Looking down Main Street
The Lawrence Collection photograph taken from the top of the hill at the crossroads is an iconic time capsule of that part of the village near the turn of the 19th century, writes Brian Byrne.
According to the late James Kelly, the tailor whose business was in the square and who was a great local historian, the buildings which can be seen on the left side of the street were occupied as follows:
The house on the corner was the home of Mrs Bridget Brennan (who later married for a second time and became Mrs Dowling). Next was the dwelling of Dominic Cooper, down from which was the premises of saddler John Coogan. Next was Michael O'Neill, cattle dealer; James Byrne, merchant, undertaker and publican; Maggie Sheridan, grocer; Kate Dowling, draper; Pat Berney, saddler; the Courthouse where William Kennedy was the clerk; the RIC barracks, with Sgt Curry in charge; the residence of Pat Lambe; the drapery shop of Mrs Lucy Dowling; and Peter Bardon's Hotel. On the right side of the road, coming back up towards the crossroads, is the premises of Andy Nolan, butcher; the private house of Mrs Doran; the premises of Tom Foley, leather cutter; and Kitty Foley's grocery.
By 1930, those buildings had the following occupants, again beginning at the corner on the left side of the road: PG Dowling's cycle shop; Mrs Quinn's newsagent; the private houses of Mrs Poole and Mrs Bolger; the hardware shop of James Byrne; the four Misses Byrnes' grocery shop and bar; Peg Kenny, grocery and draper; Mrs Gallagher, draper; fishmonger Tom Orford; the home of Pat Rourke, postman; Sgt Griffin, retired RIC officer; the home of James 'Red' Byrne; the premises of saddler Pat Farrell; and Peter Bardon's Hotel. On the right, coming back towards the crossroads, were James (Gee) Nolan, butcher; Mrs Peter Downing, draper; postman Pat Malone; and James Nolan, butcher.
In 1980, again from the left downhill, it was first the dry cleaning operation of Brendan Dowling; JJ Dowling, newsagent and gift shop; Byrne's Supermarket; Peg Kenny, grocer and draper; Ellen Dowling, draper; Tim Orford's shop; the home of Ned Rourke, barman in O'Connells; retired Garda Joe O'Neill's home; the office of Pat Reidy, solicitor; the home of Nick Bardon and his family, and Bardon's bar and grocery. On the other side were Andy Nolan, butcher; Miss Mod ladies fashions; O'Connells Chemist; and the Post Office operated by Mrs Dixon.
In 2014, the occupants are (on left) Nichola Kennedy, optometrist; John Dowling, auctioneer & valuer; Valu€ Zone; the Post Office operated by Noeleen Eston; Eurospar supermarket; Cafe Coulan; Hair by Eilis; Ger's Fruit & Veg; Armelle's Kitchen; the O'Rourke and O'Neill homes; Kieran Forde's premises; The Bridge Barber; Five Star Takeaway; Eddie Cross's Bardons Pub & Restaurant. On the right today are Amanda Finn's The Hair Emporium; Bernard Berney, chemist; James Nolan, butcher; and Evelyn McKenzie's No 10 Design. (In buildings not visible in the original photograph are today Rose O'Donoghue's The Cottonwood Tree; Ellen's Hair Salon; and The Spout Bar operated by Tommy Dignam.)
Among the interesting things from this writer's point of view is the presence of the Byrne family in business on Main Street from that first photograph. My great-grandfather James came from Myshall in County Carlow as a carpenter to run a business where part of Eurospar is now. As a carpenter he made coffins, becoming an undertaker and a publican. He also built houses, two of them in Brownstown north of Kilcullen, and he built what is now Nolans Butchers incorporating the old Post Office on the other side of the arch. That latter was also one of my great grandfather's builds, where one of his daughters, Peg, was postmistress for much of her life.
Today, we Byrnes are no longer in business on Main Street.
