was Stephen McHale, another first class bookkeeper and a lovely gentleman who was related to the Egan and Feeney families, Castlebar.

The Welcome Inn Hotel, New Antrim Street, was established by the late Tom McHugh, building contractor, and managed for a number of years by his son, the late Tony McHugh. The hotel is now known as the Ivory Tower and is managed by Tony’s wife, Mary.

John Conway had a tailoring business in New Antrim Street some years ago. His son Tony, a tailor by profession, is an outstanding guitarist.

William Fahy had a forge in Newantrim Street, assisted by his son Denny. Norrie Fitzgerald had a pub on New Antrim Street some years ago. She was a grandaunt of the late Mary Hamrock.

I wonder do many Castlebar people remember Annie Stewart’s thatched house on New Antrim Street.

It was the last thatched house in Castlebar and Annie always had it beautifully decorated for the annual Corpus Christi procession. Annie was grandmother of Bridie Maloney who had a sweet voice.

Many new businesses have been established on New Antrim Street in recent years.

Tragedy struck New Antrim Street some years ago when two brothers, Jackie and Tom Blaine, were murdered. There were two good natured men, pure as the driven snow.

A seat outside Rocky Moran’s pub commemorates the two brothers. Local people kept an eye out for the brothers in a genuinely Christian fashion.

There were many other prominent personalities living in New Antrim Street in times past, too numerous mention in this column.

In the early 1900s a building, known as the ‘Shelbourne Hotel,’ was located on New Antrim Street where many knights of the road congregated.

The street is named after people from County Antrim who came to Castlebar in the late 17th century to grow flax and produce linen.