Tuam in Olden Days

by Jarlath A. O'Connell

An extract from the 'Galway Reader', Vol. 2. Nos. 1 and 2. Pages 53 - 60

The Old Granary

In one of Mr. McNamara's fields at Ballygaddy Road, may still be seen the remnants of a building which is known locally as "The Old Granary". This is a relic of the days before the advent of the Railroad, when all merchandise had to be transported to and from the town in horse-drawn carts. The building was a "Carman's Stage", and similar establishments were to be found on the outskirts of all towns in the first half of the century. They catered for the needs of carters passing through the town, by providing them with meals and sleeping accommodation as well as oats and stabling for the horses. Notwithstanding the difficulties of transport the Tuam merchants managed to provide a varied assortment of wares for their customers.

The Scotch Emporium

On the 11th of October 1838, "The Scotch Emporium" (the present proprietors of which are Messrs. Fay & Co.), first opened its doors "next door to McCormack's Medical Hall", and the following advertisement of its goods appeared in the Tuam Herald of the 10th November of that year. It is an interesting statement of the goods stocked by a drapery of the period.

Catalogue of goods at Scotch Emporium, Shop Street

SILKS	s.	d.
Rich, Plain, Gros de Naples	1	9	per yd. up
Rich, figured do	1	10	"   "   "
Plaid washing silks	2	4	"   "   "
Figured tabinets	1	2	"   "  "
Crape de Lyons	81/2		"   "  "
Norwich Crape	61/2		"   "  "
French Batiste for evening dresses	31/4		"   "   "
Cashmeres
Coloured 6-4 Merinos, from	1	1	"   "  "
Figured do	1	91/2	"   "   "
German do	1	11	"   "  "
Real French (from Caudy's & Co., Rue de Hilder, Paris)	6	0	"   "  "
8-4 Flannel	2	1	"   "   "
4-4 Flannel	1	2	"   "  "
Cloaks
Coloured Merinos (large size)	7	3	each
Victoria Plaid (large size) French	13	6	"
Rich Shawl Cloaks	14	10	"
Fine Cloth Cloaks (wide)	26	0	"
Splendid Silk Cloaks, 6 breadths	27	0	"
Wide black patent Crape	1	7	per yd.
Gloves @ 2d., 4d. and 6d. per pair
Women's cotton stockings from 5 per pair
Men's Silk handkerchiefs 81/2 each
Women's Gauze neck-kerchiefs 41/2 each
Wide Gauze Ribbons 2 per yd.
Table Covers from 1 8 and up.

A splendid variety of shawls, comprising Rich Indian, Thibet Wool, Filled Meddly Crape, Chenile, figured Rock spun, Kilmarnock, Tartan, Cotton and fancy Plaids. A large assortment of Furs, Lynx, Squirl and Ermine Muffs, Tippets, Pellerine and Boas. Linens, Lawns, Diapers, Towellings, Napkins, Toilet Covers and white counterpanes. Sattens, Persians, Laces, Quillings, Edgings, Incertions and Trimmings of every descriptions".

A Publican Can Not a Grocer Be

The merchants of 1838 were spared the horrors of a rationing system, but they had their own troubles as would appear from the following notice, which appeared in the Tuam Herald in October of that year:- Excise Office London 11th October 1838 For the purpose of obviating as far as possible, any just cause of complaints on the part of grocers and spirit retailers in Ireland, carrying into effect the Act of 6 and 7 William IV., c.38. Ordered - In pursuance of directions from the Rt. Hon. The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, signified by letter from one of their Lordships secretaries, dated this day, that retailers of spirits in Ireland, being duly licenced to trade in, vend, and sell coffee, tea, etc. for the current year, be informed that a renewal of their publican licences will not be objected to, provided they withdraw their entries as grocers and surrender their grocers' licences, previously endorsing on such licence, a memorandum signed by them that they have discontinued the business of a grocer, and that such licence is delivered up to be cancelled. That the several collectors return to the parties who shall thus surrender their grocers' licences the full amount paid for the same and transmits with the proper accounts all such licences as vouchers for the sums claimed as such repayments. By the Board Charles Browne"

Thieves in Tuam

On the 29th April 1854, the Tuam Herald published the following account of the rounding up of a gang of thieves who preyed upon the local merchants for some time before they were apprehended. "A notorious gang which infested this and the neighbouring towns has been apprehended through the vigilance of Head Constable Scott, who, with his party, has succeeded in lodging six of them in jail. Last week, two of them (Hughes and Costello) formerly inmates of the Tuam Workhouse, proceeded to Mountbellew and having concealed themselves in the plantations, entered the town at midnight on the 20th and in forcing an entrance into Mr. Mullarky's shop were discovered and one of them arrested, the other, immediately on his return to this town, information having preceded him, was also caught with four more of the gang, in an old haunt in Bishop Street. One of them has revealed most of the secrets - that they had robbed Mr. Byrne's, Mrs Murray's and other shops here lately and told were most of the stolen property would be found. Several persons who bought the goods under value, are charged as receivers and the whole have been fully committed for trial. Three members of the gang - Hughes, Costello and Lally were charged with stealing at Tuam Petty Sessions, the following week and an old woman named Healy was charged with receiving and pawning some of the stolen goods mostly drapery in Quinn's Pawn Shop.

Prices in 1855

For the benefit of readers interested in comparative statistics, I include the following report of prices at the Christmas Market of 1855:- Oats, 10d. To 1/- per stone Wheat 16/- to 17/- per cwt Barley 8/- to 9/- Potatoes 4d.to 51/2d per stone Beef 5d. To 6d. Per lb Mutton 4d. To 5d. Per lb Pork 51/2d to 61/2d per lb In the same year, Jameson's whiskey was being sold by Messrs. M.H. Owens & Co. of High Street at 14/- per gallon for 6 years old and 10/- per gallon for 3 years old.

Railroad to Tuam and Clock Tower

On the 7th April 1845, the Town Commissioners prepared a petition to the Commons and the Lords in favour of a railroad from Dublin to Galway. The presentation in the Lords was entrusted to the Marquis of Clarnrickarde and it was arranged that it should be supported by the Earl of Clancarty and Lord Clonbrock. Fitzstephen Ffrench was requested to present it to the Commons and J.J. Bodkin, Thomas B. Martin, Martin J. Blake and Sir Valentine Blake, Bart to support it. The petition was followed up by various public meetings but it was not until 1860 that the railroad was extended as far as Tuam. The event was greeted with acclamation by the town's people and local gentry and the Town Commissioners in their enthusiasm passed the following resolution: "That a handsome clock tower with four dials be erected on the site of the Old Market House as a testimonial to Denis Kirwan Esq., of Castlehackett to commemorate the accomplishment of the railroad to Tuam, principal owing to his indefatigable exertions and influence and that appropriate inscription characterising out feeling of admiration of Mr. Kirwan's character and qualities together with the Castlehackett arms be cut on each side of the clock tower on an ornamental tablet". The resolution was unanimously adopted and 100 was voted towards the project. Fortunately however, the project had to be abandoned as the Board was bankrupt at the time, and the town has been spared another addition to the High Cross, Crane, Market House, Telegraph Pole, Weighbridge, Telephone Kiosk and Sewerage Shaft which now 'adorn' the centre of the Market Square.

Tuam Fairs

The following is an extract from the Topographical Dictionary of Ireland published in 1846 by S. Lewis & Co. 13 Finsbury Place, South London: "In 1252, when Henry III confirmed to Florene Mac Flin, the Pope's bull for annexing he bishopric of Enaghdune to the See of Tuam, it was on condition he should have a portion of land within the town for the erection of a castle, in exchange for other land of equal value. The same King by letters patent granted to the Archbishop of Tuam a fair on the 28th December and the seven following days". A Charter granted in 1614 by James 1, to the Sovereign free burghesses and commonalty of Tuam, authorised, inter alia, the holding of a market each Thursday and one fair each Feast of St. John the Baptist and "to continue for the morrow of that day, together with a Court of Pie Powder". At the request of the Sovereign and burghesses, a further Charter was granted in 1776 by George III, authorising the holding of additional fairs on the 28th May, 20th October and 15th December, together with a Court of Pie Powder, during such fairs. In consideration of this Charter the Corporation became liable for payment of an annuity of Ten Shillings to the King. The Court of pie powder (or pye powder, as it is spelt in the later Charter) was popularly referred to as 'The Dusty Foot Court', and this term is said to have had its origin in the fact that the Court dealt with disputes whilst the dust of the market of fair was still on the disputant's boots. In addition to the fairs established by Charter as aforesaid the Town Commissioners in January, 1851 resolved to establish further fairs on the 10th March, 10th September and 20th November. The Minutes of the Town Commissioners from 1852 onwards, include statistics on the stock sold and unsold at the October Fairs and an analysis of these returns gives one a picture of the agrarian policy popular in the post-famine period. In a previous chapter, I have referred to the fact that the lack of security of tenure, the system of rack-renting and the liability for payment of tithes, were gradually driving the native Irish from the land during the early part of the century. The Famine of 1847 and the subsequent exodus to America accelerated the operation. Whole villages were wiped out and in most parts, the farming population was reduced by more than fifty per cent. This left the privileged minority not only owning the land, but in actual possession of most of it. The problem then was to know what to do with it. Grazing was the obvious solution and the aforesaid returns show that the system of grazing adopted was that requiring the minimum of exertion and farming acumen. The returns for the October Fair in 1852 show that 15,906 sheep and 5,663 black cattle were offered for sale. At the same fair in 1856 the returns for sheep had grown to 21,006 whilst the figures for cattle increased only to 5,790. And each subsequent return shows a steady increase in the number of sheep offered for sale until the October Fair of 1870, when the record figure of 36,424 sheep were offered. The following are the returns for the October Fairs of 1856 and 1870, respectively, and the reader with a knowledge of farming will appreciate the significance of the preponderance of wethers over hoggaths and of heifers over bullocks. It should also be noted that all cattle offered for sale were black and in fact, the fair was known as 'The Black Cattle Fair'.

OCTOBER FAIR, 1856

Ewes	Wethers	Hoggaths	Lambs	Tups	Total
5,533	5,658	1,655	1,345	11	14,202 sold
2,520	1,189	1,571	1,521	3	6,804 unsold
Total offered					21,006

Ewes	Wethers	Hoggaths	Lambs	Bulls	Total
168	2,870	254	255	%nbsp;	3,567 sold
140	1,685	62	336	%nbsp;	2,223 unsold
Total offered					5,790

OCTOBER FAIR, 1870

Ewes	Wethers	Hoggaths	Lambs	Rams	Total
5,014	19,590	2,214	2,530	57	29,405 sold
2,300	3,066	820	782	51	7,019 unsold
Total offered					36,424

Cows	Heifers	Bullocks	Calves	Bulls	Total
114	5,151	571	306	2	6,144 sold
108	1,874	122	365		2,469 unsold
Total offered					8,613

In October, 1838, for the first time, the sheep and cattle fairs were held on separate days. The new arrangement proved a success and The Tuam Herald subsequently congratulated Mr. Patrick Kirwan of Carnane who had suggested the innovation. In 1872, the October Fairs were further augmented by the addition of an extra day for the sale of poor people's stock and for stock remaining unsold after the previous two days. The advent of the railroad had a disastrous effect upon many of the industries, which flourished in the town in the first half of the century. Hitherto, local industry had supplied practically all the wants of the town and neighbourhood and the difficulties of transport prevented competition from outside. Now however the big city firms were able to distribute there wares cheaply and quickly throughout the country and gradually the local tradesmen were compelled to abandon the hopeless task of trying to compete with them.

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Local Industries

by Jarlath A. O'Connell

An extract from the 'Galway Reader', Vol. 2. Nos. 3 and 4. 1950, Pages 171 - 173

John Gorton in his Topographical Dictionary of Great Britain and Ireland, published in 1833 by Chapman and Hall of 186 Strand, London, describes the town as being "a handsome and prosperous inland town" and states that "the country trade is brisk; the market extremely well supplied with fish from Galway every day and meat from the vicinity; Tuam veal is proverbially excellent. There is also a very extensive brewery, public bakeries, several tanneries, flourmills and a linen-manufacture, in a remarkably wholesome condition. Large quantities of coarse canvas for packing are also made in the town and parish".

The manufacture of linen and canvas in Tuam appears to have been on an extensive scale in the first half of the last century. In addition to the above reference it is noted in Pigot's Dictionary of 1824, The Parliamentary Gazetteer of 1844, and Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1846. A special linen market was held on Friday's in the Connaught Hotel (Pigot 1824). These premises were the property of one Michael Ormsby and were situated in Bishop Street in the premises now know as the Mitre Buildings. The same Directory refers to Robert Wm. Potter of Vicar Street, as the linen inspector. Flax-wheels and specimens of homemade linen are still to be found in many farmer's houses in the locality and in fact, there are many who remember linen being manufactured in their homes, but the industry has now become quite extinct.

Mrs. Mary Thornton, a grand old lady of 92, who resides at Annaghkeen remembers that in her youth people walked from beyond Headford to the flannel market of Tuam. She very kindly gave me the following details about this industry which has also died in the locality. The thread was spun in the farmhouses and then sent out to the local weaver. The thread for the warp had to be spun harder than that for the weft and when setting it up on his frame, the weaver usually allowed 800 threads in the width. The unit of measurement was a band law, which was an owed less than a yard, an owed being the length of the long finger. Forty bandles made a roll. The flannel market was held at lower High Street on the site of the present Bonham Market.

Many of the trades, which flourished in the town, are now forgotten. Slater's directory of 1856 mentions eight nail makers. Thomas Ashe, Garrett Dillon and James Quinn of Bishop Street, Michael Higgins of Vicar St, George Hughes, Lawrence Leonard and Thos. Murphy of Galway Rd, and John Raferty of Ballygaddy Rd. The same directory refers to Tim Begley tinner and brazier of Galway Rd, John Burke, whitesmith of Bishop St, John Butler, cooper, of Bishop St, and Philip McDonal, whip maker, of Ballygaddy Rd,. The number of hatters, boot makers and blacksmiths operating at the same time, is too numerous for inclusion.

Tallow chandlery was an industry which survived until the end of the century and there are still some local residents who remember candles being manufactured in Kilgarriff's factory at Bishop St. This family was identified with the trade for at least fifty years and Slater's refers to them as far back as 1856.

Before paraffin wax and paraffin oil became easily procurable the manufacture of candles was an everyday event in the farmers house. The principal tool was a grisset. This was a small shallow iron pan oval in shape and having two legs and a short handle. It was kept on the hob, scrape of tallow, i.e. unsalted fat were melted in it and a wick of tow (known locally as a paideog) was pulled through it until coated with the grease. Rushes and splinters of bog oak were similarly treated. The holders for these lights were of iron and made by blacksmiths. Recently, I inspected a collection of them in Belfast Museum and I was interested to notice that although they had quite evidently been made by local smiths, nevertheless the design was exactly similar to that used in County Galway.

No account of the commercial life of Tuam in the last century would be complete without reference to the Match Factory. This industry was founded by the Rishworth Family who came here from Yorkshire in the 1850's. The factory which was erected beside the Curragh River, confined itself in its early stages of the manufacture of pit props, bobbins, wooden screws, etc, for export to England but later it also included the manufacture of matches. The match-boxes, specimens of which are still to be had, had on their wrappers engravings of topical scenes of personalities. One series which was called 'Our Boys' carried portraits of the leaders movement with hurling and football scenes and a third honoured the Galway Blazers in similar fashion. The Industry employed about sixty hands and a thriving business was carried on for about thirty years. Increasing freight charges and the fact that the factory was situated so far from its principal market eventually proved its undoing; however, and it was forced to close down in December, 1890.

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Tuam Union

by Jarlath A. O'Connell

An extract from the 'Galway Reader', Vol. 2. Nos. 3 and 4., 1950 Pages 171 - 173

The Board of Guardians of the above union will, at their meeting on Wednesday the 3rd May, proceed to the election of a person competent to fill the situation of school master in the Workhouse Schools, which are under the superintendence of the National Board of Education. The persons applying must be competent to teach in accordance with that system. The Salary (which is not to exceed 25 per annum with apartments, rations and fuel) to be fixed on the day of the appointment. Sealed Tenders Endorsed "Tenders for the Office of School master" containing the names of two Sureties willing to join in a joint Bond for 50, together with testimonials as to character and competency will be received by me up to the taking of the Chair on the above day. (By Order)
F.S. Figgis,
Clerk of Union
Tuam Workhouse Office
April 29th 1854".

The lucky applicant for this post was one William Partlan of Carrickmacross. I have found it extremely difficult to trace details of the several Protestant schools which existed in Tuam during the last century. The Diocesan School at the Grove was the most important but no records concerning it appear to have survived. A reference to it in Sirr's Memoirs of Dr. Le Poer Trench indicate that it existed in 1820, but when or by whom it was founded is not stated. The only other reference which I have been able to trace is the following extract from The Tuam Herald: "Died in this town, on the 3rd of October, 1855, the Rev. J.C. Thynne, Protestant Minister and Master of the Tuam Diocesan School for several years". There are still some local residents who remember this school but, apart from the fact that it closed some time in the Eighties and that Rev. Dr. Murphy was Headmaster for many years, there is little further authorities information available.

Tuam Protestant Free School was founded by Dr. Le Poer Trench (The last Protestant Archbishop of Tuam) in 1823 and it was jointly supported by His Grace and the Dublin Bible Society (Pigot 1824). Writing of its establishment, Sirr states: "On his grace's arrival in Tuam he found there no effective free school established, nor was there any building existing in which it could conveniently be carried on. He at once determined on building a school house and accordingly, a site being secured after some little delay, there arose a neat and graceful structure opposite the Palace, at an expense exceeding 200, containing two commodious school-rooms, with private apartments for the master and mistress". Slater's Directory of 1864 refers to Edward and Maria Lawler as Master and Mistress and the Directory of 1865 lists George and Maria McDonald as holding these posts. The latter refers to the establishment as "Bishop Plunkett's Free School".

This edifice is now the drapery shop of Mr. James Cummins. There was a London Hibernian Society School situated at Galway Road. According to the First Report of the Commissioners of Irish Education, 1825, "this Society originated with some individuals who associate in London in the year 1806, for the purpose of diffusing religious knowledge in Ireland". They proposed "by the Ministry of the Gospel, by the Dispersion of the Holy Scriptures and religious tracts, by the Formation and support of Schools, and by every other lawful and prudent Measure calculated to promote pure Religion, Morality and Loyalty".