Mayo memories: Main Street reunion of 21 years ago
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Pictured at the Main Street reunion in 2003 were, from left: Donal McEllin, Maura Connolly and Stan Hynes.Image 2 of 5
Pictured at the Main Street reunion were, from left: Kathleen McHale, Breege Ruane, Rita Quinn and Deirdre Quinn.Image 3 of 5
From left: Marilynn Scott, Andrea Scott, Mark Taheny, Cathy Scott, William Scott and Breeda Flannelly.Image 4 of 5
Pictured at the Main Street reunion were, from left: Margo Byrne, Mick Byrne, Marie Byrne and Carol Byrne.Image 5 of 5
From left: Monica Murtagh. Joe Murtagh. Jimmy Rowland, Ann Rowland. Ita Wynne and Richie Wynne.Photo: Ken WrightBy Tom Gillespie
CASTLEBAR’S Main Street was once a thriving location, with a multitude of businesses and residents.
The shop owners operated out of their ground floor buildings, while their families resided overhead.
Today there is just one family (Mick Byrne) and three others (Pat Quinn, John Carty and Tony Baynes) actually living on the street.
In an interview I did with Fergus Kilkelly some years ago he recalled that in the 1950s there were 195 residents living on the street, while employed on the street were 160 full-time people in 49 retail outlets, not counting the owners of the business.
The county town's Main Street is in fact two streets in one - Market Street and Bridge Street.
According to the Draft Register of Electors which was in force from April 15, 1984, to April 14, 1985, the following were listed as having a right to vote in elections.
In Market Street there were 57 names listed, which excluded those under the age of 18. They were: Thomas Baynes, Mrs. Annie M. Baynes, Agustus Bourke, John Bourke, Mary Bourke, Margaret Bourke, Mrs. Nora Bourke, Anne Bourke, Mary Cafferkey, Jarlath Campbell, Mrs. Nora Campbell, Vincent Campbell, Maureen Campbell, Paul Carty, Mrs. Maisie Carty, Gerry Carty, Paul Carty (Jnr), John Carty, Nancy Dyar, Patrick Fahey, Mrs. Annie Fahey, Sandra Heverin, Michael Heverin, Rhona Heverin, Robert Kilkelly, Carmel Langan, Anne McEllin, Donal McEllin, Pauline McGing, Eileen Moran, Kathleen Murtagh, Michael Murtagh, Seamus Murtagh Monica Murtagh, John Murtagh, Sally O’Connell, Kathleen O’Donnell, Mrs. Elizabeth Parsons, Elizabeth Parson (Jnr), Mary Parsons, Patrick Quinn, Rita Quinn, Deirdre Quinn, Patrick Quinn (Jnr), James Rowland, Ann Rowland, Margaret Rowland, Jimmy Staunton, Pat Staunton, Ita Staunton, John Staunton (Jnr), Thomas Staunton, Ita Staunton (Jnr), Pauline Staunton, Joan Staunton, Martin Sweeney and Mary Sweeney.
There were 53 listed residents on the register for Market Street. They were: Anthony Baynes, Mrs. Margaret Baynes, Frank Baynes, Anthony G. Baynes, Shelia Baynes, Michael Baynes, Carmine Cafolla, Isobel Cafolla, Nora Casey, Joseph Connolly, Patrick Connolly, William Connolly, Mrs. Mary Connolly, John Connolly, Maura Connolly, Bernice Mary Connolly, Pat Hoban, Gretta Hoban, James Hoban, Alan Hoban, Loretta Hoban, Martin Hoban, Bernadette Hopkins, Martin Hopkins, Anne Hynes, Patrick Hynes, Martin Nyland, Mrs. Peggy Hynes, Marie Jennings, Annie Kenny, Clare Kenny, Noel Kenny, Mollie Lavelle, Frank McDonnell, Elizabeth McDonnell, Frank McDonnell, Mrs. Frank McDonnell, Maisie McHugh, Michael McHugh, Mary McHugh, Noreen McMahon, Mark Mandel, Derek Mandel, Mrs. Margaret Mandel, Nora Mandel, Rory O’Connor, Kathleen O’Donnell, Shelia O’Donnell, Michael Ruane, Breege Ruane, William Scott and Andra Scott.
Twenty-one years ago, in June 2003, the residents of Main Street held a reunion in the Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar, where photographer Ken Wright took the pictures above.