Lighting up Castlebar in 1916 and ‘Docky’s’ verdict

THE year 1916 is best remembered in this country for the historic Easter Rising, writes Johnny Mee.

In reality most people in rural Ireland knew very little about the Rising. There were very few telephones in those days and communications between Dublin and the rest of the country were poor.

However, there was much to celebrate in Castlebar. In 1916 electricity came to Castlebar for the first time. The man behind the project was Joseph Bourke, Ellison Street.

Joseph Bourke introduced bicycles to Castlebar and the first man to own a bike in the town was a man named Sheridan, a relative of Dr. Alfred Sheridan, resident medical superintendent in St. Mary’s Hospital, Castlebar, in later years.

One of the biggest advances in the provision of electric current in Ireland was the introduction of the rural electrification scheme in 1948, three years after the end of World War 2 when the economy in Ireland was in poor shape.

This was a wonderful achievement.

There was less redtape in those times, unlike today when our country is strangled with that particular piece of string. When Jack ‘Docky’ McGreevy, Balloor, Castlebar, had the light installed in his home he told his neighbour, Michael Heneghan, it was the most significant happening since the miracle of the loaves and fishes.

‘Docky’ owned a greyhound named Banners in the Sky. He regularly backed a few horses in Robbie Acton’s bookie shop, Castle Street, and one of his sayings was ‘I betta a hayseed.’

P.J. Clarke, typesetter and historian

P.J. CLARKE, Ballina, is fighting fit after surgery in University Hospital, Castlebar.

A noted historian, P.J. was a linotype operator (typesetter) in the Western People for many years, an expert in his profession.

P.J. worked alongside Teddy Devere, Henry Lynch, a member of Ballina Urban Council, and Michael Hughes, who was born in Gallows Hill, Castlebar. Michael, a member of the West Mayo Flying Column, played a major role in Ireland’s fight for independence. He was father of the late Nan Tighe, Gallows Hill.

P.J. Clarke, whose wife was formerly Nan Brady, Newtown, Castlebar, has written extensively on military history and those from Mayo who fought in World War 1.

He led the drive to erect an impressive monument in Ballina to honour those men.

The bould P.J. is in great shape after his recent spell in hospital and is raring to go.

Best wishes, P.J.