NEWPORT TOWN sixty years ago

Compiled by Gerard Bracken

SIXTY years ago the Main Street of Newport presented a thriving business scene, with Carey's shop, one of the largest of such premises in rural West of Ireland, providing the focal point.

Newport House, was then known as Newport House, the private residence of a landed gentry family of O'Donnells, where an "Upstairs, Downstairs" tradition existed. The last link with the family was Thomas O'Donnell, who died around that time, and who enjoyed more popularity with the locals than did some of his predecessors. The annex to the hotel was then a Gate Lodge, operated by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Moore, whose daughter, Mrs. Margaret Ryan, now lives at Knocknabola, Kilmeena.

First house on Main Street was that of Bracken's Sweet and Fruit Shop (now owned by Walsh's Bridge Inn Bar) where the first ice cream in the town was sold in the late 1920s. In the adjoining laneway Harry Hoban rented a premises from Brackens for his blacksmith trade. Next door the licensed premises now known as The Bridge Inn was just purchased by Willie O'Malley from a Lyons family. The premises now known as The Blue Thunder Take-Away was Keenan's Drapery 60 years ago, when the family moved to Galway that year and garage proprietor and building contractor, Michael Kelly purchased the premises around that time.

Next door was Careys, which was demolished and reconstructed by Mayo County Council into shops and flats. But, sixty years ago. this massive premises consisted of a drapery, hardware, grocery, bakery, and select bar which had the facility of one of the few full-time barmen in the county at the time. Owned by Patrick Walsh, Carey's had a full-time staff of twelve, as well as a number of part-time employees. Carey's were also a builders' providers, and timber was cut at their water-powered Mill on the Castlebar Road, operated by John Maguire. who lived nearby. Coal was imported by Careys into Newport harbour and stored at their coal stores at The Quay and at George's Street store recently refurbished by Newport Development Company. In 1936 the stores at the rear of the Main Street shop were destroyed by fire and have since been converted into industrial units by the Development Company.

The premises next door to Carey's was a pub owned by a Dominick Gavin, and is now known as Brannen's Lounge. Sixty years ago the adjoining premises of McNulty's was operated only as a bakery before becoming a pub and grocery, and was managed by Christy McNulty until he died a few years ago and is now run by his wife Sarah. The premises next to McNulty's was owned by a Nora Callaghan and has since been purchased by John Chambers of Brannen's.

The next door Mace Supermarket operated by the Chambers family was then owned by-Carey's and was rented to the then Munster and Leinster Bank for a branch office. The second and third floors were used as the local Garda Station. Later the building became Jack Corbett's chemist shop and family residence. Next door was a drapery owned by a Mrs. O'Donnell, whose husband Pat was a well-known historian and at the time a member of Mayo County Council. The premises is now known as Keane's Meats.

Sixty years ago the premises known as John F's Tavern was a pub and hardware shop owned by John Francis Chambers, an uncle of Councillor Frank Chambers. Next door Chambers' operated a Newsagents shop and following the death of Frank Chambers, the proprietor, the members of the family expanded the premises into a newsagents, grocery and confectionery establishment, now operated by Jim and Mary Alice Reilly. The next door premises, now Nevin's Lounge Bar, was known sixty years ago as Devine's Hotel, the only such premises in the town, and was also a well-known bar. On the other side of the laneway was O'Boyle's licensed premises, owned then by Lizzie O'Boyle, and managed by a Paddy Keane, who also operated a Bookmaking business. The premises is now owned by the Kelly victualling family.

And it was in that year that Dominick Kelly opened that victualling business, which has been continued by members of his family and was recently expanded. Part of the lower road at Oak Park was the home of a Stokes family.

The first house in the nearby New Bridge Street, now owned by Nancy Mulhern, was then owned by Mrs. Ethel Davitt and family. The next door premises, later owned by Mrs. Coggins, was the home of Michael Kelly, garage proprietor, who subsequently moved to Main Street. The next door home of Michael Hughes was unoccupied until he moved into it two years later. Next door, was owned by a Gavin family in Ballina, and was then occupied by Katie Flynn, who operated a small sweet shop there. The now roofless next door property was the home of a Roger McGuire and family and later became the home of his daughter Mrs. Frank Callaghan and some members of the family are now living in America. The next door Angler's Rest was then a licensed premises run by John McGovern and family and some of them are still living in England. The premises was later purchased by Paddy Walsh, who owned Burrishoole Lodge at the time. The Angler's Rest, and adjoining premises, is the site for a proposed hotel complex. The now derelict building or George's Street hill was owned by a Dominick Berry, who operated a carrier service with his horse and cart. Next door, Aggie Mulchrone's house, was owned by John Joe Ketterick, who owned a bakery business and operated a taxi service. The adjoining space, now the site of a mobile home, used as a Credit Union office, and Tourist Information Office, was the home of James Ketterick ( father of John Joe), who also operated a bakery. The next-door Corcoran's Drapery was a joinery shop owned by Pakie Callaghan, while the adjoining premises (also Corcoran's) was McManamon's, home of the late Celia O'Donnell of Oak Park, and the next door premises, now also owned by Martin Corcoran, was the McGreal family home.

On the other side of George's Street hill the first house was then Brady's pub. The next door home of Dan Hoban was then owned by his uncle Jim Grady, who operated a pub and a taxi service. The adjoining now unused building was also O'Grady's pub and grocery, known as Mary Lunn's. The next door shop, now Mrs. Cowley's drapery, was then known as Kelly's Drapery. Later the family changed the business to Main Street. Next door to Kelly's was Conways, later owned by Tony Conway until the premises was sold.

The adjoining pub, now owned by Frankie Chambers, was then run by his father, Frank, as a bar and grocery and is now known as "Nellies" Bar. The next-door grocery and hardware premises of John Cowley was a shoemaker's shop sixty years ago, owned by a Hugh O'Malley. Frank Cowley's lounge bar was then known as Callaghan's bar (operated by Mrs. Callaghan, grandmother of Mickie and the late Junior) and a premises owned by Bertie Staunton. Westport, for " the collection of eggs. The next door home of Mrs. Jordan was then owned by a Miss McNulty, a dressmaker, while Eileen Sweeney's end-of-street grocery shop was then known as Dominick McFadden's—her uncle.

The end house at Church Street was owned by Michael Berry (horse and cart haulier) and now owned by his son Mick. The next door Eddie Fitzgerald home was then owned by his father. The nearby old railway cottage was the home of the Smith family—Mick Smith was a signalman at the Railway Station. The "Three Chimney's" house at the Railway bridge was owned by Johnny McManamon, a tailor, and was the only home on that side at the time.

In the now open space beside the Fr. Manus Sweeney Mural at the top of Main Street, stood Cusack's Butcher's shop and residence, and Peter Davitt's house, The home of Mrs. Patricia Padden was then the home of Dominick McGovern and family. Next door, Mickie Walsh's Footwear, was the home of his grand aunt. Margaret Barry, a former Postmistress. The extended Darac Craft Shop, now owned by Jack Geraty, was the home of Nurse Padden, mother in-law of Patricia, and a confectionery shop owned by John Kilroy, grandfather of Mary Geraty.

The nearby three-storey De Bille Guesthouse and business premises, owned by Frank and Philomena Chambers, was at that time, sixty year ago, the drapery and residence of Johnny Moran. The next-door premises, now Hairs and Sirs, Hairstylists, was then a hardware premises owned by a Patrick E. Walsh. The next door home of Pat Chambers was owned by Pakie Davitt, who operated a taxi service. The adjoining premises, now owned by Chambers newsagents with top storeys converted into flats and ground floor leased to Durcan's Chemists, was a pub owned by Martin Sweeney (father of Mrs. Mary McCormack), who also operated a cooper business. The next door Sheridan's Fashion Boutique was the home of the Miss Berry sisters. The next door Sheridan's Annex was a popular licensed premises sixty years ago, operated by Pat Keane and family. Sheridan's Supermarket was the home of a Walsh family who operated a bar and hardware business. It was the birthplace of the former Archbishop of Tuam, the late Dr. Joseph Walsh. Next door was Chambers' Corner Shop, now owned by Tony-Chambers. First house on Castlebar Street was the home of Mark Cusack and family. The private house of Michael Sheridan was the property of Walsh's, Main Street, and was used as a branch office for The Bank of Ireland. The nearby Quinn's home, before it was extended, was the local Post Office, operated by Mrs. Bridget Tobin and family. The four nearby houses, now owned by Tony Chambers, and then owned by Walsh's Main Street, was occupied by the Flynn family (butchers), Garda Fagan and different tenants. The railway line ran on the site of Kelly's garage (no through road then) and Miceal Kelly's house was then the home of Station Master, Mr. Russell.

The next two houses, now owned by Charlie Brady, were the homes of a Mrs. Casey and the Hennessy's. Next door was the home of Tom Chambers, father of the present owner, P. J. Chambers. The next-door home of Denis Coughlan was then owned by his grandfather, Thady Berry, a well known boat builder and boatman. The adjoining now unoccupied premises was owned by Mrs. Maria McGovern. mother of Fr. Martin and the late Fr. Joe McGovern. The next door house, was then a store on which Joe Kelly. a former clerk at Newport Parish Church, built the house, which is now owned by Sean Chambers, Rosyvera.

The next-door premises, now occupied by Mrs. Rowland, was the home of a Mrs. Mclvor. a grandaunt of the late Paddy Gibbons, Meddlicott Street. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Brady's adjoining house was then owned by John O'Malley, who carried on a tailoring business there. The Courthouse was then used in a similar capacity sixty years ago. A Miss Slowey occupied the adjoining single-storey premises and the home of Mickie Kelly was then owned by a Harte family, who subsequently moved to Ballina.

The present Community Hall, built in 1940, was then a small Wesleyan Church building (purchased by Canon McDonald P.P. in 1930) which was used as a club room, and later as a ceili hall, until the new hall was built. The homes of Michael and Lily Chambers are built on the site of the then catholic curate's residence, Rev. Fr. J. Walsh. The next door premises, now the home of John Joe Mulchrone, and family, was owned by a Patrick Joyce and the adjoining home of Mrs. Margaret Kealy, was owned sixty years ago by Mr. and Mrs. John J. Moran before they moved to the Tiernaur area, where they were engaged as National School teachers. The nearby houses of Cyril Moore and family and Mr. and Mrs. Kenny were built by the late Sam Moore on the site of the derelict R.I.C. Barracks. The building, now known as The Community Centre, was a disused Presbyterian Church building sixty years ago and Riverside House, now owned by the Floss family, was the then home of Dr. Michael Lee. the local medical officer. Peadar Kilroy's home at Carrabawn was the family home and workshop of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kilroy. The new ball-alley was erected on the site of the old Boys National School. The first houses on Meddlicott Street, now owned by Kenneth Stevens and Frank Nealis were then occupied by a Martin Keane. a shoemaker, and by a Maguire family. The late Bob Loftus' house next door was the home of a Donovan family. The home of Paddy and Judy Gibbons was the family home of Judy's parents. Larry and Julia Davitt. The adjoining two houses, were the homes of the Maloney sisters and of Jim and Nora Mulloy. Next door was the house of Mr and Mrs. Pat Malone. David Moran's next door home was owned by an O'Connor family, who were well-known painters.

The existing Post Office was a licensed premises owned by a Martin Healy. The Grainne Uaile Lounge was then the home of Harry Hoban (blacksmith) and family, some of whom are living in England. The next-door unoccupied premises, owned by Lily Chambers, was the home of an Ellicott family sixty years ago. one of whom is a nun in the U.S.A. The adjoining premises was the home of a Doherty family, and the next door house, owned by Joe Saunders, was the home of his grandaunt, Biddy Jordan. The next-door house now occupied by Frank McManamon was owned by a Mary Grady, who had a small sweet shop there.

The adjoining house, now owned by Micheal Kilroy, was then owned by a John Stokes, a scrap merchant. The next door McCormack home was then the home of Mary McCormack's mother-in-law, also Mary McCormack, and family. The next door Black Oak Inn was the licensed premises of J.K. Moran's and the portion occupied by Reid's Supermarket was a cement store, owned by McEllin's of Balla and was previously a cinema. Joyce's Garage, and adjoining private house, now owned by SyIvie Healy, was then operated by his grandfather, Michael Joyce, and family. The premises known as The Blue House, on the Melcomb Road, was the home of a Miss Rose. The nearby then "Parochial House", purchased by Fashion Designer, Sara Perceval, was then the house of the Parish Priest, Canon M, McDonald. Mrs. Nora McGee's home at Sandy mount, was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Peter McGee and family, as was Peter McManamon's house, which was owned by his grandparents. The Clew Bay Seaweeds premises was an unused store, owned by Careys.

The private residence of the St. Lucy Nuns, at the Quay, was the home of a Meaney family and the factory portion, which includes the Oratory, was then a coal store owned by Carey's. The adjoining house, now occupied by Dr. Joe Devine, Listowel. was the home of a Miss Lavelle. Miss T. McNeela's house was then an open space, on which Mike Kelly built a house. Mrs. McDonagh's house was the home of a Power family and Mr. Power, known as An Paorach. was a teacher at Cuilmore N.S. And sixty years ago the home of P.J. Kelly was a coal store, owned by Carey's, as was the adjoining premises, which was used by the firm as a store.

The single-storey houses at the Quay road were the first lot built in the town as a County Council Estate. The two end-houses, near the sea, were occupied by a Josie Stokes and a James Dillon. The house owned by Mickie Callaghan was occupied by his uncle. John Flynn. The adjoining house of Seamus Cussane was occupied by his father James Cussane. The end-houses nearest the town were occupied by Mickie Ketterick and now owned by Bridie McHale and the adjoining house of Eddie Kilroy was occupied by a Frank McGee. who was a town postman at the time.

As can be seen from this survey the face of Newport has changed much during the past half-century. Gone are many familiar names and only few links remain with its residents of 1935. ('one also is the Railway Station, much in operation sixty years ago. with the platform premises now turned into flats and the goods store becoming an Oratory.

But the population of Newport has increased by thirty per cent in the last 60 years and there is a projection of it still increasing by fifty per cent by the town of the century. Many new houses have since been built, including the Stella Maris estate houses, the Chalet houses, the Oak Park estate houses. Sea View Estate many new private bungalows on the approach roads to the turn, especially on the Mulranny road and The Quay. Also many new business premises and the new- primary school on the Glenhest road.

Mayo News 1893-2004, Wednesday, January 25, 1995