Monday, December 18, 2017

Iggy's Bar by Ronan Killeen




In a previous article I already talked about the Old Barracks Resteraunt which used to be the Royal Irish Constabulary barracks of Athenry. I also mentioned about the European Region of Gastronomy - West of Irealnd, Galway. So I am doing what one might call a mini-series of articles of a heritage building of some sort that would be used today with food or beverage.

In the early 20th century Iggy's bar was P. Mahon's he was a grocer and emigration agent in 1901 http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/…/At…/Athenry/1385558/ and Nora Mahon was mother to writer Mary Lavin.

The architecture significance of the building was built circa 1860 and it is a three bay two-storey house. It is built with limestone (a very common stone used in building 19th century buildings in Athenry). A camber-arch of red brick is around the windows. This is a common feature of many of the windows of 19th century Athenry buildings. 
The window cills are made of cut-stone. 
One aspect of the social history of Iggy's Bar is the tragedy of the Titanic.
It was in 15 April 1912 when the Titanic sank with over 1,500 passengers. Two people from Athenry were
the following Andy Keane (member of the Derrydonnell hurling team), Derrydonnell, Athenry, and Annie Kate Reilly, Athenry.
On the 2 May 1912 according to the Irish Independent 'An Athenry woman whose son had intended to sail on the Titanic dreamed three nights in succession that the vessel had done down with all aboard, and she succeeded in prevailing upon him to defer his departure'.
Andy Keane is mentioned in a text from Jarlath Cloonan's Athenry G. A. A. Story: A History of Gaelic Games in Athenry:
"Gaels from all over the County attended a Solemn Requiem Mass in the Parish church , Athenry in July, celebrated by Very Rev. Cannon Canton P. P. for the respose of the soul of Andy Keane. An enthusiastic Gael and member of the victorious Derrydonnell team Andy was on board the ill-fated Titanic and was drowned with hundreds of others.
Having decided to emigrate, his sister who was already in America, sent him the far of £8 and he booked through Mahon's Travel Agents, Athenry. Mahon advised him to go on a different ship where conditions would be much better but he decided to take the Titanic. He had with him a dozen hurley's, a melodeon and his County medal.
The large congregation that attended the mass included all the prominent G. A. A. officals in the County, teammates and representatives of the various clubs. 'The departed comrade was dearly loved by his associates in the movement. At the county convention later in the year the Board presented a potrait of the deceased to his brother Patick"

There dosen't seem to be much research on tracing Annie Kate Reilly in Athenry. I have not come across in my research yet did she survive the Titanic or not.


I have written about the Bureau of Military History 1913-1921 one before but I am adding more content in this article. An aspect of oral ...