Traders in Tuam in 1823

Extracted from 'The Irish Directory'

Introduction

The Irish Directory, published by J. Pigot & Co. of 24 Basing Lane, London in 1824, includes the following particulars of professional men, traders etc, carrying on business in Tuam in the previous year: -

Businesses in Tuam in 1823

Attorneys

Patrick Egan, Besville
James Henderson, Dublin Road
John Kilkelly, Mossfort
Stephen Leonard, Queen's Fort
Thomas Savage, The Mall

Physicians

John Madden, Shop Street
Thos. Little (and Surgeon), St. John's Abbey
John Prendergast, Bishop Street

Apothecaries

Patrick Clarke, R.N. (and Surgeon), Bishop St.
Michael Kelly, Shop Street
James McCormack, Shop Street

Academies

Rev. Thos. Feeney (Principal and Professor of Theology)
Rev. Thos. Keelty (Professor of the belles letters)
Michael Magee (Professor of mathematics and writing masters)
Rev. John Morris (Professor of Philosophy)
Charles O' Callaghan, The Mall Beech, Sandford, Dublin Road

Bakers

Sarah Halfpenny, High Street
Arthur Hartnett, Shop Street
Hugh Higgins, Shop Street

Boot and Shoe Makers

James Dalton, Shop Street
Michael Murray, Bishop Street

Brewer

Chas. B. Blake

Grocers, Spirit Dealers, Etc

Thos. Burke, High St
John Costello, High St
Patrick Keary, High St
Michael Roache, High St
John Walsh, High St
Michael Haddingan, Shop St
Thos. Haddingan, Shop St
William Moran, Shop St
Patrick Tierney, Shop St
John Keary, Bishop St
John Hicks, Vicar St
Pat Whitstad,Vicar St

Hardwares

John Connelly, Shop St
Thos. Hicks, Shop St
John Costelloe (and Leather Merch), High St
Michael Kenny, High St
Michael Haddigan, Bishop St
Francis Waldron, Bishop St
John Hicks (and Haberdasher and trimmer seller) Vicar St

Inns and Hotels

Connaught Hotel, Michael Ormsby, Bishop St
Mitre Inn, W. Jennings, Shop St

Linen and Wollen Drapers

Wm. Martin Burke, Shop St
Wm. Burke, High St
Connor Kelly, High St
John Kelly, Vicar St
Pat Kelly, Bishop St
Pat Kelly (Jun), Bishop St

Newspapers

Tuam Gazette published every Saturday evening by Geoffrey Eager, Vicar St.

Sadlers

Michael Burke, Vicar St
John Graham, Bishop St
Sandy O' Connor, Bishop St
Lewis Ward, Bishop St

Spirit Stores and Publish Houses

Michael Bohan, Vicar St
Gilmore Daniel, Vicar St
Wm. Kelly (Carman's Inn), Vicar St
Francis Ryan, Vicar St
Julia Finnegan, High St
Patk. Grimes, High St
Pat Neiland, High St
Nathl. Quinn, High St
Wm. Quinn, span High St
Pat O' Connor, Bishop St
Edmond Kelly, High St

Tailors

Patrick Path, Vicar St
Simon Reardon, Ballygaddy Rd

Tallow Chandlers

Joseph Armitage, Vicar St
John Hopkins, Church Lane
James Mannion, Shop St

Tanners

Hugh Delap
John Martin

Tobacconists

Theobald Burke, Shop St
John Keary, Bishop St

Watchmakers

Pat Boile, Bishop St
Edward Brady, Bishop St
James Mannion, Shop St

Miscellaneous

Theobald Burke, sundries, Shop St
Jas. Comber, Surveyor of Exise, Circular Rd
John Dillon, Carpenter
Geoffrey Eager, Printer, Vicar St
Thomas Fraze, Architect, Circular Rd
Thos. Geratty, China Dealer, Shop St
Thomas Edw. Miller, dealer in wine and gunpowder, Vicar St
Robt. Wm. Potter, Linen Inspector, Vicar Street

Coaches

Belmont Lock - The Canal Coach from Mitre Inn, through Ballinasloe every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning at seven, arrives at the Lock at four the same afternoon and returns to Tuam every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings at six.
Dublin - The Royal Mail from the Connaught Hotel every morning at eleven, Saturdays excepted, through Ballinasloe, Athlone, etc., arrives in Dublin every morning at six and returns to Tuam every day at a quarter past two.
Westport - The Royal Mail from the Connaught Hotel every afternoon at three".

Local Industries

The following are some details, which may give an idea of the extent and variety of the local industries, which have now become extinct. The following in an extract from Pigot's Directory for 1824: "In Tuam and its neighbourhood the manufacture of coarse linen is carried out to a considerable extent and there is a linen market held at the Connaught Hotel every Friday". (This hotel was situated at Bishop Street and was owned by one Michael Ormsby. It was also the stage for the Royal Mail). The same Directory refers to two tanneries - Hugh Delap's beside the Curragh Bridge and John Martin's which was at Little Mill Lane - but there were at least three others operating in the town in that year. In fact, Tuam was a very important centre of the tanning trade until late in the century and it is known that merchants from as far a field as Ballyhaunis, purchased their leather supplies there. Under the heading of Brewers, Slater's Directory of 1856 refers to John Carroll of High Street but this industry was probably on a very small scale. The principal brewery was that at the bridge in Shop Street in the premises now used as a hardware store by Mrs. Heskin. This brewery was founded at the beginning of the century by Mark Blake of Brooklawn. It operated until 1890, when, like many other breweries throughout the country it was forced out of business by the growing popularity of Guinness's porter. Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of 1846 refers to it as follows: "An extensive brewery, belonging to Mr. Blake, produces from 4,000 to 5,000 barrels of malt liquor annually attached to it are a malting concern, making about 600 quarters of malt".