Memories of the famous Mayo pub they called The Academy

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see it up and running once again

by Auld Stock

EDDIE Cannon and his wife Hannah ran a public house in Shamble Square, Castlebar, which closed some years ago.

Known as The Academy, Eddie Cannon’s pub was a popular meeting place for saints, scholars, political commentators, weather forecasters, poets, philosophers and football fanatics.

There were many heated debates in Eddie’s on a wide variety of topics.

Acting as chairman, Eddie kept matters under control.

Paddy Brady, Newtown, aptly described the debates when he called them ‘good natured devilment.’

Eddie Cannon was a neat dresser, a dedicated member of Castlebar FCA, a voluntary section of the defence forces.

It is often said the apple never falls far from the tree. Eddie was a outstanding artist and his daughter Mary followed in his footsteps.

Mary held a major art exhibition in Dublin and received much praise for the quality of her paintings.

Maurice McGonagle, Royal Hibernian Academy, one of Ireland’s top artistes, described Mary Cannon’s work as ‘truly magnificent.’

Mary later went on to become one of Ireland’s leading art teachers.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see Eddie Cannon’s famous pub up and running once again.

It would be an exciting addition to Shambles Square, the icing on the lake.

We live in hope.