Day Castlebar hat factory staff left for training in Belgium

By Tom Gillespie

PART ONE

EIGHTY-four years ago this month - June 1939 - a group of 21 workers employed at Castlebar Hat Factory embarked on a trip to Belgium to learn the craft of hat making. In a special article in The Connaught Telegraph, they wrote: In the midst of all the excitement that prevailed at Castlebar station some parents were in the train having a last word with their loved ones, to find that they were jammed in the crowd and could only get out again with the greatest difficulty.

After an amount of rush and bustle all was well, and the train started amidst the cheers of those assembled on the platform.

Some of the travellers were boisterously happy and others crying, but the atmosphere was brightened up when one of the party remarked: “Sure we will be back again in a few months with a good technical training and a job in the new factory awaiting us.”

And so we reach Manulla, where some of the friends who travelled from Castlebar got off, and again there were handshakings and cheers from the crowd awaiting there.

At Balla and Claremorris more people collected to see the lucky ones and wish them Godspeed.

Everyone then began to settle down, and chocolate and fruit were divided up, and hopes, wishes and stories exchanged until we reached Athlone.

It was then getting on to six o’clock, and tea and scones were partaken of in the dining saloon. As someone said, it was the first restful cup of tea they had that day as they were too excited to think of eating before that.

In due course Dublin was reached and later we arrived at the boat and were met by the factory manager, Mr. Schmolka, and Mr. Witzum, who had all the tickets and passports in order. On the boat we were met with an avalanche of reporters and photographers and rushed onto deck to pose.

Then the captain of the boat came along and congratulated my county on the fine physique and bearing of the boys and girls and offered any of the bunks of cabins necessary for our comfort.

As the boat pulled out we all went on deck. The night was glorious, and it was the thrill of a lifetime for many of the party as it was their first experience of being on a steamer, and looking back, they were seeing Ireland from the outside for the first time - Dalkey Head rising up from the sea; the beautiful Killiney Hill; the long stretching strand to Dun Laoghaire, with the continuous string of electric lights shining out a warm welcome to all. They began to realise the charm and magnificence of their native land.

And so we arrived at Holyhead, with everyone proud of being a good sailor. We collected our baggage and counted the group several times to make sure nobody was missing.

We proceeded to the customs sheds, and this was an unexpected hold-up.

Excitement started once more - looking for keys, and having found the keys, the locks were not working as luck would have it! But we were eventually ushered through with the greatest courtesy.

When we found ourselves on the platform the trouble was to find the sleeping cars. You see, sleeping cabins were booked for all as the train would not get into London until seven o’clock in the morning.

Having found the sleeping cars our minds were set at rest, as most of the cabins were marked in large print: ‘Senator and Mrs. McEllin’s Party’. There was a scramble to get as a souvenir the notice pasted on the window.

One of the girls remarked that it would yet be an historic document, as the first step taken in the new factory for Castlebar. I thought the idea charming and far-seeing and was amused to hear what all the noise was about.

Next morning, on London’s platform at seven o’clock, we met, to find the place completely deserted. It was a side platform where our sleeping car was shunted to allow us rest as long as possible.

It appears that the train had arrived at 5.30. We then proceeded to the end of the long platform, and there was a bus waiting to take us across London to Victoria Station, a good half-hour’s run.

On the journey across the city we had an opportunity of inspecting many stately buildings.

We came to a red light shining out in capital letters ‘Stop’, and the bus pulled up with a jerk. I heard a whisper behind: “Have we made a mistake in the road?” No, it was just the traffic signal - not yet seen very much in Ireland. Suddenly we saw an orange light, then green with the large word ‘Go’, and the rush started.

We wound our way through the palatial West End, and on our way we saw the National Library and a new university building; Trafalgar Square, with its huge monument and thousands of pigeons, some eating food out of people’s hands.

On to Whitehall, the seat of government. Then we see Big Ben, familiar to wireless listeners; and then the House of Commons, which is colossal. Its architecture is wonderful, no doubt, and it occurred to many of us that Cromwell’s pillage in many parts of the world made the magnificent structure for their Parliament an easy matter for Britons. Having seen Westminster Abbey, we then reached Victoria Station.

We made for a restaurant, had a good wash-up, and then sat down to rashers, eggs and tea. After the sea air and the dash across England by night, we enjoyed our breakfast very much, and felt very refreshed. The magnificent Catholic church, Westminster Cathedral, was only a few minutes from Victoria Station, and, as we had a half-hour to spare, we went over to visit it. To give some ideas of its size, I may state that Castlebar Church would fit into it at least four times.