Directory: GALWAY, 1881 Directory of Athenry Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives http://www.igp-web.com/IGPArchives/copyright.htm http://www.igp-web.com/IGPArchives/galway/ Contributed by C.L. SLATER'S COMMERCIAL DIRECTORY OF IRELAND -1881 ATHENRY Is a small incorporated market and post town and parish, partly in the baronies of Clare, Dunkellin and Kilconnell, but chiefly in that of Athenry, county of Galway, 121 miles w. by s. from Dublin and 14 E. from Galway, ans is on the Midland Great Western railway. This place, anciently called Athneri, is said to have derived its name from Athna-Raigh, “the King's Ford,” or “the abode of a king.” Sir James Ware considers it to have been the chief town of the Anteri; and at a remote period it was surrounded by walls, with round towers fifty yards apart, which indicate it to have been a place of considerable importance. The ruins of the walls and towers, together with a castle, called the “King's Court,” as it is considered to have been the residence of one of the provincial kings, and which was a building of great defence, are still to be seen. The ruins of a Dominican abbey here, from its antiquity and style of architecture, are the admiration of all strangers. It was founded by Myler De Birmingham, second baron of Athenry, in 1241, and was dedicated to St. Peter and Paul. A Franciscan friary was also founded here by the Earl of Kildare, in 1464. In 1577 the two sons of the Earl of Clanricarde, renouncing their submission to Elizabeth, assembled their partisans, and succeeded in reducing the town to a state of complete ruin. In this state it continued till the year 1584, when it was to a great extent re-built; but in 1596 the northern Irish invested it, and again it was reduced to ashes. From this time, though it had formerly held a second rank in the county, it never recovered its ancient importance. The Dominican friars, who, under the protection of the O'Dalys, of Caronkelly, took up their abode at Eskee, about three miles from the town, still continue to flourish there. They have built a very neat chapel and a college. There are also National schools there, wherein 800 of the children of the poor are daily educated, 100 of whom are provided with food. The town is situated in the midst of a tolerably fruitful soil, though there is a considerable quantity of unreclaimed bog in the neighbourhood. The magistrates regulate the affairs of the town, for which purpose they held a petty sessions once a fortnight. The places of worship are a Protestant Episcopal church, a remarkably neat building and one belonging to the Roman Catholics, a plain slated edifice. There is a constabulary barrack, a dispensary and a National school. A chalybeate spring is much resorted to. The markets are held on Fridays and Mondays, and the fairs (which are but poorly attended), are May 5th, July 2nd, and October 20th. In 1861 the population of the parish was 3,881 and in 1871, 3,639, of which number the town contained 1,194. POST OFFICE. Athenry, Ann Rush, Post Mistress – Letters from Dublin, England, Scotland, &c. arrive at twelve night and half-past one afternoon, and are dispatched thereto at twenty minutes past twelve night and twelve noon. Letters from Tuam, Hollymount, Castlebar and Westport, arrive at twelve night and are dispatched thereto at the same time. Money Order and Telegraph Office and Savings Bank. GENTRY AND CLERGY BUTCHERS HOTELS & PUBLIC HOUSES Blake Rev. M Athenry Connor Michael Barrett Joseph Blake Peter, Esq, J.P. Hollypark Fallon Patrick Blackall & M'Donagh (wine & spirit Bodkin Robert, Esq, Annagh merchants) Clarke James, Esq, J.P. Graig Abbey CARPENTERS Brodrick Michael Cullinan Mr. John, Mount Brown Cloonan James Irvine Robt, Esq, Town House, Athenry Brodrick Peter & John (builders) Dillon John S Joyce John, Esq, Athenry Mannion Thomas (& cartwright) Dooley Patrick Lambert Francis E, Esq, Moor park Walsh Michael Dunleavy Patrick Lambert Giles Eyre, Esq, Knocbrack Fahy Morgan Lambert Walter, Esq, J.P. Castle-Ellen DRAPERS Joyce Peter Lopdell John J, Esq, J.P. Raheen Park Kelly Bridget M'Cay Mr. Hector, Mulpit Brodrick Margaret Kelly Thomas R M'Donagh Denis M, Esq, Athenry Dillon John S Kinneen Patrick O'Brien Rev. John Patrick, Athenry M'Donoagh Matthew Kinneen's Hotel (posting house), Persse Burton , Esq, D.L. &J.P. Moyode Castle Timothy Kinneen Richardson Nicholas G, Esq, J.P. Tyaquin FARMERS Larner Lawrence Smyth Lawrence, Esq, Caherfinsker In the Parish of Athenry Nolan Bernard Trousdell William B.P., Esq, Aughrim park Nolan Richard Walker Rev. Samuel,M.A. Athenry Barrett Joseph ; Mitchel Edward Railway Hotel, Anne Kavanagh Hennelly Michael ; Mitchel Patrick Ryan James SCHOOL Irvine Robert ; Mitchel Anthony Smyth Samuel Kelly Raymond ; O'Connor Gerald Sweeny Joseph NATIONAL SCHOOL - Thomas O'Reilly, M'Cay Hector ; Porteous David Wheelan Bridget master; Sarah Dolan, mistress M'Donagh Denis ; Smyth William IRONMONGERS BAKERS FIRE &c. OFFICE AGENTS Blackall & M'Donagh (& hardware Brodrick Margaret PRUDENTIAL (life) - Morgan Fahy, Athenry dealers) Kelly Michael THE EDINBURGH (life) - Denis M. M'Donagh, Brodrick Michael M'Kean Michael Athenry Sweeny Joseph Ryan John GROCERS STATIONERS BANK Barrett Joseph Blackall & M'Donagh ULSTER BANK (Branch) - Draws on Brodrick Margaret Prescott & Co. London - James Corry, Brodrick Michael SURGEON manager Blackall & M'Donagh (& flour dealers) Dillon John S Leonard Henry J.W. BLACKSMITHS Fahy Morgan Gill William TAILORS Madden Thomas Kelly Bridget Murphy Michael Kelly Thomas R Caulfield Patrick Nolan Bernard Flannigan Stephen Smyth Samuel Sweeny Joseph Watson Francis T ============================================================================================================================= MISCELLANEOUS PUBLIC BUILDINGS, OFFICES, &c. Dispensary - Henry J.W. Leonard, surgeon Blackall & M'Donagh, agents for Goulding's PLACES OF WORSHIP Dominican Convent, Esker - The Very manures And Their Ministers Rev. M. Blake, prior Burke Edward, saddler Registers of Births, Deaths, & Marriages - Burke Maria, glass & china dealer PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH - Henry J.W. Leonard Cannon Patrick, shopkeeper William D.Roe, rector Sessions House - Hector M'Cay, clerk Dillon John S, shopkeeper PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (temporary) - Irvine Robert, oatmeal, &c, miller, Rev. Samuel Walker, M.A. CAR Athenry, & chemical manure works, Galway ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH - Rev. To WESTPORT, a Mail Car, at half- Jordan Mark, bootmaker John Patrick O'Brien, P.P. past one morning, goes through Kinneen Timothy, high constable for barony Tuam, Hollymount & Claremorris of Athenry Constabulary Barrack - Edward Hayden, sergeant Mahon Patrick, shopkeeper Deputy Registrar of Births, Deaths & CONVEYANCE BY RAILWAY Marriages - Hector M'Cay On the Midland Great Western Line. Station close to the town (on the north side) - James Thompson Garven, station master.