Price of a pint in Mayo now more than a week's wages in 1940s and 50s

by Auld Stock

THE only business I recall in Castlebar with a double barrel name over its door was that of Fallon-Jennings.

A successful pub was run in the premises until it closed in the late 1940s.

Fallon is one of the oldest family surnames in Castlebar. I have a feeling the Jennings part of Fallon-Jennings originated in the Hollyhill area of Castlebar.

The pub was close to where Annie Leamy, her son P.W. and daughter Eileen lived.

P.W. was a prominent journalist and worked in The Connaught Telegraph and a number of other weekly newspapers. He also led a dance band.

I have happy memories of working alongside P.W. Leamy in The Connaught Telegraph and learned a great deal from him.

He was a close friend of Henry Kenny and worked hard for Henry the first time he was elected to Dáil Éireann.

There were a large number of pubs on Main Street in those days when porter cost ten pence a pint.

The price of the pint nowdays is more than a week’s wages in the 1940s and 1950s.

Poor ould Arthur Guinness must be turning in his grave.