Governey’s Boot Factory Carlow: Marching Off To War

A selection of images of Governey's employees at work in Governey's Boot Factory, Carlow.

Click on images to enlarge!


1903 - 1958
Over fifty years of shoe making. Manufacturers of Gents Goodyear welted footwear and Ladies 'casual' shoes in many fashionable styles and colours. Also Governey Agricultural Boots which still "lead the field"
Sold in all leading Shops in Towns and Villages
Manufactured by Michael Governey Carlow
Telephone 110

Governey's boot factory Outing c.1920's

I have a picture of what looks to be an outing for the workers of Governey's boot factory. There is no date but I assume it to be late 30's to early 40's?? Maybe someone could name a few of the faces. Picture was taken on Graiguecullen Bridge with 'The Tatch' in the background.
(The bus looks like a Leyland Lion built in 1927)

Annie Rogers was the supervisor - often heard my ma talking about her and she worked there. Anna! Her brother Dickie Rogers was also a foreman in the finishing dept they lived opposite my gran in Castle Hill.

Source: Anna Nolan Gough and others (Facebook)

Governey's boot factory Outing c.1920's

A 36 seater bus awaits for 43 ladies, employees of Governey’s Boot Factory. Pictured as they prepare to leave on an outing to Tramore in June 1937. The leather cases were made in the factory. In the background we note (L. to R.) Payne’s house, James’s house, Haughney’s house with the man looking out the middle window, next is Byrne’s house with Hogan’s adjoining. The last three named buildings were demolished to make way for the Boot Factory office.

The photo on the left looks very similar to the one above. They must have drove a couple of yards up the road and everyone had to get out again for a second shot.


Governey's Boot Factory c1930's. The factory closed in the 1970's and in 1983 the building was demolished.


Boot Factory employees pictured at machines are:
(L. to R.) Posie Pinkney, Greata Brophy, Lena Whelan, all of Dublin Road and Sacie Hayden, Staplestown Road.


Joe Hosey stands at the entrance to Governey's Boot & Shoe shop which was situated at Market Cross. c1930's
Demolished in 1991 it is now the Carlow branch of the First National Building Society.

Michael Governey invoice for shoes of assorted sizes. Invoice dated 7th May 1935

Source: eBay seller


Remaining Portion of Governey’s Boot factory. Now owned by Carlow County Council and currently houses the Carlow Rural Services Information Project (CRISP) Computer Training Centre. Photo Dan Carbery


Jim Byrne formally of St. Patricks Avenue working the Toe Lasting Machine.

Press Room	Closing Room
Closing Room	Clicking Room
Console Lasters	Press Room

Heavy Making Room	Welting Room
Finishing Room	Office and Works
Clicking Room	Governey label c1950

Governey's Boot Factory, Carlow: Marching Off To War: Carlow had been a garrison town in the midlands of Ireland for hundreds of years. So when the Great War broke out, it came as no surprise that military contracts were granted to many of the local firms. The boots that shod the feet of many British Army soldiers were made in Governey’s Boot Factory in Carlow town. The factory was started by Michael Governey in 1903 who had no experience of boot making at all. So he brought over members of the Dodge family from England who had been bootmakers for generations. Michael Governey had been a mineral water manufacturer before this but he inherited Corcorans Mineral Waters when his father-in-law died. Local historian Paul Maguire and member of the Governey family Dan Carbery are on the site of the old factory – long since gone.; Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p036nb8w

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Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p036nb8w