From the archives: Mayo sanatorium was burned down in 1939
By Tom Gillespie
ON June 24, 1939, there were exciting scenes as 40 patients were removed to safety from St. Teresa’s, Mayo County Sanatorium, at Creagh, near Ballinrobe, when fire broke out early on the Saturday morning.
The building was almost completely destroyed, the chapel and some staff sleeping quarters being the only section saved.
The fire was discovered by Nurse McNulty and Miss Mamie Wilson, a maid who heard the crackling of burning timbering in the ceiling over their bedroom. They gave the alarm and roused the entire staff.
Fanned by a stiff breeze, the flames spread rapidly and in a short time had enveloped the surgery, completely destroying the contents.
Ballinrobe Guards were summoned and, with Guards from Castlebar (in charge of Chief Supt. O’Halloran and Inspector Dunning), they rushed to the outbreak.
Galway Fire Brigade were called and 17 lines of 40-ft. hose were laid on, and strong jets were played on the inferno.
Meanwhile, with the aid of staff, Guards, and members of the public, the patients - some of whom were in a very weak condition and had to be taken out on stretchers - had been removed from the burning building. They lay on the lawn watching the fire.
Dr. M.F. Daly, County Medical Officer of Health, arrived from Castlebar, and, with Dr. M.J. Hawkshaw, made arrangements for the conveyance by private cars and ambulances of the patients, some being taken to their own homes, the others to Castlebar County Hospital.
The place burned fiercely, and the crash of falling roofs was deafening. Firemen, under Mr. Timothy Duggan, worked feverish in preventing the flames from spreading to the sleeping quarters of the matron and maids.
These apartments and the chapel - in the same wing - were the only parts of the building saved. Rev. W. Nohilly, C.C., Ballinrobe, went into the chapel and saved the Blessed Sacrament and sacred vessels.
Beds and bedding were blazing in the ground outside, and the entire place resembled a scene of desolation. The flames, leaping high in the air, could be seen for miles.
Right Rev. Monsignor D’Alton, P.P., V.G., Dean of Tuam, Ballinrobe, and Rev. M. Flynn, C.C., watched the fire-fighting efforts.
Relatives of patients, unaware of the successful removal of all in the building, made anxious inquiries throughout Saturday.
Creagh, built of beautifully cut stone and at a cost of £40,000, possessed some of the finest woodwork in Connaught.
It was formerly the residence of Col. Henry Knox and was acquired by the Mayo Board of Health in 1929.
Mr. R. Walsh, T.D., at a special meeting of Mayo County Council on the Saturday, asked the chairman to suspend standing orders to enable a Board of Health matter to be referred to for the purpose of allying public feelings in regard to the destruction of the Creagh Sanatorium.
Councillor Bernard Joyce, vice-chairman, who resided in Ballinrobe, said he rang Galway Fire Brigade, and, though he gave every guarantee asked for on behalf of the Board and the Council, they refused to travel, being confined, by a recent order, to the Corporation area.
“It is a terrible position in the state of civilisation we have advanced to,” he said, “having to stand there helplessly watching this splendidly built mansion, elaborately and expensively equipped with every modern facility, being devoured by a fire of relentless ferocity.
“If we had our own fire-fighting apparatus the building would have been saved.
“One is forced to realise that the county authorities were negligent in not having provided an apparatus for coping with fire.
“When the fire had got a good grip the secretary of the Board of Health arrived, and, under his representation, the Galway Brigade travelled, but the fire had done its work when they arrived.”
He urged the council to take steps to cope with outbreaks of fire. Their duty was to telegraph thanks to Dr. Hawkshaw, Fr. Nohilly, Chief Superintendent O’Halloran and the staff of Guards he took with him from Castlebar, as well as the sanatorium nurses and staff, for what they did for the patients, some of whom were in a dying condition, yet survived their removal.
Councillor McGing proposed that they censure the Galway Brigade for not answering the call.
Councillor Kilroy, chairman, said it was not open to them to censure anyone as the Mayo authorities had not done their duty when they left themselves helpless in the time of catastrophe.
The council issued a direction to the Board of Health to take immediate steps to provide fire-fighting equipment, and thanked those who assisted at the fire.
They also urged that every possible step be taken for the care of the patients, and that a new institution be provided for them. A special meeting of the Board of Health was to be called immediately to arrange for the provision.
A wing of the County Home (Sacred Heart Hospital) in Castlebar had been set aside for the transferred patients, and Dr. Thornton, R.M.S., Creagh, and his staff were looking after the patients who had been accommodated were. A goodly number of patients decided to return to their own homes, and were permitted to do so.