MICHAEL Ralph, who served on the staff of the County Hospital, Castlebar, for many years, was one of the most colourful and popular characters in Castlebar for many years.
He came from Brownhall, Mayo Abbey, and was affectionately known as 'Doctor' Ralph, one of life's unforgettable personalities. Dr. Bresnihan, country surgeon, always referred to Michael as 'Doctor'.
Michael was a great wit and many humorous stories are told about him by his colleagues and friends. He was known to ask patients at the County Hospital if their bowels had moved or if they had left them outside the entrance to the hospital. But Michael was always the epitome of courtesy; his kindness to patients at the hospital was well known and appreciated. He had the uncanny knack of putting them at ease with his sense of humour.
Indeed 'Doctor' Ralph was a legend at the County Hospital and is still fondly remembered by his colleagues and friends. A book could be written about this man who was the life and soul of the party at many a function.

Blessing of McHale Road houses
NEW Year's Day 1936 was a happy occasion for the first tenants of McHale Road, Castlebar, housing scheme which had been completed a few months previously. The tenants, mainly young married couples, came from different areas of Castlebar and were delighted with their new homes.
The blessing ceremony was carried out by Fr. M.J. Carney and the attendance included James Chambers, chairman of Castlebar Urban Council, and Councillors J.J. Collins, T.H. Gillespie, Tommy Lavelle, Fred Ryan, town clerk, and Tom McDonough, town surveyor.
A guard of honour was provided by Castlebar Catholic Boy Scouts under the direction of Bob Kilkelly, diocesan commissioner.
Fr. Carney blessed each house individually and asked the new tenants to recite the Rosary on a regular basis.
Councillor James Chambers, popularly known as Broddie, wished the residents of McHale Road success and happiness in the future, remarking they were the genuine auld stock of Castlebar.
All the original tenants of McHale Road have passed away. They were the salt of the earth and raised fine families in difficult times. The residents of McHale Road have played an important role in the progress and development of Castlebar over many years. The high standards set by the original tenants have been maintained and the people of 'The Road' have much to be proud of.
• Auld Stock slipped up in a recent article when he said Willie Whittaker was the first child born on McHale Road. It should have read Tommy Whittaker. The error was spotted by my old friend, Paddy Moylette, who, as a former soccer referee, has a keen eye. I suppose I can say he caught me offside, A yellow card this time, Paddy.

A clean sweep
CHIMNEY sweeping has now become a sophisticated business with all kinds of equipment available to minimise the amount of disruption. However, this wasn't always the case and in the past chimney sweeps, sometimes referred to as 'sooties', had to carry their brushes on their backs on their way to work.
In former times Castlebar had several chimney sweeps. The best known sweep was a man named Ernie Watson who lived with his wife Elizabeth on The Mall where the headquarters of Castlebar Boxing Club is now located.
Ernie was a jolly man, a Cockney who fought in the First World War. His son Tommy was well known locally. Sadly their daughter lost her life in an accident at a railway crossing near Athlone.
Ernie Watson was a popular man in Castlebar. He went about his work with a smile on his face and a friendly word for all. Ernie was proud of his trade, a neat and tidy worker.
Castlebar has changed a lot since Ernie Watson swept chimneys. He was a smallish man who always kept the best side out, a throwback to the days when people worked hard to make a living in bad times

George and Victoria
IT is many years ago since Councillor Joe Chambers suggested that the images of King George and Queen Victoria be removed from pillar boxes.
The bould Joe, a great singer and storyteller, was insistent that the insignia on the pillar boxes be removed immediately. Send them off with the King and Queen wherever they have gone, said Joe.
Joe's fellow councillors were in total agreement with him and said George and Victoria should be given their walking papers.
However, the royal emblems were left on the pillar boxes for many years. In fact you will come across the occasional postbox displaying the royal images.
Views change over the years and knowing Joe and his love for Castlebar and its people, I am sure he would have no objection to Elizabeth and Philip being welcomed by our Taoiseach, Enda Kenny.
Enda's father Henry and Joe were close friends and politics never came between them. Wise men indeed.
My regards to Joe Chambers Junior, who lives in Dublin, a good friend of mine.

Old Castlebar family
THE Quinn family, Ellison Street, Castlebar, ran a successful butcher shop for many years. Alice Quinn was the last remaining member of her family to run the business. Her father, Michael Quinn, was a prominent businessmen.
Alice Quinn was a relative of Louis Brennan, the internationally known inventor, and Michael Brennan, a renowned artist. Michael Dever, Station Road, Castlebar, later had a butcher shop in the Quinn premises and he was succeeded by Seán Kilcoyne and Vincent Irwin.
Ned Sammon, Market Square, worked for the Quinn family as a butcher and later joined the staff of Castlebar bacon factory. Ned was father of Teecie Ainsworth, Marian Row and Rathbawn, Josie Sammon, Kerry, and Brendan Sammon, who passed away in Australia some years ago. Mrs. Margaret Ludden, St. Bridget's Crescent, also worked for the Quinns,
The Quinns were large landowners in the Castlebar area and part of their land was sold to Castlebar Urban Council in the early 1950s to build St. Bridget's Crescent and Marian Row housing estates.
It is amazing the number of businesses that have changed hands in Castlebar over the years. In 1935, for example, a family named Murray, Main Street, sold their premises to William Irwin, a master tailor. This is just one of many business premises on Main Street to change hands. Kilkelly's is the oldest shop on Main Street, a tribute to their business acumen and staying power.

The Garden Shop
MENTION of the Main Street in the previous paragraph reminded me of the Garden Shop which was located where Exclusive Fabrics now stands. The Garden Shop was run by Margaret Roach from Parke, who later married Jack Warde and emigrated to the US. Jack lived in Spencer Street and his father was a member of the Garda Síochana. The Warde family later lived at Saleen.
They were boys and girls in the Warde family and one of them, Nancy, married Owen Giblin, a garda stationed in Castlebar, a fine footballer with Mitchels.
Vincent Redmond, an old neighbour of mine in McHale Road, worked with Margaret Roach in the Garden Shop, Sadly, Vinnie, as he was popularly known, passed away a few years ago. He was married to Breege Halligan, another neighbour of mine, and they raised a fine family.
Margaret Roach was aunt of Kevin Rowley, Watersville, Castlebar, and Tom Rowley who trained as a journalist in The Connaught Telegraph and later moved to Dublin.
Close to McCarthys pub on Main Street, Castlebar, Mary McNally from Rehins ran a newsagency. She was sister of George McNally, a member of the nursing staff of St. Mary's Hospital, and Willie McNally, a prominent member of Castlebar Young Farmers Club who emigrated to America many years ago.
I have a list of the businesses on Main Street going back many years and I will publish it in the near future. I cannot leave the street without referring to Martin Browne who had a business on Main Street many years ago, a well-read man with a touch of class. God be good to him.

Coffin nails
THE dangers to health of cigarette smoking have been highlighted in recent years. However, this was not always the case and in the 1930s Wills, manufacturers of woodbine cigarettes, ran a competition to boost their sales.
A young Castlebar man, James Kinsella, son of Detective Sergeant and Mrs. Kinsella, Station Road, won £48 in the competition. The Kinsellas were well known in Castlebar and up to recent years came to the town on fishing holidays.
As youngsters we referred to woodbines as coffin nails and the brand could be bought in packets of five. A neighbour of mine, Mary Corcoran, McHale Road, swore by the woodbines and many's the time I saw her buying a packet in Peter O'Malley's shop. Mary was one of McHale Road's great characters who certainly knew how to embellish a story.

 

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