Mayo memories: ‘Butty’ Ketterick a publican ahead of his time

By Tom Gillespie

ONE of Castlebar’s all-time great characters was the late, petit Paddy Ketterick from Spencer Street.

In his later years, dressed in his white coat, he operated the busy petrol pumps at Josie Bourke’s garage on Ellison Street and knew all of his customers by their first names.

Prior to that he was a publican, a hackney driver and lollipop man. He spent some years in America and played a prominent part in the War of Independence.

Known affectionately as ‘Butty’, it was often claimed he was going to sue Mayo County Council for building the road so close to his backside.

When he operated his pub, opposite to where Blue Thunder is today, he was very innovative in those days long before the arrival of social media.

Publicans today could take a leaf out of Paddy’s philosophy on business and life. He was ahead of his time in compiling a flier to attract, entertain and inform his customers with some gems of wisdom.

To entice them to his family-run hostelry, a few doors above the old County Cinema, he had a special four-page brochure printed by The Connaught Telegraph, which he distributed to his customers, who would have been predominately male.

It contained some gems, that only Paddy could have invented, and read as follows:

P. Ketterick, Spencer Street, Castlebar.

Quality, quick service, cleanliness, civility.

Irish and English ales, always in splendid condition.

Wines, spirits and tobaccos.

It continued: This pass is not transferable except to another man with money.

When you swear, swear by your country.

When you steal, steal away from bad company.

When you drink, drink at KETTERICK’S, CASTLEBAR.

Call frequently, drink moderately, pay honourably, be good company, part friendly, go home quietly.

Paddy went on: I have been pleasing and displeasing the public ever since I started in business.

I have also been cussed and discressed, robbed, lied to, held up, hung up, and locked up.

The only reason I am staying in business is to see what the hell will happen next.

Life is just one damned thing after another.

Advice and poetry

Free to sit and free to think, free to pay for what you drink; free to stop an hour or so, when uneasy, free to go.

A tanner in the pocket is worth more than three on a horse.

My beer is good, my measure just,

Forgive me please, I cannot trust;

I’ve trusted many, to my sorrow,

So pay today and owe tomorrow.

And for those looking for credit: My clock ticks, but I don’t. Today I don’t cash cheques, tomorrow I may.

Then he advised:

2 pints make 1 quart

4 quarts make one gallon

1 argument makes 1 quarrel

1 quarrel makes 1 fight

1 fight makes 2 policemen

1 magistrate - 20s. or 14 days

Paddy, who was married to Molly, then wrote:

Rothschild can write a few words on paper and make it worth £1,000,000.

That’s capital.

A navvy can move tons of earth per day and earn 10 shillings.

That’s labour.

Some few tradesmen do not study their customers.

That’s a mistake.

A man can run a business for a time and not advertise.

That’s foolishness.

Solomon had six hundred wives and slept with his father.

That’s wisdom.

And he finished up:

PADDY KETTERICK will be pleased to see old and new customers and have the pleasure of supplying them with the very best of wines, spirits and beers.

That’s business.

‘Happy Days’.

This side of Spencer Street, was, back then, mainly residential. Today, nine of the two-storey homes, including Ketterick’s, have all been purchased by Micheal McDermott of McDermott of McDermott Furnishers and converted into retail outlets.

Likewise, the back lane and gardens have been included as part of the development, including an extension to the off-street car park.

One of the old dwellings had been occupied by blacksmith Uli Walsh, who had his soot-filled forge erected in the back garden.

In redeveloping Uli’s house, Micheal McDermott has retained one of the old horse shoes from the forge, which he has on display, in pride of place, high up on one of the walls.

Next door to the County Cinema, on the Mall side, was Mitchell’s pub (now The Connaught Inn).

It was a great watering hole for residents of MacHale Road and off the main bar was a snug where ladies would be expected to retire with a small sherry or a glass of stout.

In the back yard, through the archway, the outbuildings became a hive of activity with the preparation and plucking of turkeys for Christmas.

Young boys and girls from the street earned a tide few bob and became expert pluckers.

Further down the street was Kelly’s Bar (now Tolster’s). The proprietor was the affable Jim ‘Yank’ Kelly.

As in Mitchell’s, Jim had a ‘lounge’ off the main bar where mothers and children would repose while their male partners were being entertained by Jim at the bar.

The ‘lounge’s’ ceiling was unique in that it has been wallpapered, obviously having been imported from America, with a nightlife scene of millions of tiny white stars.

Around the corner on the Mall sat the imposing Courthouse.

The building, which was designed by George Papworth in the Neo-Classical style, was completed in 1822.

It was rebuilt to a design by George Wilkinson in 1860. It was originally used as a facility for dispensing justice but, following the implementation of the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, which established county councils in every county, it also became the meeting place for Mayo County Council.

The authority moved to Aras an Chontae in 1989. By then the courthouse had fallen into a state of disrepair and, after an extensive programme of refurbishment works, it was reopened in 2004 and is now the main centre for court sittings for most of the county.