Looking back: Chamber of Commerce in Mayo county town founded in 1959

By Tom Gillespie

IN 1959 there was a magnificent response from the traders of Castlebar to the call to establish a Chamber of Commerce in the town, and the area elected its first trade chamber following a highly representative meeting in the parish centre on February 6.

The meeting was opened by Very Rev. William Nohily, Adm., who praised the efforts of those who had organised for the establishment of such a body in a town like Castlebar.

The acting chairman, Mr. Paddy Irwin, first read draft rules to the meeting and outlined the aims of the association - to promote trade and further the interests of businesses in the town.

The meeting proceeded to elect officers, and for the post of president the acting chairman proposed Mr. Brian Van Zwanenberg, chairman and managing director of Castlebar Bacon Company.

This was seconded by Mr. R. McGuinness and was unanimously passed.

Mr. Donal Warde (acting secretary) said Mr. Van Zwanenberg had asked him to represent him at the meeting as he had been called away on business.

The welfare of the people of Castlebar had always been of great importance to Mr. Van Zwanenberg who, together with other people, had played a part in the efforts to form a Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Warde said: “For my own part knowing the man, I can say when he applies his energy to something it generally results in success.”

Mr. Warde, continuing, referred the attendance to what he said was a splendid leading article which had appeared in The Connaught Telegraph and was very much to the point. In it the editor drew attention to the necessity of electing people to the committee who would be capable of discharging their duties adequately.

In selecting Mr. Van Zwanenberg as president, he felt the Chamber of commerce was destined for success and on his behalf he thanked the meeting for the outstanding tribute they had paid to a man in recognition of the services he had done for the town during the past 12 years.

The following were elected members of the committee: Messers Donal Warde, Paddy Irwin, J. Bourke, D.P. O’Dwyer, Paddy Hoban, Michael Heverin, Thomas Durcan, Danny McEllin, Robert Kilkelly, Tom McHugh, P. Flannelly and Seamus Chambers.

Mr. D.Q. Dudley, Co. Accountant, asked if they could extend the number of the committee to more than 12, to include members of the banking and legal professions, as the Chamber of Commerce would be well guided by the experience of such gentlemen.

The acting chairman, Mr. Irwin, said the banking profession was included in the rules as being eligible for membership but the legal profession was not.

Mr. Dudley: They are not specifically excluded.

Mr. Irwin: In the Dublin Chamber of Commerce the legal profession is not represented.

Mr. Dudley: Are we governed by the rules of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce?

Mr. Warde: We are guided by them.

Mr. Jack F. Cahill, solicitor, said he did not wish to labour the point but the information regarding the Dublin Chamber of Commerce was incorrect as he knew one solicitor who had been a member of it.

The meeting decided to leave representatives of both banking and legal professions on the committee.

Mr. Michael J. Egan, solicitor, was added to the list of members along with one representative to be selected by the three banks.

It was decided to affiliate with the association of Chambers of Commerce of Ireland.

On the proposal of Mr. Cahill, seconded by Mr. W.J. Staunton, it was decided to hold a general meeting of the members every three months.

The first resolutions passed at the meeting were - proposed by Mr. M. Moran - that an effort be made to get a bus service from Achill to Castlebar via Newport, and on the proposal of Mr. T. F. Durcan to get a bus service from Swinford to Castlebar.

Mr. Stephen Garavan said they should make representations to the town council to improve the Fairgreen.

Mr. D. McEllin congratulated the people responsible for calling the meeting and said if the Chamber of Commerce could achieve its aims it would bring great prosperity to the town and would go a long way towards checking the cancerous growth of emigration.

There was not much unemployment in the town because Castlebar people were hard working and didn’t like to be idle and when there was no work in the town they emigrated rather than be idlers.

Mr. Irwin thanked everyone for their attendance and thanked Fr. Nohilly for opening the meeting.

Mr. Garavan paid tribute to Fr. Nohilly and the people of the parish for the magnificent parish centre they had made available for the meeting.

At a committee meeting the other officers were elected: vice-president, Mr. T.F. Durcan, secretary, Mr. D. Warde, and treasurer, Mr. P. Irwin.

Now 64 years years on we can look back at the other gentlemen and only lady who held the position of president of the Castlebar Chamber, as recorded on the president’s chain of office which was presented by the Jennings family in memory of the late Paddy Jennings of the Travellers Friend Hotel:

Mr. Zwanenberg (1959-1962), Michael Heverin (1964), Michael Joe Egan (1965-69), Robert Kilkelly (1970-71), Joe McCormack (1972-73), Sean Horkan (1973-74), Michael McDermott (1975-76), Douglas Scott (1977-78), James Kavanagh (1978-79), Hugh Cawley (1979-80), James Kavanagh (1982-83), Hugh Cawley (1983-85), James Kavanagh (1985-86), Fergus Kilkelly (1986-91), Sean Taylor (1992-94): P.J. Hennelly (1994-96), Frank Green (1996-97), Pat Jenning (1997-99), Regina McGarrigle (1999-2001), Oliver Kelleher (2001-2003), and Pat Murray (2001-2005).

Since then Sylvester Jennings, Wilson Bird, John Mulroy and Bernard Hughes have held the prestigious office.

In the history of the Chamber so far just one father and son - Robert and Fergus Kilkelly - have held the post of president.