Jimmy Deasy, McHale Road, Castlebar, passed away last week. One of the best known drummers on the music scene, and a fine singer as well, he was once described by a fellow musician, Tom Bourke from Moneen, as 'Gentleman Jim', and indeed he was a gentleman in the best sense of the word.
As a teenager Jimmy was simply mad about music, a passion shared by Dessie King, who at that time lived in Brownville Flats, Main Street. Dessie contacted another friend, Paddy Jordan, McHale Road, and they formed a small group. For the three teenagers it was the start of musical careers which have spanned four decades.
The youngsters didn't have a set of proper drums at the time, so they had to make do with improvised drums made up of scraps of timber and tin cans. But Jimmy Deasy had a natural talent for drumming and keeping the beat was like child's play to him. When it came to drumming Jimmy Deasy was in a class of his own.
Paddy Jordan emigrated to America many years ago but still takes a keen interest in the music scene. Stephen Jordan and Tony Conway later joined the group. It was the start of the rock and roll era when Bill Haley, Chubby Checker and Fats Domino were heading the charts.

Another young musician who came to the forefront in that era was Joe Bernie, St. Bridget's Crescent, Castlebar, a lovely clarinet and tin whistle player. Joe, his wife Valerie and family have lived in Galway for many years and Joe still follows his musical career, playing at venues over a wide area. His father John worked in Castlebar bacon factory. A native of Wexford, he served in the Irish army during the Emergency years. Joe's mother was formerly Nancy Brinklow from Staball whose father was Charlie Brinklow, foreman with Castlebar Urban Council. Catherine and Darragh Ainsworth, St. Martin's Terrace, Castlebar, pictured with their prizewinning dog some years ago. Darragh, like his father Dessie, has played with great distinction for Castlebar Celtic.
In later years the youngsters went their separate ways but they all retained a keen interest in the music scene.
Jimmy Deasy drummed with Brose Walsh for many years and when Brose passed away he continued to drum with the group. It was fitting that the Walsh lads provided the music at Jimmy's funeral Mass, attended by many musicians and old neighbours and friends from McHale Road and other parts of Castlebar. They were there to pay a special tribute to a special person,

Jimmy Deasy's father, a Corkman, served with distinction in the Irish Army and died at a relatively young age. His mother, formerly Kathleen Graven from Liter, Islandeady, reared her two sons in a dedicated fashion, a committed wife and mother.
Jimmy's burial took place in the Old Cemetery, Westport Road, after Mass. He will be remembered with great affection by those who shared his friendship over the years. May the heavens be his bed.
Sympathy is tendered to Betty, brother Timmy, Phil and other members of the Deasy family.

Gildea family: True patriots
There are few people living in Castlebar today who remember one of its most noble sons, Patrick Gildea, who lived in Rush Street.
Patrick, who died in 1943, came from a family who nurtured the idea of nationality and carried the torch of patriotism for many generations. His mother was closely associated with the Fenian movement and was a personal friend of James Stephens and O'Donovan Rossa, said to be the greatest Fenian of them all.
On one occasion, through sheer courage and determination, Mrs. Gildea saved the lives of members of the McCormack family, Staball, with whom she was living at the time and who were active in the Fenian movement.

The same patriotic spirit infused her sons and when Ireland called on them their response was immediate and in their own way they assiduously strove to get a better deal for the people of the country.
Patrick Gildea had three brothers, John, Stephen and Daniel, all of whom had great pride in Castlebar and its people.
Their mother and her sons were indeed true Irish patriots.

The price of porter
Experts tell us that with the level of wages nowadays the price of a pint of porter is actually cheaper than it was 20 years ago. Tell that to the marines, lads!
The current price of a pint of porter isn't far short of €4. Fifty years ago the price of the pint was 1/3d. For two half-crowns you could purchase four pints, nice, natural Guinness served in corduroy glasses from wooden barrels. If the glasses stuck to the counter, it was a sure sign of good Guinness.
During the first World War porter was selling at a few pence a pint. John Fogarty, Castle Street, Castlebar, sold barrels of Guinness for 16/6d. Wages at this time were very low and there was no such thing as children's allowances or other benefits.
Strangely enough, pint drinkers constantly complain about the price of drink, but rarely do we hear them utter a word of protest about the cost of foodstuffs. That seems to be left to the woman of the house, God bless her.
John Fogarty's pub was later purchased by James Rattigan whose famous slogan was: "No cheques too big, no cheques too small . . . tons of cash to pay them all."
James Rattigan, who always wore dark clothes and a bib, was a big man with a big smile. A decent man, by all accounts.

Death of John Leamy
I was saddened to hear of the death of John Leamy, Bunninadden, Ballymote, Co. Sligo. He had suffered from MS for12 years, but battled the illness with great patience and dignity.
John was son of the late P.W. and Annie Leamy. The Leamy family ran a pub at Main Street for many years. John's father worked for a number of newspapers and he was a colleague of mine in The Connaught Telegraph over 50 years ago.
P.W. was a legendary figure in the newspaper business; he also had his own dance band and produced shows, including The Sailor Boy for which he wrote the music and script. He was a neighbour and close personal friend of the late Henry Kenny, T.D., and was his campaign manager when Henry was first elected to Dáil Éireann. First Holy Communion class at St. Angela's National School, Castlebar, in 1988 pictured with Fr. Paddy Curran, parish priest, and Miss Campbell.

John Leamy, aged 61 years, worked as a professional photographer for some years but in more recent times he was proprietor of the Village Shop, Bunninadden. Like his father, he was a good man with words and has written a children's book. He rang me before Christmas and asked me to launch the book in Castlebar library over the next few weeks. It was the culmination of many years hard work and he was very pleased with the finished product. John was respected and popular in the Bunninadden area.
He built up a fine grocery business and was very courteous and efficient in dealing with members of the public.
Burial took place in the Old Cemetery, Westport Road, Castlebar, and there was a good turnout of old friends in a final and fitting farewell to very nice man.
John is survived by his wife Angela; sons, Seán, Éamonn and Patrick; daughters Áine and Maria.
His mother was formerly Annie Bourke, a native of Myna, Kilmeena, Westport. Her brother was Paddy Burke, a Fianna Fáil member of Dáil Éireann for many years and popularly known as 'Bishop'. John was cousin of Ray Burke, former Fianna Fail deputy and minister.
Patrick McHugh, Cottage Road, Breaffy, Castlebar, and Breege Kelly, Castlebar and Kilmeena, a former member of the clerical staff of Mayo County Council, are also cousins of John Leamy.
Older Castlebar folk may remember Eileen Leamy, Main Street, aunt of John Leamy, who was regarded as one of the most beautiful women in Castlebar in her day.

Cottage Road and Boola
It is many moons since I first trod Cottage Road, Breaffy, Castlebar. The road extends from the main thoroughfare at Breaffy, past Baldwins Bridge, linking up with the Castlebar/Belcarra road.
Cottage is the name of the townland on the right hand side as one leaves the main road at Breaffy. The townland on the opposite side is Demesne.
My old friend Billy Bourke, whose family have lived in Breaffy for several generations, tells me a couple by the name of John and Mary Walsh, lived in Boola, close to the Cottage Road, many years ago. The remains of their house can still be seen.

Some years ago a man named Lannon from Scotland called to see Billy Bourke. His grandfather worked in Breaffy, a forester by profession. Billy was pleased to point out to Mr. Lannon where his ancestors had lived and the Scotsman took away a number of stones as a memento of his visit.
I am often saddened when I pass the ruins of houses in rural areas and think of the families who inhabited those homes in the past, where the patter of little feet could be heard and the day's work discussed under a thatched roof with a steaming kettle hanging from a crook on an open turf fire.
Cottage Road has seen a big increase in the number of houses built in the locality in recent years, but there is still an old-world atmosphere about the area. I often walk across Jimmy Walsh's land near Baldwins Bridge with nothing but a fox for company. Sheer magic.
God be with the time when Percy Dixon rode out with Brownes' beagles and an old man named Wolfe looked after the animals. Pleasant memories from an earlier age when all the world was young.

Castlebar church organ
Parishoners in Castlebar have always been very proud of the choirs which have sung in the Church of the Holy Rosary. Brian Hoban, Newtown, Joe Chambers, Staball and Tommy Gavin, Main Street, sang solo in the church for many years, a proud tradition which has been carried on in recent years by John Donegan, Pound Road. 
The Gavins, a very old local family, had a bakery on Main Street many years ago. I remember their bread being delivered by a donkey and specially constructed van, manned by one of the Armstrong lads from Staball. Their father was Jack Armstrong, popularly known as 'Rodeo', a keen fisherman.
The original organ in the parish church was built by Telfords of Dublin. It was used in the old church and later installed in the new church which was consecrated in 1901.

Stephen Garvey was church organist for many years, bandleader, producer of operas and composer. In later years Seán O'Connell, Chapel Street, became organist in the church. Seán was an engineer with Mayo County Council and his wife, a very gracious lady, was the first women in Ireland to graduate as an architect.
Angela Gormally, Curragh, Castlebar, Frankie Forde, Breaffy, Sr. Margaret Lombard, Sr. Cecelia Heskin and Bernadette Johnson are regular organists in the Church of the Holy Rosary.
Major repair work was carried out in the church in the mid-1940s when the building was plagued by the deathwatch beetle. Tommy Devereux, Newantrim Street, and Tommy Moran, Pontoon Road, were responsible for maintaining the church in good condition over the years.
The pulpit in the church was donated by the Heverin family, proprietors of the Irish House, Ellison Street, in the early 1900s. Their grandson is Paul Heverin, photographer and publican.

Georgie Gibbons and the Brass Castle
The Brass Castle, which was located where the McCormack Estate was later built at Lower Charles Street, Castlebar, was one of the most familiar landmarks in the town before it was demolished in the early 1930s.
This area was later known as Feeneys Field, the property of P.J. Feeney, prominent local businessman and father of Madge Feeney, who lived in Marsh House before it was purchased by Castlebar Urban Council.
A number of families lived in the Brass Castle and reared large families there. Amongst the occupants was a man named Georgie Gibbons, who was employed on the outdoor staff of Castlebar Urban Council. Castlebar was a much smaller town in those days and George set out in the early hours of the morning with a yard brush and rubbish container to clean the streets.
Not a speck of dust escaped Georgie's eagle eye and lo and behold any vandal spotted discarding rubbish on his rounds. People had a lot more respect for the environment in those days than they now have. More's the pity.
• I am not sure of the origin of the name Brass Castle. In the British army commissioned officers are often referred to as the top brass. Military personnel were probably based in the Brass Castle in times past so perhaps the name came from there.

 

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