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| Ballyshannon |
| 1940-50 page 2 |
| Growing up in Ballyshannon |
| by Paddy Donagher |
| page 2 |
| page 2 of 3 |
| page 2 The monthly Fair Day was a popular event, the farmers brought their cattle into town hoping to sell them, usually to cattle dealers or other farmers, and the dealing was often a heated affair. The Fair was held in the area of the Fairgreen and down Market Street as far as Dan Gallaghers Erne Bar, the back yard of the Erne Bar was opened onto Market Street and was a big yard, some cattle were kept here overnight and usually picked up the next day simply because the owner would have over indulged in some of the Pubs the evening before. The Fair Day was often a day out for the Farmer and his family, there were many Eating Houses (Caf�s), as they were known then, they offered a good dinner or just Tea & Sandwiches; there were five eating-houses between Mary Kate Kilcawleys (Now Muldoons) and College Street. It was not unknown to see the odd skirmish outside one of the pubs on a fair day evening. Ballyshannon was considered one of the best shopping towns in the North West then, there was a large variety of Shops/Business Concerns/Services and Tradesmen in Ballyshannon during the 40�s and the 50�s, as can be seen from the following list: Flood�s �Garage� East Port (Now J.Likely) Mulrine�s �Public House� East Port (Now John Mc Kenna and no longer a Pub) Quigley�s �Music Shop� (The largest Musical instrument and sheet music retailer in The North West and certainly in Co. Donegal) East Port Daniel Mc Nern �Shoemaker� East Port Len Merrifield �Plumber� East Port F H Morgan �Grocery, Coal Distributor / Funeral Undertaker� East Port J. Dundas �Plumber� East Port Noelle Stuart �Hairdresser� East Port Paddy Meehan �Melvin Hotel� East Port (Now Josies Pub) P.Campbell �Butcher Shop� East Port J Mc Carvill �Public House� East Port B. Flanagan �Public House� East Port (Now The Lantern) N.Stewart �Hairdresser� (Now Stephen Quinn Architect) Frank O�Neill �Publican and Shoe and Leather Shop� East Port O�Neill�s �Caf� East Port Bernard Croals �Grocery Shop� East Port The Vindicator Newspaper East Port Maguire�s �Chemist� Michael Breslin �Public House� East Port Rogans �Fishing Tackle And Fly Tying Shop� Bridge End Paddy O�Neill �Newsagents/General Store/Toys/Barber Shop� Bridge End Mick Ferguson �Public House� Bridge End Kathleen Meehan �Shop� Bridge End Barney Sweeny �Commercial Hotel� West Port (Now The Commercial Bar) Donaghue�s �Leather Shop� Bridge End Gallogley�s �Jewellers� West Port Maggie O�Donnell �Public House� West Port Davis Bicycle Shop West Port Campbell�s �Drapers� West Port Paddy O�Sheas �Grocery Shop� West Port Rogans �Sweet�s and Groceries� West Port Jimmy Rogan �Plumber� H Mc Guinness �Plumber� West Port J.J.Sheerin �Taxi� West Port J. Murray �Barber Shop� West Port Jim Timoney �Electrical Shop/Radio Repair� West Port Sweeny�s �White Horse Public House� West Port Merrifield�s �Builder/Carpentry� West Port Joe Darcy�s �Clothes Shop� West Port Myles �Shop and Timber Suppliers� (Certainly the largest Timber stockists/suppliers in Donegal) Florrie Sweeny�s �Shop� (Front of Myles) Portnason Connolly�s �Taxi� Portnason Munday�s �Shop� West Rock Jim Sheerin �Taxi� The Rock Cambell�s �Egg Merchant� Market Yard Slevins �Drapers� Castle St Provincal Bank (Town Clock Building) (now Gallogley�s) Royal Bank Bank (Now AIB) Castle Street P.B. Stephens �Stationery/Toys/Hardware� Castle St (now Post Office and Novel Idea Book Shop and Castle Hardware) Harry Mc Clelland �Chemist/Dentist� The Diamond (Now Dorrians Chemist) John Curran �Tailors/Sweet Shop� Castle St (Now Joe O�Neill Auctioneer�s) Ernie Clarke �Grocery� Castle Street (Birthplace of Tony Blair�s Mother �Hazel�) Barney Sweeny �Bookmakers� Castle St H.Mulrine�s �Public House� Castle St Donegal Democrat �Newspaper & Printing Works� (now ESB) Castle St, Mc Gonigle�s �Electrical Suppliers/Contractor� Castle St (Now Bloomin Kids) John Mc Intyre�s �Caf� Castle St (Now The Filling Station) Laird & Green �Grocery Shop� Castle St (Now La Fleur Florist) Livingston �Bicycle Shop� Castle St J. Gibbons �Fish Merchant� Market St (Now O�Reilly Fish Centre) Lillie Johnston �Clothes Shop� Market St (Now a Launderette) Mc Keown�s �Public House� Market St (Now Devines Pub and Odessa Restaurant) Mc Intyre�s � Clothes Shop� Market St (Now Sean Og�s Oub) Seamus Ward �Public House� Market St (Now Sean Og�s Pub) W Ward �Auctioneer� Market St Tommy Ward �Painter� Market St (It was Tommy Ward who painted the Murals on the wall�s of Coyles Caf�) Now Closed Kerrigans �Sweet Shop� Market St (Now A. Doherty Bookmakers) John Tierney �Shoe Repair� Market St Mrs Gallagher �Milliner & Dressmaker� Market St Miss Gallagher � Tea House� Market St (Now Tommy Mc Nern Barber Shop) Mae Melly Ferguson �Ice Cream Parlour� Market St Hugh Ferguson �Builder� Market St Francie Mc Govern �Barber Shop� Market St Bradley�s �Fish & Chip Shop� Market St Jimmy Grimes �Anchor Bar Public House� Market St (Now Dicey Reilly Pub) Mrs Holland �Tea & Dinner House� Market St Sadie Mc Gowan �Grocery Shop� Market St (Now Closed) Frank Magee �Fish Merchant/Undertaker� Market St (Now Closed) Miller�s �Garage� Market Street (Derelict Site) Dan Gallagher �Erne Bar Public House� Market St (Now Mc Namee�s Pub) Herron�s �Clothes Shop� Market St (Now Nuala Mc Dermott Hairdresser) Josie Donagher �Publican & Auctioneer� Market St (Closed) M Boyle �Optician� Market St (Now Blossoms and Scents) Frank Donagher �Grocery Shop� Market St (Closed) Eddie Mc Nulty �Sweet Shop� Market St (Closed) Pat Gaffney �Sweet Shop and a Cafe� Tirconail St (Closed) Abbey Cinema M.K.Kilcawley �Grocery Shop & Cafe� Tirconail St (Now Muldoons Supermarket) Packie Mc Donagh �Painter� Abbey View Tec� F Mc Ginley �Public House� Bishop St T Cleary �Fish Merchant� Bishop St F Dorrian � The Thatch Public House� Bishop St Pete Cambell �Wholesaler� Bishop Street M Burke �Baker� Bishop St J Mc Dougal �Painter� Main St Frank Mc Ginley �Tailor� Main St Reid & Sweeney �Solicitors� Main St (Now John Murray Solicitors) F Dorrian �Imperial Hotel� Main St Millers �Garage� Main St F. Miller �Millstone Hotel� Main St (Now Assaroe Bar) Rammage & Britton �Solicitors� Main St (Moved to Tirconail St.) R. Lipsett �Auctioneer & Steamship Agent� Main St (Now Atlantic View) R Anderson �Grocer� Main St D Vaughan �Grocery Shop� Main St (Now Walsh�s Butchers) Mary Kate Sweeny �Newsagent� Main St (Closed) Tom Walsh�s �Public House� Main St (Closed) John Mc Gonigle �Barber Shop� Main St (Now J Herron Clothes Shop) Jack Gormley �Bicycle sales and repairs� Main St ( Now Optician) Mc Gettigan & Mc Gowan �Grocery� Main St (Now Mobile Phone Shop) T Culkin �Shoe Shop� Main St E Gallagher �Solicitor� Main St( Now Geraldine Og�s ) John �The Horseman� Mc Gonigle �Public House� Main Street (Now Finn Mc Cools) Mrs Croal �Newsagent� Main St (Now Mc Goldrick�s Newsagents) Marie Egan �Chemist� Main Street (Now Kelly�s Chemist) Kelly�s �Photography Shop� later Lynch�s �Caf� Main St (Now Kitchen Bake Restaurant) Campbell�s �Laundry Shop� Main St (Now Toner Chemist) Miss Ettie Stephen�s �Sweets/Ice Cream & Tobacco Supplies� Main St (Now Treasure Chest) Eddie Cassidy �Draper� Main St (Now Jim Flynn�s) The National Bank �Bank� Main St (Now Bank of Ireland) J Stephens �Drapers� Main St (Now Saimer Court Shopping Centre) Pat Mc Gahern �Butcher Shop� Main St J Mc Gonigle �Shoe Shop� Lower Main St. (Now Erne Carpets) Michael Cassidy �The Barracks Public House and Wholesale Bottler/Beer/Wine/Spirit Distributor� Lower Main St. (Now Jimmy Al�s) Coyle�s �Caf� The Mall Terry Mc Intyre �Public House� The Mall Bob Anderson �Butcher Shop� The Mall White�s �Grocery & Wholesaler� The Mall The Mall Bakery The Mall The Bakery Shop The Mall John Myles �Hardware Shop� The Mall (Now Apt�s) Patrick Rodgers �Solicitor� The Mall Edmund Pierce Condon �Solicitor� The Mall Swan �Fish Canning Factory� taken over in the late 50�s by John Mulligan �Bottlers� Hosiery Factory The Mall (Now O�Donnells Bakery) Mrs Ward �Laundry Factory� The Mall (Now Garage) Campbell Family �Millers� The Abbey (Now Tourist Attraction) Eddie Mc Goldrick �Shoemaker� Chapel St Eddie Gillespie �Shoe Repair� Chapel St Archie Mc Allister �Builder� Chapel St Willie Mc Allister �Builder� Chapel St J Gormley �Painter� Chapel St Tom Mc Gough �Shoe Repair� Erne Street J Lawne �Taxi� Falgarragh Park (now St Benildus) M Patton �Taxi� Falgarragh Park (now St Benildus) Columba Mc Cauley � Grocery Shop� Falgarragh Park (now St Benildus) T. Mc Shea �Taxi� College St Pat Duffy �Groceries and Sweet Shop� College Street J. Gibbons �Taxi� College St Mc Nulty�s �Shoe Repair� College St Garda Barracks College St Benny Lyons �Fish Merchant� College St (now Private Residence) Francie Daly �Butcher Shop� College St (Now Munchie Molloy�s) One would wonder how so many businesses could sustain themselves financially in their particular line of business during that period. Most people would have their own stories to tell about our educational system and how it was tolerated in those days, while we may be quick to pick on a particular group of teachers, the fact is that nearly all teachers Lay and Religious with the exception of a few, were tough and would be called no nonsense type of people for the want of a better word. One thing for sure and that is, you had respect for your teacher�s even though you may have disliked them and believe me that word is not used lightly. The use and the abuse of corporal punishment is certainly a debateable subject, a fact remains until this day that the majority of past students feel that because of the over abuse of corporal punishment most would feel that it was a deterrent more than a solution . For winter fuel, most houses would have had a few load�s of Turf delivered to them or as in many cases families would cut and save their own turf. It was a common sight to see men selling cartloads of turf around the town. There was an air of excitement during the trips to the Bog, for young people a lift on a Horse and Cart or on a tractor was an exciting event, but the old bicycle was the usual mode of transport. Neighbours would help each other with the saving of the turf, tea time was interesting, when the pot of water was boiled, usually the eggs were boiled in the same water as was used for making the tea, a home-made loaf of bread was taken out, sliced and then it was covered with layers of butter, but the interesting part about the tea break was the conversation that captivated all that listened, there were always stories told and never a word of a lie was ever spoken? One of the stories was told about a particular local man and his son returning from the bog the day after the 15th August, there was not a slice of bread in the house and the Father was concerned about this as he had a wife and four Children, anyway as he and the eldest son moved along in the horse and cart, he noticed a movement in the bushes on the side of the road, pulling up the horse he told the son not to make a sound, reaching behind him he got hold of a Sod of turf that was as hard as any stone lying on the road, and as quick as lightning he fired it into the bushes, he jumped of the cart and went over to the bushes stooped over and picked up a dead Rabbit, and says he to the Son, where there�s a will there�s a way, I said a few words to the man above while I was doing the Stations at the Abbey Well yesterday and lo and behold my prayers have been answered, grab hold of to-nights dinner my son, and thank the Lord that we will eat and eat well to-night, and there wasn�t a word of a lie in that story?. The Snooker Club was located down the Mall in the Old Technical School building, Table Tennis was played on the ground floor and Snooker was played on the upper floors, and there was a card room for those who enjoyed a bit of modest gambling, the Snooker rooms were always active, especially the top floor where the senior members played, names who come to mind after all these years are Gerry �The Bun� Campbell, Seamus �The Butcher� Gallagher, Peter Fox, Danny Downey, Marshie Deegan, Michael Doherty, Jack Downey, Charlie Fry, Bob Melly, Fr. P. Cunningham and up and coming youngsters like Gerry Hannigan, The Downey Brothers Danny, Jack and Jimbo, Frank Kelly and Seamus Sweeeny. Bonfire night which falls on the 23rd June, is a very old tradition which probably goes back as far as Pagan Times, was an exciting time especially for the young people of the community, there were fires everywhere, Falgarragh Park, The Rock, Erne Street, The Fairgreen, Sheegus Hill, once the big fire was lit, people would sit and the older folk would tell stories about the olden days and in particular about the Banshee. I remember a bonfire in Erne Street, it got that hot that the paint on Mrs Murrays door started to peel off. �Gettens steps� on Tirconaill Street, was a popular gathering place especially on a nice summers day, some of the people that I remember gathering there for a chat were, Dinny Lawn, Archie Mc Allister, Lizzie Patton, Josie Donagher, Evelyn Cassidy, Veronica, Nuala and Dennis Patton, Herbie Bromley, Seamus Gallagher, Paddy Biggy, Martin Brett, Noreen and Kay Spratt, Eddie Gillespie, Sue, Eamonn and Geraldine Mc Nulty, The Donaghers, Micheal, Michael, Paddy, Louise and Mary, John and Raymond Mc Intyre, P.J.Gallagher, Jimmy Holland, Ambrose and Pearl Mc Allister, Margaret Mc Shea, Paddy, Willie, Frankie, Peggy, Jim and Carmel Kerrigan, Paschal Gildea, Charlie Keown, and a younger John Mc Intyre, Billy Brett, Fergal Gildea and Liam Mc Nulty, Angela, Primus and Francis Donagher, The Mc Shea and Slevin Familys. I don�t doubt that there are many others who I have not mentioned. I would have fond memories of Madge Gallagher who was the caretaker of St.Patricks Chapel, Madge would allow the young children to help her with the cleaning of the chapel, or ringing the Angelus Bell, knowing that we would get the price of the pictures from her. Handball was played on Donagher�s and Gettens Gables. 25 was a popular card game during the winter months, especially coming up to Christmas you would have games of 25 in various houses, a Turkey, a Goose or a pair of Chickens were usually the prizes, some games went on into the wee hours, a cup of Tea and a biscuit would be served to all, and if you were lucky you might get a sandwich. Both the Rock Hall and the 98 Hall were going strong during these years, the Rock Hall in particular was noted for its concerts, people from that era would have happy memories from participating in or attending the concerts, and dances were a regular feature in the Rock Hall. Rural Electrification was in full swing during the 1950�s The Grotto on College Street was built by voluntary labour in 1952 to celebrate the Marian Year (The Grotto has since been re-located during 2002 to a new location beside St Patricks Chapel). Creevy was a Mecca for swimmers; there were many swimming Galas held at Creevy Pier during the 1950�s, the local swimming club had a High Board Diving Platform erected at the end of the Pier and changing rooms were also built at the Pier, these thing�s were done by a few committee members with little or no knowledge of fundraising and there certainly were no grants in those days. Alex Mc Cafferty had a Sweet and Mineral shop, which was located where the present day monument is situated. Dances were the rage during the 50�s, the O�Connell family run �Astoria Ballroom� in Bundoran was in full swing, the gentle giant Big Tom Barry was one of the door men, if you happen to be acting the buck, you got a little tap on the shoulder from Whitey Gilbride, that was enough to say to yourself it�s time to settle down, because if you got the second tap, then you knew you would be heading for the exit. The big news at the time was that The Royal Showband were coming to the Astoria and it was going to cost 10/- (10 Shillings) to get in, an absolute fortune. The Dance Halls in those days had no bars, thus no alcoholic beverages, if you were dry or hungry then you had to settle for a mineral or a cup of tea and a sandwich. Ballyshannon and Bundoran in particular were packed with Scotchies. Scotch holiday periods were called �Fairs� the three fortnightly fairs were, Paisley, Glasgow and Edinburgh, thus the six week period from the 1st July onwards these towns were alive with our fellow Celts from across the water who were good spenders and good crack. It was nothing to head for a dance in the Butt Hall in Ballybofey or the Guild Hall in Derry or as the saying went that time �Where ever the talent was� then that was the place to head for, that is if you had the price of the Taxi and the Dance, then if you were lucky to strike up with a member of the opposite sex it might cost you the price of a mineral that is if you thought you might be leaving the dance to-gether, if not, you were not going to waste the price of the mineral on that person, God it was all so simple. Whether it was in the old Market House in Donegal and later the Pavesi or St Mary�s in Dunkineely, call it vanity or whatever you want to call it, but the Ballyshannon boys always got a good reception from the women up the county, probably just our natural charm. The Abbey in Ballyshannon was also used as a Ballroom for a time. During the summer months the Abbey was a popular venue for Variety Shows, Bridie Gallagher �The Girl From Donegal� as she was known and loved as, had a troupe of entertainers from Belfast, the entertainment was excellent, Music, Song, Comedy and Dance, this lasted each night over a two month�s period, the popular comedian Frank Carson played the Abbey many times. Cementation finished up during the early fifties, the official opening of Cathleen�s Fall took place in 1952. The working men�s camp�s became derelict sites, most of the lodging houses were empty, a common sight to see, was a man heading for the train station with his suitcase, this was an every day event, not alone were individual men both single and married leaving, but complete families left also, it has been said that more than fifty family�s left Ballyshannon after the Power Stations were completed, it was a matter of having to leave, it was a very simple but a startling fact of life, there just was no work. There were large families then, money was very scarce and many�s the household depended on the Registered letter coming back from the UK, the old registered Letter was a welcome sight and eagerly awaited in so many households all over the length and breath of Ireland. An exodus of Ballyshannon men and women went to Newport, South Wales as well as many other parts of England and Scotland during the fifties, in Wales, many worked on the construction of the Steelworks at Llanwern outside of Newport and the Power Station at Usk, to name but a few Ballyshannon men who lived and worked in Newport then, Frank Clark, Willie John Ward, Michael Mc Neely, Paddy Donagher, Seamus Gallagher, Charlie Regan, John Francis Mc Goldrick, Jimmy Mc Goldrick, Brendan�Hopper�Gallagher, Jim Mc Garrigle, Seamus Kane, Steve Rooney, Kevin Begley, Jim Daly, Michael Mc Govern, Michael Mc Glynn, Ernie Hallihan, John Mc Glynn, C. Ovens, Seamus Gettens, Danny Mc Garrigle, Marty Mc Garrigle, Jackie MC Dermott, most of whom worked for Mc Alpine and some of the lads were as young as 16. Work at the Steelworks and the Power Station was hard, especially for many of the young lads who had never worked on construction before, many worked 7 days a week and twelve hours a day, regardless of snow wind or rain, you had to turn up for work. The majority of men lived at the working men�s camps, others lived in digs in the town, this certainly was a rude awakening from the comforts of home life in Ballyshannon, in the camp�s you had a cubicle just big enough for a single bed and a small locker and a small heater which was usually used to dry your clothes after a wet day, there was no menu in the canteen, you ate whatever was offered �on the day� and believe me there was no fear of getting fat on what was put on your plate. It did not take long to toughen up and accept that way of life, some of the lodgings were brutal, and then others were grand. All in all it was an education about life, you either accepted it or move on, I actually only remember two fellows not coming back after their first Christmas, one thing for sure and that was, the wages were good and after leaving Ballyshannon and knowing the wages you would get at home it was a welcome sight to have got that first pay packet, you would be spellbound for a period trying to grasp and understand how you could be in possession of so much money at any one time, Indeed holding on to it was another story, Newport during those years was a town of Wine, Women and Song, the crack was good, just like the Song Mc Alpines Fusiliers, �Twas in the pub that they drank their sub and out in the spike you�ll find them, they sweated blood and they washed down mud with pints and quarts of beer�, yes that was the way it was, the good, the bad and the ugly, but remember you only had the one night to have a good time, because during the week you were absolutely wrecked from the work and all you wanted to do was get to bed and sleep. Newport had a very good GAA club called the �Pride Of Erin�; some of the Ballyshannon people involved in the organization of this club were Michael Dolan, Jim, Danny and Bobby Mc Garrigle, Willie and Frank Mc Goldrick. P.J. and Michael Dolan and Marty Mc Garrigle had their own Taxi services in Newport. In 1958 Phyllis �Dolan� Lynch brought raffle tickets printed by Eddie Gallagher in Ballyshannon over to the Pride of Erin GAA club in Newport and Michael Dolan bought Medals in Gallogleys for a football competition in Newport, these were taken off him by Customs Officers but eventually returned. A Donegal Priest Fr. Eoin Sweeney was the Chaplin in the men�s camp and the same Fr. Sweeney founded the �Newport Irishman� newspaper, Katherine Hegarty from Killybegs taught Irish Dancing in the Old Contemptible Club, and one would wonder where are these people now? Those years have long gone, but looking back I will say that the Ballyshannon people always stuck together and one thing for sure they were not afraid to get stuck in, and many made good use of their times abroad and went on to bigger and better positions in life. I have been asked many times if I had the choice would I have lived my life any differently, and I have always answered emphatically with a big NO, I can honestly say that the people I have been fortunate enough to befriend, whether they were from Ballyshannon or from whatever part of the world, they were all true loyal friends, sadly some have departed this life, but someday we will all meet again and we will have a good chat about our good times whether it was in Ballyshannon, Newport, London or New York. |
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| SUMMER 1974 Front Row: L to R Big Ivan, Jackie Robson, Michelle Robson, Malachy Mathews, Lorraine Robson, Bill Robson 2nd Row L to R Bligh Robson, Louise Donagher Robson 3rd Row L to R John Hannigan, frank Hayes, Patricia Hayes, Marie Martin, Dennis Lawn Back Row L to R Pat Broderick, Josie Donagher, Archie McAllister |
