Athenry Railway Hotel 1857-1905 by Ronan Killeen

Above: Athenry Railway Hotel 2010 (Author's Collection)

Beginnings

The Athenry Railway Hotel was designed by James Mulvany in the 1850’s for Rev. James Perry who was a director of the Midland Great Western Railway and also had the landed estate of Cullairbaun and Newford. The Goodbody Family were  Quaker (Religious Society of Friends) family who had come to fore in the nineteenth century. They had initially started flour-milling enterprises, before branching out into the tobacco and the tea trade, as well as more famously into stock-broking and the law. The hotel was built by the railway company.

Architecture

The architecture of this railway hotel  is a detached two-storey limestone building. The style of architecture is typical of  buildings of the the nineteenth century.  The clues to the style are the following features around the windows; including the front and sides of the verandah inlcued carved eave brackets.

Ownership

 In 1857 the Railway Hotel in Athenry was advertised ‘To be let, the railway hotel and Refreshment-room, and Posting Establishment; ATHENRY STATION, Midland Great Western Railway. The buildings have been erected in the most superior manner; they contain eight bedrooms; sitting room; stabling, Coach-house; and c., with accomadation for managers, family and servants. The business will be carried on till the establishment is disposed of. The Furniture and stock may be had at a valuation. Apply by letter to James Perry Esq, Obelisk Park; Dublin.

 By In November 1857 Bernard Gunning became proprietor of the hotel along with his wife and servant Catherine Campell. Bernard Gunning was previously a storekeeper for the Midland Great Western Railway who had been beforehand involved in a case known as The Broadstone Murder of 1856.

In 1858 the Railway Hotel, Athenry advertised the following; BERNARD GUNNING, Proprietor, In returning thanks to the very liberal patronage given him since his opening of the above Establishment, respectfully informs his Friends and the Public that he has now completed the alterations and improvements of the Hotel, by which he has rendered it complete with every comfort both as a FAMILY and COMMERCIAL HOTEL; combining pleasant Private Sitting Rooms and lofty and well aired Bedrooms.
B. G. Intends devoting his whole time to the management of the Establishment. Commercial Gentlemen and Families will find that in good entertainment, home comforts, and cleanliness, combined with MODERATE CHARGES this hotel hs no rival in the west of Ireland. The hotel immediately  adjoins the Railway station; Porters of the House await the arrival of each Train for the removal of luggage to the Hotel, free of charge.
Private apartments for families en suite. A large and commodious Coffee Room for Private and Professional Gentlemen.Posting in all its departments. SERVANTS CHAGED IN THE BILL.

Meetings
In 1880 a private meeting was held in the Railway Hotel, Athenry on Monday December 22, Mr. Burton R. B. Persse. After the turn of the century the County and Town of Galway Needle Work Guild had their fourth annual meeting at the railway hotel in Janury 1901.

Hunting

One of the predominant gatherings was by members from the hunt duing they year 1881 a letter was written to the Irish Examiner by J. W. Comyn about the oppsition of the hunt in Kilcornan ‘Sir- In consequence of the opposition to the hunting on Wednsday at Kilcornan, I am requested by master of the hounds to call a meeting of the members of the hunt for Saturday next, 31^st instant. at the Railway Hotel, Athenry, at two o’clock , where you attendance is particulary requested – Yours truly, J.W. COMYN HON SEC

In March 1906 Colonel Hackett wa appointed Master of the Blazers.  December 1908  Frank Shawe Taylor of Castle Taylor, Ardrahan (Frank Shawe-Taylor met his fate 3^rd June 1920 at Coshla) acted as hon.sec. For many years, tendered his resignation of post which he regretted. Wm Daly of Dunsandle, Athenry thanked F.S.T. for his services to the hunt. In the early part of the 20th century the Galway Blazer's discussed who was to be the next master for the hunts. A Mr. Isacc Bell was soon choosen to lead the hunt in 1904.

Landownership.
July 1888 the Irish Landowners had a convention at the railway hotel at this particula meeting attendees were to be selected as landowners of a subscrption for landowners was no less than ten shillings per person of the Irish landowners with the following rules for members: 1. Every owner in fee of land to the value of £100 per annum and upwards. 2. Every middleman who has a clear interest of £100 per annum out of his lands 3. Every Incumbrancer or charge and upon land to the value of £2000 or £100 per annum 4. The Agent or other recognized representative of any of the foregoing (in the absence of his principal) the outgoing delegates were L. G. DILLION AND R.A. NUGENT.
The railway hotel was a venue for meetings of different groups over the years. The Co-Operative Agricultural Society formed in Galway advertised to have their meeting in the railway hotel on Tuesday 12^th Octobeer 1897 with guest speakers Horace Plunkett (Founder of the Co-op) ; Rev. T. Finley; S J RA Anderson; R. J. Kelly; B L: and P. J. Hannon.

There was a general meeting of the Galway Branch of the Irish Land Owners Convention in the hotel in 1904. This meeting of landowners inlcuded Lord Clonbrock (in the chair); The Earl of Westmeath; Sir W. H. Mahon, Bart; Sir H Grattan Bellew, Bart., Captain J Campbell; William Daly; James McDermott; Major O’Hara; C.D. O’Rourke; J. W. Brady Murray; W. Sharpe Waitham; Cecil Henry; J. Meldon;  Major Lopdell; Burton R. Persse; Acheson Ffrench; Captain Arthur Persse; Captain Lynch Athy; and E. C. Villers.

Other landowners gave their apologies; a motion was resolved by the attendees to adopt which was to lobby for the passing the Land Purchase Bill of 1903. In 1905 the following gentlemen W. H Stuart; Greene; Hogan and McGill took up their quarters in the Railway Hotel, Athenry whose duty it became to divide the grazing lands on the Hall and Henry estate amongst tenants.

‘Land Purchase in Co. Galway DIVIDING UP THE GRAZING RANCHES was the headline of the Western People in September 1905 which reported ‘Messrs W. H. Stuart, Greene, Hogan and McGill.engaged in a meeting at the Railway Hotel who were engaged to divide up land over the coming weeks on the Hall and Henry estates amongst tenants and sons of tenants on these properites.

Funeral of James Dunne Railway Hotel Manager 1894
An obtiurary tribute to the late James Dunne in 1894 of the Tuam Herald. Dunne was manager and waiter of the Athenry Railway Hotel before filling in a position at Daly’s hotel, Tuam. The Rev. Cannon Canton gave hime his last rites and asked for prayers along with Rev. Coen of Newcastle church. The funeral left the railway hotel at 1.30pm and Dunne was buried in Templemoyle churchyard. Some of the mourners were his widow Mrs. Dunne; Patrick J and Michael John (sons) Sarah and Willie Connelly (Sister and Brother in law).

1901 Census
 The followign staff of the railway hotel were as follows: Margaret Joseph Kennedy, Hotel Business and Proprietoress, Co. Dublin; Annas Waters Mahe, Housekeeper, Co. Waterford; Susan Leonard, Bar Assistant, Co. Galway; Bridget Dempsey, Waitress, Co. Galway; Norah Connolly, House Maid, Co. Galway; Margaret Kennedy, Cook, Co.Roscommon; Winifred Leech, Kitchen Maid, Co. Galway; Michael Moran, Boots (Scottish term for a hotel porter), Co. Galway; Margaret Mulligan, Nurse, Co. Kildare and John Fahy, Yardman, Co. Galway

 Author’s note: I would like to thank Joe Loughnane; Peter Dolan and Martin Clancy for their talk on ‘Athenry Hotel School 1963-1972' in the town hall last Janurary 30^th 2020 which I facilitated.