I have vivid memories of the great snowfall of 1947. The blizzard started on Monday night, February 24. By Tuesday afternoon the snow was two feet deep. The Second World War had ended two years previously, rationing was still the order of the day, there were very few telephones, turf, the main fuel at the time, was scarce, and people were much poorer than they are nowadays.
The recent spell of severe weather was nothing in comparison to the blizzard of 1947.
Rural electrification was still a few years away in 1947 and only better off people could afford cars. There were breakdowns in the ESB supply and workers toiled around the clock to ensure the system was kept going.
Mr. Everard, who lived at Station Road, Castlebar, was area electrician at the time, father of Ernie Everard, who died two years ago.
Local postmen Jack Griffin, Westport Road, John McGarry, Ballynew, Tom McGreal, McHale Road and Jack Flannery, Blackfort, delivered their mail under atrocious conditions. Jack Flannery had a narrow escape at Glenisland when he was trapped in a 10-foot high snowdrift.
The late Martin Hopkins, Ballinaglough, Castlebar, told me he remembered seeing frozen snow as far out in the year as the end of April. Martin, a great character, was brother of Bridie Deane, St. Bridget's Crescent, Castlebar, and Ena O'Malley, Ballintubber. He worked in Dunleavy's Bungalow Bar, Main Street, Castlebar, for many years.
Council workmen piled heaps of frozen snow on the streets of Castlebar so that people could use the roads and footpaths. The heaps of snow seemed to last for ages.
There was very little central heating in 1947, most homes didn't have hot water on tap, there was no television and the only wireless I remember in McHale Road at the time was owned by Charlie Guthrie.
The blizzard lasted several weeks and there was much drudgery at the time. However, there were many examples of bravery as people made great sacrifices to help the poor.
The blizzard brought out the best in the Irish people. Given a fair crack of the whip we are a great little nation.Blacksmith William Fahy Newantrim street Castlebar with his children Patsy Gillespie and Denny

Ballyheane's oldest woman
When Mrs. Mary McDermott, Creeragh, Ballyheane, Castlebar, died, aged 102 years in the early 1900s, she was described as the oldest woman in the district. She had a great memory and could recall many stirring events in the life of the nation.
In the past many people lived to great ages but some also died very young. I came across the death of a man in the Turlough area who passed away at the age of 64 years in 1915. It was described as 'a grand old age'. Nowadays he would be regarded as a young fella.
Modern medicine, better sanitation and housing conditions, along with more substantial meals, are enabling people to live longer lives. Nowadays the position is reversed, with people eating far too much. Obesity is now a major problem.
Mention of Ballyheane earlier on reminds me of a family who lived in the village for several generations.
The Keenans were very popular in the area. I think one of the lads was named Pat. Clare Keenan worked with Delia Walsh, a native of Keelogues, who had a dressmaking business in Castle Street. Clare was a very refined lady and an expert dressmaker.
Delia Walsh was sister of Mary Walsh and Mrs. Rattigan who ran a pub in Spencer Street for many years, a great house for a pint of good porter. They were aunts of Mary Walsh-Halloran, Spencer Street, Castlebar, who has lived in Dublin for many years, and still as pretty as a picture the last time I met her in Castlebar.
When David Halloran came to Castlebar from Ballina to work for The Mayo News he stayed with Molly and Paddy Ketterick, Spencer Street. Mary Walsh lived nearby so for David it was a classic case of falling in love with the girl next door.
David later moved to Dublin to take up an appointment with The Irish Independent where he played a major role in the editorial section.
My sister Philomena, in England for many years, worked with Delia Walsh for some time.
It is not so long since there were seven or eight pubs on Spencer Street. Now there is just one, owned by Gerry Tolster, who originally came from Belcarra. No bother to Gerry and his family to fill a good pint.
I have previously mentioned the name of Pat Muldoon who owned a pub on Spencer Street over 70 years ago. Pat was a unique character and was affectionately known as Noodlum Tap, his name spelt in reverse.

Bernie Egan's penalty kick
I see where Jimmy Staunton of Elverys has been chosen to head a committee to oversee the development of rugby in Connaught. No better man.
There has always been a strong tradition of rugby in Castlebar. In fact, the first time Connaught beat Leinster in an inter-provincial game the winning points were scored by Bernie Egan, Blackfort, Castlebar, a huge penalty kick from inside his own half.
Bernie also captained the Irish universities rugby team on several occasions and when it came to penalty kicking he was regarded as the Ronan O'Gara of his day.
Bernie was brother of the late Michael Egan, a keen rugby supporter, who spent many years working with British Railways in Wales, and the late Maura Egan, a leading member of the Red Cross. The Egan family lived in a house in Blackfort now occupied by Dr. Ronan Waldron.
One of the stars of the current Irish rugby team, Gordon D'Arcy, is son of John D'Arcy whose family lived at Station Road. Gordon's grandfather, Donal, was a bank official in Castlebar and was closely associated with the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Boy Scouts.
Amongst the Castlebar men who wore the local jersey with pride in the 1940s and in later years were Louis Campbell, Westport Road, Bernie Gillespie, Creagh Villa, Alec Campbell, Rathbawn Road, Johnny Raw, a fine athlete, who worked in the bacon factory, Frankie Flannery, Rush Street, Joe McCormack, Castlebar and Westport, Ger McCormack, Ellison Street and Saleen, Dessie Wynne, Main Street, Paddy Flannelly, Main Street and Moneen and Bill Danclesfen, who was manager in Castlebar Bacon Company.

Cannibalism in Killawalla
I had never come across a case in Mayo where a person was brought to court for cannibalism. However, there is one case on record, which took place in 1915 when a man from the Killawalla area was brought before Castlebar assizes and sentenced to a month in jail for practising cannibalism.
The defendant was arrested following a drunken brawl and the resident magistrate said the sentence was not a bit too severe for such nasty conduct.
In those far-off days little mercy was shown by magistrates to defendants who appeared before them. Evidence in some cases was of a flimsy nature; there was no free legal aid at the time and people were thrown into jail for relatively minor offences.
At the same assizes in Castlebar a local man was convicted of running a sheebeen and fined five shillings.

Crealium Navy and Chancery
Little is heard nowadays of the famous Crealium Navy. It wasn't a navy in the accepted sense of the word but the term came into popular usage because people living in the village of Crealium and Chancery, close to Ballyvary, used the local river to carry turf and other items by boat to and from their homes.
Chancery is the only village in Mayo which bears the name. There is a Chancery Lane in Dublin and another one in London. The word 'chancery' has long been associated with the legal profession and Chancery is a division of the British High Court of Justice.
Perhaps local residents Bernard Joyce, Tomás or Sharon Cameron might enlighten an ignorant ould townie like myself as to how the pleasant little village in Turlough, one of my favourite spots, ended up being given the unusual name of Chancery. I'm all ears!

Mr. Knott O'Malley
Mr. Middleton O'Malley Knott, who died in the 1950s, was one of the best-known horsemen in the United States and was a renowned judge at horse shows and hunter trials.
Aged 80, he was the second son of Dr. O'Malley Knott and his grandfather was General Owen O'Malley, whose statue stands outside Christ Church, Castlebar, a hero of many battles.
He was born in Castlebar and when he was 18 he went to sea as a cadet in the British Naval Reserve and sailed around Cape Horn in a square-rigged ship to San Francisco, where he later qualified as a veterinary surgeon.
Mr. O'Malley Knott's father was a surgeon in the old County Infirmary, Castlebar, now the location of Aras an Chondae, the headquarters of Mayo County Council. His wife was formerly Hilda Braithwaite, Turlough Park, Castlebar.
The late John Hoban, Newport Road, Castlebar, who for many years taught in St. Patrick's National School, remembered Mr. Middleton O'Malley Knott, who rode a 'High Nelly', an old style bicycle, through the streets of Castlebar. As he was passing down Main Street, the youngsters on their way to school would shout: "He's Knott on the bicycle."
John Hoban was a great man for telling simple jokes and a fine teacher. He had two sons and two daughters. Dan Hoban lives in Newport and Dr. Seán Hoban lives in Achill.
One of his daughters, Mary, a dedicated member of the nursing profession, was private nurse to Margaret Bourke Sheridan. Another daughter, Teecie, emigrated to America some years ago. She had been a popular member of the staff of Wynnes newsagency, Main Street, Castlebar, for many years.
They are cousins of Brian Hoban, Gallows Hill, Castlebar, well-known tour guide and local historian.

Castlebar's marching bands
I had the privilege, many years ago, of meeting Major Thomas J. Corley, a native of Castlebar, who served with distinction in the American Army. A fanatical follower of brass bands, he has written a fine history of the many bands which paraded in Castlebar over the years.
Castlebar Concert and Marching Band is the only remaining band of its kind in Mayo where at one time there were several bands.
In 1909 Castlebar Brass Band played throughout the province and regularly performed at football matches and social events. The members of the band were H. Hoban, H. Leahy, J. Gavin, P. Chambers, M. Mullins, M. Flannery, J. McGreal, T.A. Lavelle, H. O'Dwyer, C. Hanley, S.J. McCormack, Fr. P. Madden, J.P. Mullen (bandmaster), J. O'Malley, G. Conway, J. Garvey, T. Wynne, Tom Cresham, T. McTigue, J. Worthington, J.P. McCormack, P. Rainsford, J. Flannery, J. Hoban, M. McDonnell, J. O'Dwyer and J. O'Connor.
Many of the names mentioned above are old Castlebar families whose roots stretch back several generations in the town. Most of the family names still survive in the town; indeed many of them continue to play an active role in the development of Castlebar.
In a future article I hope to deal with some of the bands which featured in Castlebar over the years.

 

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