Local history: New post office for Mayo's county town
By Tom Gillespie
IN the issue of March 2, 1901, The Connaught Telegraph stated that 'Dr. Robert Ambrose, MP for West Mayo, deserves to be warmly congratulated on having his efforts in the directing of securing a new post office for Castlebar at last crowned with success.
'The letter which we publish hereunder will convey the highly successful news to the residents of Castlebar that the Government has now completed all arrangements for the erection of a new post office and that the building may be commenced any day'.
The letter referred to in the paragraph was one addressed to Dr. Ambrose from the General Post Office, London, informing that the purchase of the site for the new post office in Castlebar had been completed, that plans had been approved and that the Board of Works had been instructed to invite tenders for the erection of the building. Tenders having been invited, the then well-known firm of Messers. Mulligan and Sons, Swinford, was declared contractors for the works.
Although more than 50 years had elapsed since its erection, the building still retained its interior artistic characteristics and with the ‘creature comforts’ and colour scheme introduced by esteemed postmaster, Mr. Sean Lavelle, who incidentally was born more than three miles of Castlebar, the cold, drab, uninviting look of the public office has been removed, and it was a most pleasant and attractive place in which to transfer business.
Messers. Mulligan carried out successfully many contracts throughout the county, including the erection of the beautiful Church at Straide and the new church at St. Mary’s Hospital, Castlebar. At the time the site was acquired, one dwelling house upon it, occupied by Mr. Pat Cawley, shoemaker, and his family, was taken over and Mr. Cawley transferred his residence to a shop in Castle Street.
Two of the many workshops attached to the coach building premises of the late Mr. Joseph H. Dwyer were also acquired and incorporated within the boundary of the post office property.
Mr. John B. Sheridan, The Green, Castlebar, father of the celebrated Irish singer, Miss Margaret Burke-Sheridan, who had acted as postmaster over a lengthy period, conducted official business in the large room on the ground floor of his residence, later the home of the late Dr. Dermot Ryan.
On Mr. Sheridan’s demise early in 1901, the post office was removed to Ellison Street, where it was established in the spacious house now (1901) utilised as offices by Mr. A.V.G. Thornton, State Solicitor. This temporary accommodation was abandoned when the newly-built post office opened its doors in 1904.
Earlier in 1901 - January 5 - The Connaught Telegraph reported: As advertised in previous issues of this paper, Mr. Michael Kelly, auctioneer, Castlebar, set up for sale on Saturday last a valuable portion of Mrs. McClung’s property beside Castlebar, known as Mountgordon House, with its lands and demesne.
The bidders were Mr. Potter, Turlough, Mr. James MacDonald, Roundfort, Hollymount, and Mr. Lawrence Flannelly, cattle dealer, Castlebar. After a keen and spirited contest the entire premises and lands were ‘knocked down’ to Mr. James MacDonald for £700.
Mr. Alfred B. Kelly, solicitor, Castlebar, had carriage of sale.
Mr. Kelly will, as announced in our advertising columns, sell by public auction at the courthouse on Thursday next nine dwelling houses in Spencer Street, Castlebar, which are also the property of Mrs. McClung. This sale, we are sure, will be the scene of very brisk bidding as seldom does such an opportunity present itself to investors.
Mrs. McClung, who owned considerable property in the Castlebar area, was widow of a gentleman who had acted as land agent in the locality for many years. The new owner of Mountgordon House with its demesne, Mr. James MacDonald, proved to be a first class farmer and built up a reputation of being one of the best judges of livestock in the province.
His second son, Mr. Michael G. McDonald, who succeeded to the place on the demise of his father, is one of the most modern husbandmen in Mayo and has converted the farm into real flattering land of good heart and excellent herbage.
His younger brothers are the dynamic secretary of the Castlebar GAA Club, the ever-popular Mr. Gerard McDonald, and that highly esteemed veterinary surgeon, Mr. Robert MacDonald, Claremorris. Three other brothers are Messers. Jim MacDonald, who farms extensively outside Dublin, and John and Augustus MacDonald.
Mr. James MacDonald was brother of the late Very Rev. Canon MacDonald, P.P., Newport, who was responsible for the erection of the oratory on the summit of Crouch Patrick during the period he had acted as Rev. Administrator of the parish of Westport.
Shortly after Mr. James MacDonald acquired Mountgordon, another brother, Mr. Robert MacDonald, settled in the Castlebar district when he purchased Rocklands House (now the property of Castlebar Golf Club) and occupied it until his death.
The auctioneer, Mr. Michael Kelly, who was a native of Castlebar, was one of the leading merchants in the town and was husband of Mrs. K.M. Kelly, who conducted a most prosperous concern in the family business at Bridge Street, Castlebar.
Mr. Kelly was brother of Mr. Patrick J. Kelly, Spencer Street, Castlebar, and of the late Mr. Teddo Kelly, who played such a prominent part in the famous GAA match at Bohola in 1903 when Castlebar Mitchels defeated the renowned Ballina Stephenites in the county championship.
Note: Mountgordon House is occupied today by Trevor and Mary (nee MacDonald) Ardill.