Williamstown — History Marched Down Its Streets

The Connacht Tribune, Saturday, July 21, 1956

Introduction

Williamstown, the village that was called not after an English king but an Irish barrister! The village is not quite 150 years old but in its time the streets have seen many changes. How did it get its name?

A daughter of Mr. Kelly of Springfield House, owner of the land on which the town now stands, married Mr. William McDermott, KC of Boyle. Miss Kelly was a noted beauty and her father gave her a present of the land and she and her husband set about building the town. When it was finished she gave it the name of Williamstown. It stands in the historic parish of Templetogher where St Patrick held a mission and where the baptismal font used by him is still to be seen.

English First

Down through the years, before and after the building of the town in 1830, history might be said to have passed through what are now its streets. In 1798 the English forces passed through on their way to fight Humbert. In 1839 the parish church was nearly roofed when the Big Wind came and blew down all the timber. A new church is now being built and a native of the parish, Mr John Higgins, donated £25,000 of the £31,500 which the church will cost.

The Fenians

Michael Davitt held his first meeting after Irishtown there, and later the process servers were chased away by the people who also stopped evictions. History repeated itself in 1910 when evictions were threatened and the local men were brave enough to stand by their neighbours. For their actions ten spent six months in Mountjoy gaol.

Williamstown was a stronghold of Fenianism and such names as John Finnegan, Farm; James A. McLoughlin, Kildare; John Maloney, Kilmore and John Smith, John Cunneely, Mattie Geraghty and Mickie Hawthorne from the town will be remembered when history is being written.

Modern Shops

Today Williamstown is a thriving centre of a populous, wealthy countryside. Its modern shops cater for a large section of the countryside and its fairs are noted for the quality of stock on offer and the prices obtained. Yet only 25 years ago what is now The Square was an unsightly pond in which ducks and geese disported themselves. That has all gone; progress has come to the town, and more progress is to be made because last year the Town Improvements Committee was formed and they have big plans for making Williamstown a still better place. Their plans include the provision of amenities that will benefit the farming community who leave their money in the town, the buyers who come to town to buy what the farmers have to sell; amenities like loading banks and weighbridges are envisaged.

Carnival

This will all take money and in order to raise funds the committee's first carnival opens on Friday, 20th July and will continue to August 1st. A look at the dance programme will show that some of the best bands in Ireland have been engaged and in addition the committee are giving a special door prize of £20. On the opening day there will be football matches and a fancy dress parade led by Williamstown's band under its conductor, Mr Leo Byrne. The band is well known to listeners to Radio Eireann. In addition to the dance programme there will be amusements all the time. There will be something for everyone who visits Williamstown during carnival time. Young and old can enjoy themselves and what is more they will be assured of getting a real Williamstown welcome from the friendly people of this progressive town.