A short history of Athenry Railway Hotel by Ronan Killeen

Athenry Railway Hotel - Courtesy of Brian Quinn 'Athenry Historic - Google Maps'

The Railway hotel was built by the Railway company. It  is a very unique building which was built by the Railway Company. In 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. In the later part of the 19th century a Mr. Kavanagh took over the hotel.

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.

The staff that were apart of the hotel between 1901 and 1911 were as follows:

1901

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

John Fahy, Yardman, Co. Galway

1911

Maria Mc Merry, Hotel Manageress, Co. Limerick

Kathleen Darcy, Hotel Bookeeper, Co. Roscommon

Alice Farrell, Hotel Barmaid, Co. Westmeath

Margaret Mulligan, Hotel Waitress, Co. Kildare (She may have changed occupation since 1901)

Dorothy Crown, Hotel Cook, Co. Tippeary

Kate Kelly, Hotel House Maid, Co. Westmeath 

John Fahey, Gardener, Co. Galway

George Fahey, Hotel Boots, Co. Galway

An update will come soon in the near future.....