The day Charlie Haughey brought sunshine to Mayo

by Auld Stock

WHEN you get to Auld Stock’s age, forty years doesn’t appear to be all that long.

The year 1980 will be remembered for many things, especially the weather. It rained for practically the entire twelve months.

Two well known amateur weather forecasters, Tommy Moran, Saleen, and Michael Morgan, St. Bridget’s Crescent, Castlebar, could give no reasonable explanation for the constant deluge.

Tommy Moran made references to St. Malachy’s prophecies, but the good saint’s weather warnings were cold comfort to the many visitors from abroad who flocked to Mayo for their summer holidays.

Johnny Bloxham, a neighbour of Auld Stock’s from McHale Road, who was holidaying in Castlebar from London, described the weather as “disgusting and shocking.”

The Bloxhams were a very old Castlebar family and lived in Shruffaun before moving to McHale Road. Mary and Lulu Bloxham lived at the bacon factory end of McHale Road and they were nice, decent people.

Charlie Haughey, the then Taoiseach, appeared to have the magic touch for the sun shone brightly on the day he came to Castlebar to unveil two plaques on the house in which he was born at Mountain View.

Pat Jordan produced copies of Charlie’s birth certificates to prove he was baptised in the Church of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar

Now that Mr. Haughey had officially recognised his birthplace, local people were hoping he would do great things for the county capital.

They were many other happenings in Castlebar in 1980, but in typical Haughey style, he stole the show.

As Ted Ludden, Castle Street, a devoted Haughey fan, remarked, “Charlie had a quiet word with the weatherman in the sky and sunshine beamed down on the county town.”

Fair enough. What more could we ask for?

Ted Ludden was a quiet, unassuming man with a keen sense of humour.