Old Galway — Memories of the Old Claddagh? — Or is it Shantalla?

Galway Advertiser October 15 1998

Introduction

This week we print a letter from Mr. Vincent Fahy, of 35 Tindal Street, Lothian Estate, London, an old Galwegian whose mother was born in the Claddagh. Vincent Fahy questions TK's identification of the location shown in the above photograph. TK remains unconvinced and believes the location, as he stated a few weeks ago, when this photograph was first reproduced under the headline 'Memories of the Old Claddagh', is, in fact, the Claddagh. However, Vincent Fahy's letter is so full of the flavour of Old Galway that we decided to publish it, along with TK's original article.

The Letter

"In the issue of the Galway Advertiser dated September 17, I regret to say that the photograph of the Old Claddagh is a false one, and many more mistakes about the Memories of the Old Claddagh (exist)which I will explain to my ability.

"The photograph is that of Lr Shantalla Road, which starts at Cooke's Corner (and the Thatch Pub) as you go—up the road, which starts at Cooke's Corner, the first turning on the right is that of St. Enda's Road; in No 20 in this road lives the sister of Willie Fahy (Willie Goes West), namely Mrs D. Boyle.

"The Claddagh cottages were demolished in the summer of 1935 or '36. I was a pupil in the Claddagh School and all of us boys used to meet in the 'Gorrie' before we went info school. When the cottages of the Claddagh were being demolished, there was an awful infestation of fleas. We had to wipe them off our legs. We were mostly in our bare feet. It was a gruesome task.

"I was in the same class (and desk) as Christy O'Connor the golfer. He was at that time a caddie at Blackrock Golf Club in Salthill. One time he was a caddie for Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. He travelled every day from Knocknacarra to school.

"There were only three of the little girls names, that were of Claddagh origin — Mary Moore, Clare Finnerty and Mary Flaherty. Children in them days were lucky to have a cheap pair of sand shoes; they were mostly in their bare feet.

"The picture in question shows Feeney's house, with a window on the thatch roof. The Claddagh cottages had only one window, one door and chimney. These cottages were built with sand and mud and an unknown substance, as there was no cement in the 15th century. When they were finished, they were whitewashed a brilliant white.

"My mother was born in the Claddagh (RIP). She had two brothers and three sisters. One brother was Thomas, who was superintendent of the waterworks at Terryland for almost 40 years.

"On the left of the picture is the grounds of St. Mary's College, a training college for the priesthood. Nicholas Cantwell, a pupil of the Claddagh school, went there. He became a chaplain on a battleship which was torpedoed. His body was never recovered.

"Turning back to Cooke's Corner, left turn is the road to Newcastle and the University College; the turn right leads to Nile Lodge (St Mary's Road), the Estoria cinema (now demolished), on to Lr Salthill where the industrial school for orphan boys was located. "God bless you, dear Claddagh, at the foot of Fairhill."

Memories of the Old Claddagh

(originally published September 17)

This photograph was taken in the 1950s and documents the change from the old Claddagh to the new.

It was taken along Grattan Road, and shows five shy young ladies in the foreground — Mary Moore, Anne Moloney, Nano Scofield, Clare Finnerty, and Mary Flaherty.

In the background you can see Sarah Curran's shop — she sold potatoes, turf, straw, candles, lamp oil, sweets, and groceries. You can also see two of the old Claddagh thatched houses, with an abandoned ruin in the foreground. These houses faced onto Grattan Road, which had South Park — also known as 'The Swamp'—on the far side, hidden behind along high—jiggle stone wall. In earlier years much of the area was known as the 'Green Grass' or the 'Big Grass'. It was where the local children played their games, especially hurling, being the only stretch of grass, and it was also the favorite haunt of the village geese. The geese were very obedient, and would always come home at the call or whistle of their individual owners.

However, one had to be careful when near them, as they were liable to attack strangers and locals alike.

South Park was originally a large swampy area going down to the sea. It was here that the women and children gathered bait for the fishermen in the 19th century. The bait was mostly big worms. Hardiman describes the scene. . . "When preparing for sea, hundreds of their women and children for some days before, crowd the neighbouring stands, digging for worms to bait the hooks". 'The Swamp' was later used as a dump, but in the 50s the corporation landscaped it, made pitches and knocked down the large wall.

Our thanks to Mary Reck of 23 Loughnane Terrace, Mervue, for today's photograph, and to Peadar O'Dowd, whose wonderful book, 'Down By The Claddagh' provided us with much of the information.

TK

I, Morgan O'Doherty; with my customary graciousness and civility, have loaned TK his space this week. What goes around, comes around; a nod's as good as a wink; a rolling stone gathers no moss...if you catch my drift.)