Carlow Past and Present
by
Annie C. Parker-Byrne
During the
past year the Old Carlow Society celebrated its 55 birthday. I feel we
should, in this issue of the Societies annual publication, give a
thought to the founders, all now gone to their eternal reward and show
appreciation for their foresight and determination in their efforts to
preserve Carlow's history. Indeed let us not forget, either, those
dedicated members who followed in the footsteps of the founders and
kept "the ship sailing through times both good and bad".
It is a
notable achievement for any voluntary-society to survive 55 years
especially bearing in mind "Carlow's Progress" during which many
Organisations, Landmarks. Buildings and Streets have disappeared.
At its
beginning 50 dedicated members made up the Society and it is
remarkable what those 50 achieved prove that a dedicated membership,
although small, can do much more than a nominal list of 500 members.
The
Societies first Patron was Dr. Thomas Kehoe, Bishop of Kildare and
Leighlin. He held the post for just over 20 years and was succeeded by
Dr. Patrick Lennon. The present Patron is also the Bishop of Kildare
and Leighlin, Dr. Laurence Ryan, whom we hope and pray will be with us
for many years to come.
Over the
years many of the ambitions of the Societies founders have been
achieved. Nine months after its foundation, the late Fr. P. J.
Brophy., edited the first issue of the Societies Journal and set a
high standard for those following in his footsteps, a standard which
has been maintained and for which succeeding editors can feel justly
proud. The current editors - Martin Nevin and Rev. Dermot McKenna -
can also feel justly proud of their efforts over the years and are to
be congratulated on all the hard, and mostly unseen and unsung work,
they have put into the preparation of successive issues.
This issue is
the 49th of "Carloviana". It is a difficult task for any person who in
addition to working for their livelihood to find time and resources to
enable them to contribute their expertise to producing a Journal that
brings such joy, in reading of and in many cases remembering the past,
to members and non members alike, whether at home or abroad. Its value
to students interested in and studying the development and history of
Carlow cannot be over emphasized. Money being an essential item in any
production one must remember that the sponsors and subscribers without
whose support no Journal could ever be published. We thank them for
their support over the past 55 years and look forward to their
continued support.
It took
another 25 years before it’s second ambition was realised when the Old
Christian Brothers School in College Street opened it's doors to the
Society and the foundation of the County Carlow Museum. The Museum was
founded thanks to the dedicated members and generosity of the people
and a cash donation from the Enniscorthy Museum together with some
artifact's for display. Alec Burns of College Street, alas no longer
with us, is well remembered for his work in this area, as are
many-others.
Time moved
on and the Museum had to find a new home, no easy task. The local
authority, Carlow U D C, provided the former Concert/Dance Hall, which
had been unused for some time, in the Town Hall as it's new home
following long and protracted negotiations. Then the hard work began -
packing and transporting the many items that the Society- acquired
over the years. As usual the dedicated few were on hand to ensure that
all went well. They put their collective shoulders to the wheel and
the work was put in hand, many were involved but the following - all
thankfully still with us - deserve a mention - Seamus Murphy, Kevin
Kennedy, Willie Ellis, Jimmy Moran and Tommy Clarke. The late Michael
Dooley and indeed all the Dooley family, formerly of the Fruit Shop in
Tullow Street, along with other local traders helped with the
transportation and it all came together with very little fuss.
The end
result - The Old Kitchen, The Forge, The Shop and the Pub with no Beer
along with the other treasures of the past could be viewed at it's new
home for the past 20 years. Let us sincerely hope that none of these
treasures will be lost to future generations so that our people will
not have to journey elsewhere to view the old way of life. We have it,
let us safeguard and treasure it.
The Town
Hall, which holds memories for the many people of the dances that were
held there and the famous, and not so famous, artists who appeared
there in times now gone is to get a "face lift". So, once again, the
Museum will have to move - hopefully for the last time, the Carlow
County Manager, Tom Dowling, has promised a permanent home for the
Museum in the Presentation Convent Complex at the junction of College
and Tullow Streets. This move will involve a lot more work and it is
to be hoped that the dedicated membership of the Society will ensure a
smooth transition to it's new home. The experience of its previous
move should stand it in good stead on this occasion.
Carlow has
become a very important educational centre with the College of
Technology, St Patrick's College, Primary and Post Primary Schools -
both English and Irish, but the Society has been unsuccessful in
getting younger people involved in its activities. History is more
than famous battles, dates and the reigns of kings and queens. It also
includes local history which can be much more immediate and as
thrilling as any video or movie and much more so when it is the
subject of research by interested parties. I am often told, usually
kindly, that I seem to know "the breed, seed and generation" of Carlow
past. I am proud of the foundations that made me what I am and I urge
teachers in our schools to stress the importance of learning and
appreciating our national and local identities and the qualities that
have made us what we are. I remember reading these words -
"History must at least be the story of the changing fortunes of men
and human affairs". Let us remember that and let our children
learn it.
Source: CARLOVIANA 2001 Edition