Castlebar, as we now know it, was a much different place in the early 1900s. In 1915, for example, all the talk was about the Great War, the war to end all wars, as many people thought. The newspapers at the time were dominated by stories from the war, tales of brave deeds, sacrifices and death.
For example, Dr. O'Boyle, medical officer in Balla, got a commission in the Royal Army Medical Corps and left to join the regiment. He was later described as the

bravest of the brave.
Constable Scully, a clerk in the County Inspector's Office in Castlebar, resigned his position and joined the Connaught Rangers.
Private Munnelly, Royal Engineers, visited Castlebar, after a stint at the front in France. He described his experience as 'hell on earth'.
Lieutenant Frank Bruen, Castlebar, was promoted for showing extreme bravery in the face of enemy fire.
A woman from Beltra, Glenisland, was proceeding home from Castlebar in a horse cart with her son when the animal bolted, the cart overturned and she lost her life. A man from Belcarra lost his life in a similar accident.
Major Browne, Breaffy, Castlebar, wrote to Patrick Higgins, J.P., chairman of Castlebar District Council, agreeing to donate a statute acre of ground for a new burial ground in Breaffy. I believe the Browne family were also responsible for the provision of a fire tender in Castlebar in the early 1900s.
And so life went on with its many twists and turns, as it always does. Christmas was celebrated in a quiet enough manner as wives waited on the few shillings from their husbands on service with the British Army.

 

The only local entertainment in the early 1900s, apart from the occasional concert in Castlebar Town Hall, was the cinematograph shows provided by the Barrett brothers, Spencer Street, Castlebar.
I remember Jim Barrett, who later ran the Plaza Ballroom in Spencer Street, showing pictures in the Plaza during the time the County Cinema was burned down in the 1950s. The Barrett's were pioneers in the cinema business.
Jim Barrett, on returning from America, brought with him a Harley Davidson motorcycle with a sidecar. The sidecar was often used to bring bags of turf from Kilboyne bog to the Barrett household during and after World War 2. The legendary Jackie Elliott took charge of the Harley and Cissie Elliott rode gunshot.
Ernie O'Malley, freedom fighter and author, wrote of Castlebar in the early years of the 1900s: "Shawled barefooted women selling eggs, yellow strong and salty butter in plaited osier baskets, salty dilisk in trays or minding bonnovs with a súgán."
Different times indeed in Castlebar. What changes the county town has seen in the intervening one hundred years.
As we go through the worst economic crisis since the foundation of the state, it is no harm to reflect on those days. We overcame the Great Famine, the Civil War and two World Wars. The world is full of humps and hollows, the good times will roll again. We must remain upbeat. I have seen worse times.

Graffybeg's miracle greyhound
Graffybeg, Castlebar, not far from the main Castlebar/Newport Road, was the birthplace of one of the fastest greyhounds ever bred in this country. In the late 1940s it was regarded as a 'miracle' dog, the only animal out of a litter of six whelps to survive.
The greyhound was bred by John Egan who at that time lived at Davitt's Terrace, Castlebar, but credit for the dog's survival must go to John's brother Bob who nursed the puppy at his Graffybeg kennels.
Bob said the animal was on the verge of death a number of times. "I fed the pup on a special diet and it began to thrive against all the odds."
The dog was named French Rebel and it went on to have a glittering career. The greyhound ran 26 courses, was never led and won the prestigious Connacht Cup at Loughrea and the Cork Cup. French Rebel divided the famous Derby at Clonmel, regarded as one of the toughest events on the coursing calendar.
The greyhound was subsequently sold for £650 and later changed hands for £800, a huge price for the 'Rebel' in 1947.
Many will remember John Egan, a brilliant Gaelic footballer and fine golfer. He was father of Liam Egan, Cunnagher, Ross, Castlebar.
Bob Egan worked as a boilerman at Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar. He passed away some years ago. However, his wife Mary (formerly McDermott) is still going strong. Bob was father of Bernard Egan, Graffybeg.
Tansey's Mile, owned by Pat LavelleThere doesn't appear to be as many greyhounds being bred in the Castlebar area nowadays. In the past Pat Lavelle, Castle Street, Castlebar, Harry Brinklow, McHale Road, Frank Ruane, McHale Road, Peter and Vinnie Dever, Ballynew, and Bill Gavin, Manulla, bred many fine greyhounds. Tansey's Mile, owned by Pat Lavelle, won several prestigious awards at coursing meetings. 

Keeping down the dust
As we get older we become more convinced that we had better summers when we were youngsters, long sunny days as we headed for Saleen, Tuckers or Lannagh.
Some of my friends speak nostalgically of the time when they went barefooted to school. That might be as much due to economic reasons as rising temperatures.
Many years ago the residents of Castle Street, Castlebar, pleaded with Castlebar Urban Council to provide a water cart to keep down the dust. One of the residents, Chassie Garvey, father of Stephen and Jimmy Garvey, described the dust in Castle Street as like the Sahara, a bloody nuisance.
However, the residents were told by council officials that there was only one extremely dry day that particular year.
On top of that monies had not been provided in the estimates to purchase a water car. Haven't we heard that excuse in the past?
Chassie Garvey, a very colourful character, described the council's decision as a great disappointment. "Since when did our council officials become expert weather forecasters," he argued.
I remember Chassie wearing a large straw hat with a booming voice that could be heard all over Castle Street. One of Castlebar's most lovable characters at the time.

Grimes' leather boots
Still on Castle Street. How many of my readers remember Grimes' shoe shop on the street? In order to prove their footwear was made of genuine leather they had a hobnail boot displayed on their shop window which was cut in half to display the quality of the leather. It was an original gimmick but it seemed to work asGrimes' boots were famous all over Mayo.
Pat Lavelle later had his saddlery business in Grimes' premises where he plied his trade for many years, another of Castlebar's most popular characters.

Brilliant Castlebar artist
Castlebar has produced many outstanding artists in various disciplines. Many years ago one of the finest artists in the West of Ireland was a young lady named Lola Kelly, daughter of Captain and Mrs. Kelly, Castlebar. She was granddaughter of Mrs. K.M. Kelly, Main Street. Mrs. Kelly had a shop, which was popularly known as 'KM's' to generations of Castlebar people.
All sorts of dressmaking materials were on sale in her shop and people travelled from many parts of Mayo to purchase their needs.
Lola Kelly created great interest when she exhibited a number of paintings at an art exhibition in Castlebar. Two of her works, 'Trees' and 'The Bridge by the Way', were immediately sold and were said by art critics at the time as being of a very high standard.

Remembering Tommy Lawless
There are a number of Castlebar people we remember with pride, those who made a deep impression on us for their honesty and sincerity; through good times and bad they always seemed to keep their chin up and had great pride in their native town.
One such man was Tommy Lawless who for many years ran a shop at Newantrim Street, Castlebar. It was much more than a shop: it was a popular meeting place for people from town and country.
Staball Hill, Castlebar, at the end of the 19th century. Wynne Private Collection.Tommy was left a widower at a comparatively young age, but he never lost his sense of humour and good nature. A baker by trade, a sister of Tommy's, Ellie, trained as a nurse in England. The war clouds were gathering over Europe in the late 1930s and Ellie felt she could best alleviate suffering by becoming a nurse. She became a dedicated member of the nursing profession but sadly, at the early age of 22 years, she died in Redhill Hospital, Hendon, London.
Tommy Lawless was a great man for funerals, particularly of the older stock. It was no surprise, when he passed away, his funeral cortege was attended by all sections of the community.
Tommy was father of Sadie Lawless, one of the most dedicated nurses on the staff of Mayo General Hospital for many years, a popular and respected figure in Castlebar.
Tommy Lawless's shop is no more and people like Eddie and 'Palick' Browne, Clydagh, Tom Hyland, 'Horseen' Carney, Tommy Devereux, Paddy Quinn, Paddy 'Powerful' Prendergast, Jimmy Deffely (Shruffaun and Glenisland), Martin O'Neill, Maggie Jordan, Davitt's Terrace, Tom McNicholas, Ballynew, the McGowans of Rathbawn, John Jordan senior, Ballynew, still as sprightly as ever, and many others who frequented this sanctuary of wit and wisdom have long passed away. So has the demand for five woodbines, a pound of loose sugar or tea gone the way of many other things. Changed times, changed people. A changed world indeed.

Corley's dance hall
Michael Corley, Aughadrina, Castlebar, was one of the founder members of Clann na Talmhan, who made a big impact on the Irish political scene in late 1940s and early 50s. He was an outspoken orator, a great battler for the rights of small farmers. His wife was Bridget Reilly, a member of a very old Ballyvary family.
Michael also had an entrepreneurial streak in his make-up, although that word was unheard of in the 1930s when he set up a small dance hall close to his farm at Aughadrina on the Ballinrobe road. It was originally a carthouse and in the dim distant past, possibly going back to the time of the famine, 1845/'47, it probably was a small home. Family group, Castlebar, 1900. Judged by their attire they would appear to be a rather well-off family. Wynne Private Collection.
The original owners of the building were the Hastings family who later moved to Westport. Admission to the dances was tuppence, two old pennies.
The hall had an open-hearth fire at one end. But when it became a dance hall those who took to the floor generated their own heat. The hall ran for many years, a popular venue for old-time waltzes, Siege of Ennis and Stack of Barley. 
Michael Corley successfully ran the hall for many years until the bigger venues took over and the music in Aughadrina was silenced forever.
Many's the time I heard Michael Corley speak from Brady's Steps on the Main Street, along with Joe Blowick, Belcarra, Bernard Commons, Derrowel, Balla, and Dominick Tom Cafferkey, Kilkelly.
Michael Corley was father of Bridie Scriney, Station Road, Castlebar, Mary Durcan, Ballinrobe Road, Kathleen Neary, Ballyheane, and Peggy Campbell, Rathbawn Road. Four fine women who are still as charming and friendly as ever.

 

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