There isn't much oats or wheat grown in the west of Ireland those days. But during World War 2, and for many years after, cereal crops were a feature of the countryside as compulsory tillage was in operation. One of the biggest fields of wheat in the Castlebar area was grown in what was known as Clarke's Field, now the location for Davitt House. The field was owned by Tom Clarke whose wife ran a shop at Station Road. She was a decent woman too who treated her customers kindly in bad times. Her daughter Eileen lives in what was the old shop and another daughter, Mrs. Mary Rogan, lives next door.
There is a rath or fairy fort in the centre of the field, untouched by human hand. Some people believe if fairy forts are disturbed dire consequences may follow. There are many myths surrounding the fort but most of them are piseógs.
One of the things I vividly remember about the fort was the corncrake which took up residence there each year and nightly treated us to his odd-sounding noises. Sweetness wasn't the bird's most valuable asset.

The Moran family from Curradrish, Castlebar, rented the field for many years and planted the greater portion of the area in wheat. Ploughing was carried out by a team of horses and threshing took place in the autumn.
This was a time of great excitement for us youngsters on McHale Road as we watched the huge threshing machine gobble up the wheat. There was an abundance of rats during the threshing operations, which lasted for two days.
A man named Johnny Gallagher, who came from the Crossmolina area, worked for the Moran family for many years, a noted ploughman who knew how to get the best out of his team of horses.
Times have changed greatly since those far-off days but I have happy memories of the ploughman neatly turning over the furrow, like a work of art.
The Ferguson tractor put paid to the work of the horses and the ploughmen. The tractor may get the work done quicker and more efficiently but the machine lacks the majesty of a pair of horses. The last of the great ploughmen in Castlebar was Albert Bennett from Rocklands who took great pride in his work.

The Golden Mile
The Golden Mile in Castlebar extends from Mons Terrace to the roundabout at Kilkenny Cross. When the road was built in the 1960s it was regarded as one of the most modern highways in the west. And by all accounts, one of the most expensive roadways ever built in Mayo, hence the Golden Mile.
One of the best-known residents living along this road was 'Kempy' Kelly, whose son Martin worked for many years in Tommy Durcan's, Main Street, Castlebar. The Kellys lived along the route for many generations, a popular and respected family.
Still living along the Golden Mile is Jimmy McEvilly, who knows the history of the surrounding area like the back of his hand. Jimmy has been a regular contributor to Castlebar Parish Magazine over the years. Henry Kenny, Tom Burke and Gerald Courell

Mike Gannon lived at Kilkenny Cross for his entire life. He worked on the staff of the National Bank, opposite The Green, and during the years of World War 2 he was a prominent member of Castlebar Red Cross branch, which held its meetings in the old County Infirmary where Áras an Chondae is now located.
Mike Gannon was a regular visitor to The Connaught Telegraph where he had many verbal jousts with Joe Bradley, popularly known as 'Mr. B', a retired railway official, a brother of Ned Bradley, another railway man, and Mrs. Kilcoyne, St. Bridget's Crescent, mother of Fr. Colm Kilcoyne, retired parish priest of Cong, and Mrs. Olive Hynes, Rathbawn.
Colm now lives at Rathbawn, Castlebar. He was a useful footballer in his day and, in his own words, once sold a dummy to the great Pádraic Carney. Football fans will understand the terminology.

Patrick Moneley, Sinn Féin activist
Patrick Moneley, Springfield Terrace, Castlebar, died over 60 years ago and in his day he was one of the most popular residents of the county town. Mr. Moneley was one of the best-known nationalists in the west of Ireland, a man who had great pride in his native town and Irish culture.
A loyal supporter of Sinn Féin, he was an active member of the William Rooney Celtic Literary Society. The Rooney Hall was located in Tucker Street, close to where the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, now has his office.

Patrick Moneley was an outstanding amateur actor and played leading roles in many Irish dramas. He acted as Castlebar town surveyor for a number of years and oversaw the building of major premises in the town.
He was father of Eddie Moneley, Milebush, and Maisie Moneley, who was a bookkeeper on the staff of Molloy's, Newtown, Castlebar, for many years.
Mr. Moneley was grandfather of the late Dr. Seamus Moneley, Castlebar, and has a number of grandchildren living in Milebush and Ballinaglough areas of Castlebar.

Lieut.-Col. J.T. Corley, war hero
I met Lieut.-Col. J.T. Corley when he visited Castlebar many years ago. He was a close friend of Tom McCarthy, Staball, a compositor (typesetter) in The Connaught Telegraph.
J.T. Corley was a brilliant military strategist who rose through the ranks of the American Army and was appointed a lieutenant-colonel when he was just 26 years of age. Among his awards for gallantry were the Silver Star and the Soldier's Medal for extraordinary bravery under enemy fire.
Popularly known as J.T., he was cousin of John Corley, Thomas Street, Castlebar, an ambulance driver in the old County Home, Michael Corley, Aughadrina, and Mrs. O'Boyle, Thomas Street.
Other relatives are Imelda Hamrock and Gerry Corley, Garryduff, Castlebar; Bridie Scriney, Spencer Street, Castlebar; Kathleen Neary, Ballyheane; Mary Durcan, Ballinrobe Road, and Peggy Campbell, Rathbawn Road, Castlebar.
J.T. Corley was very proud of his Irish heritage; his father was born in Castlebar and his mother, formerly Surdival, was a native of Belcarra, where she still has a number of relatives.

Ivy House Dance Club
I must confess I had never heard of De Barry Street, Castlebar, until I was doing some research. Castle Street was at one time called De Barry Street and the De Barry Dance Club was established in 1908 and regular céilí sessions were held in the Ivy House, Castle Street, up to the late 1940s.
Entry to the club cost 2/6d and 1/- per class. Amongst the instructors was Tommy Walsh, who later lived at McHale Road, Castlebar, grandfather of Marie Brinklow, McHale Road.

Tommy was regarded as one of the outstanding dance tutors of his time and a number of the Walsh family were engaged in the printing trade. His daughter Annie married Harry Brinklow, Lucan Street, a noted greyhound trainer and accomplished boxer. Annie's brother Christy joined the Royal Air Force and died some years ago. I remember Christy as a brilliant pupil at St. Patrick's National School.
In the past Castle Street was called De Barry Street, Narrow Lane and The Tunnel. There are very few streets in the country which have had four different names.

Michael John Byrne and Erin's Hopes
It is difficult to realise that Michael John Byrne, Main Street, Castlebar, passed away 50 years ago. Many's the 'jorum' myself, Frank Scully, Josie Munnelly, P.W. Leamy, Seán Larkin and Mike Kerrigan, who came from Keelogues, had in Michael John's in the heady days of 1950 and 1951 when Mayo won two All-Ireland's senior football titles in a row.
I was reminded of those times when I came across a report of a local football league final in Ballyhaunis in which Erin's Hopes beat Sarsfields. One of Erin's hopes stars was Michael John Byrne. A photograph of the team shows Michael John standing head and shoulders over his colleagues. He was a fine cut of a man.
Another member of the winning team was Mick O'Connell, later to become a journalist in The Connaught Telegraph and president of Mayo County Board.
I met a staunch Fine Gael supporter some weeks ago and the two things he wished for in life was to see Enda Kenny made Taoiseach and Mayo win an All-Ireland senior title. The first part of the double has been achieved and perhaps this year we may see Sam come to the heather county. If that were to happen I can only imagine the celebrations that would follow in Mick Byrne's pub. Stop the lights! We live in hope.

Wartime nursing heroine
Over the years Mayo has produced many outstanding members of the nursing profession. Many of them served in wartime England during the first and second world wars.
Nurse Bessie Wynne (nee Boyle) from Coarsepark, Castlebar, left for England at an early age and qualified as a nurse with several diplomas. She served on the battlefields of Europe during the second world war and showed extreme bravery under constant bombardment.
Bessie, a lady made of stern stuff, was awarded the Defence Medal, 1939/45 Star, the Italy Medal and the Africa Medal. She lived to tell the tale and regularly visited her native Coarsepark where several of her relatives still live.
Another brilliant member of the nursing profession was Marie Antoine Conroy who came from Turlough, Castlebar. She was daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Conroy and she obtained several degrees, rising to the top of her profession.
The Conroys were a very well-known Turlough family and Joseph Conroy, was an outspoken critic of injustice and a strong defender of the rights of small farmers. One member of the Conroy family was matron of the County Home, Castlebar, 70 years ago.

 

( 8 Votes )