Mayo memories: The day Chipperfield’s Circus came to town
By Tom Gillespie
I AM old enough to remember when Europe’s greatest circus came to Castlebar, and The Connaught Telegraph gave the event major headlines on Saturday, September 5, 1959.
They reported: "For the past week there has been a growing air of excitement in many parts of Mayo as people are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the famous Chipperfield Circus in Castlebar, Mayo’s county town.
"And on Thursday, September 3, the great moment had arrived and the stage was set for the greatest show in Europe.
"Chipperfield’s famous circus opens in Castlebar today (Thursday - the newspaper was published on a Thursday but dated Saturday).
"Thousands of people will be entertained nightly at this magnificent circus and zoo, which has appropriately been described as the greatest spectacle in Europe.
"They bring to Castlebar the entire show which has recently completed a successful season in Dublin.
"There will be plenty of animals to delight the young and old, including the largest herd of elephants in any circus, a magnificent troupe of thoroughbred racehorse presented by John Chipperfield, and the ever-popular African lions.
"Firm favourite are the giants Shire cart horses and the unusual presentation of ponies and miniature bulls together in one act.
"The latter are shown by Doreen Duggan, who also has a dramatic act with her Nile crocodiles.
"Doreen handles these huge reptiles with skill and obvious enjoyment in spite of the fact that she had already been severely mauled by one of them this season.
"Marion Larrigan has a delightful troupe of poodles including one tiny poodle that always steals the act.
"Visiting Ireland for the first time are the five Biasini’s from Italy with their highly skilful trick cyclist act.
"No circus is complete without the clowns! Little Hubert, Pee Wee See and Grimble join forces in their egg entree and produce chaos in the shortest time possible.
"Ron and Rita, beauty and the clown on the tight wire, and Flery Jack, the sad clown who never smiles.
"Altogether two hours of thrills, laughs and excitement, this is the circus in the grand manner."
THE MERCHANT PRINCE OF CASTLEBAR
At the beginning of 1900, according to the files of The Connaught Telegraph, and for several decades afterwards a constant advertised in the Connaught was the well-known and highly esteemed merchant prince of Castlebar, the late Mr. William P. Gibbons, who remained a bachelor and who was the last male representative of a fine, respectable stock that had been longer in Castlebar than any other local family.
It its difficult at this stage to state, with any degree of accuracy, when this branch of the Gibbons clan first settled in the county town but it is a well-established fact that they first opened business in Castlebar so far back as the year 1780.
By honest trading and fair dealing their concern prospered to such an extent that in the second half of the last century (1800) the firm became the principal merchants in Castlebar, with a palatial residence and shop in the Main Street (Bridge Street) and with solid stone-built stores and out offices at the rear.
They upheld their Catholic religion when it was not fashionable to do so and it is on record that in 1845 when the then Earl of Lucan, landlord of the town, refused to give a site for the erection of a convent to provide accommodation for the Sisters of Mercy who had arrived that year in Castlebar, Mr. William P. Gibbons, grandfather of the Mr. William P. Gibbons already referred to with three other gentlemen, purchased as private individuals the land upon which the Convent of Mercy once stood and, when the deeds were signed, handed it over as a suitable site to the good Sisters, much to the annoyance of his Lordship who realises he had been outwitted.
The demise of Mr. William P. Gibbons made The Connaught Telegraph the oldest firm in Castlebar.
Established in 1828 it has been in continuous publication ever since those far-off days and holds the remarkable record of being the oldest provincial weekly newspaper in this country. It has maintained its high traditions and has lived up to its well-known motto ‘Be just and fear not’.
The huge premises of the late Mr. Gibbons were purchased by that enterprising and progressive Castlebar firm of Messers. Hoban Brothers, who disposed of their adjoining shop to Mr. Frank Nolan.
Since then they have reconstructed, remodelled and improved the place to such an extent that the store became the most up-to-date emporiums in Ireland.
The high reputation gained by this shop was maintained and every article of merchandise sold by Mr. Gibbons during their 163 years in business was to be found there together with many new items that suit the tastes and the palates of our modern atomic age.
More than half a column of The Connaught Telegraph of January 12, 1901, was given to a description of a hockey match played on the lawn of Castlebar House (now St. Joseph’s Secondary School) on January 4 between Ballina and Castlebar in the first round of the Connaught Cup.
Up to half-time the game was fairly even but in the second moiety an accident to one of the Castlebar half-backs, which necessitated his retirement, gave the visitors an opening of which the quickly availed themselves by registering two goals in succession.
Excitement reigned as the home team endeavoured to close the gap but the perfect combination of the visitors prevailed and when the final whistle went the scores stood: Ballina three goals; Castlebar one goal.
The writer paid a special compliment to the zeal of the Castlebar players, Messers. Joseph. T. Kelly, Paddy MacCormack and Henry Sheridan.
It was also mentioned that Messers. MacCormack and Sheridan had been selected to represent Connaught in the forthcoming Inter-Provincial match against Leinster together with the following Westport players, Messers. Heraty, Gill and Kirke.