Christmas Shopping in Ballyshannon in 1889
Christmas in 1889 saw lots of
optimism with many business premises and private residences decorated for the
festive season. As you journey through the streets of Ballyshannon in 1889 you
can’t help but notice the large number of shops in the main thoroughfares. There were a lot more shops in 1889 than in
2012 but some shops were smaller, in a few cases a front room in a house. For a
more complete list of business premises check out The Ulster Directory of 1880
contained in “Ballyshannon Genealogy and History” noted at the end of the
article.
Shopping in the Port
In 1889 the Port area in
Ballyshannon was a thriving hub of business but alas the street surface left a
lot to be desired. The post office and the Vindicator newspaper were on East
Port and a host of local business premises were decorated for Christmas. A local
correspondent for “The Donegal
Vindicator” has left a descriptive account of Christmas shopping in the busy town of Ballyshannon in 1889,
although space prohibited the reporter listing all businesses:
The two Ports, East and
West, though somewhat narrow, did their best to enliven the dullness caused by
the thick layer of mud always there. At the extreme West Mr. P. Kelly’s
premises were tastefully decorated with the orthodox evergreen, Mr. Peter
Campbell’s leather warehouse being also tastefully done up. Mr. J. Gillespie’s grocery establishment was
also prettily adorned with evergreen. At
the Bridge end Mr. James Moohan had his extensive premises fancifully
festooned, the decorations from lack of window space being principally inside
the shop. Down the East Port Mr. Rapmund has expended great taste in
ornamentation, as had also Mrs. Breslin, even the Post Office contriving to
throw some brightness on its stern official aspect. Mr. J. Ward’s two establishments were nicely
done up, and across the way Mrs. Cunion’s drapery establishment was a glow of
everygreen and holly. Next door the
“Vindicator” looked dull, gloomy and forbidding, as befits a Nationalist
newspaper office in these days of prison dungeons and removeable law. Right over the way, however, Mr. William
Maguire’s premises made up for the dark spot by a glow of light and colour, set
off with holly and evergreens.Mr. James Brown’s shop was very prettily
decorated wiith the usual green. The
other shops along the Bridge were all decorated more or less and some of them
looked really charming.
It becomes evident as you follow the reporter through the main
thoroughfares of Ballyshannon, how few of the families who ran businesses in
1889 are still in business today. This indicates, as much as anything does, the
massive changes which have taken place in the past 120 years.
The Far Side
One of the great mysteries
of life in Ballyshannon is, that no matter what side of the river Erne you were
living on, you were said by the locals to be from ‘the far side.’ So crossing
the bridge we come to the barracks on ‘the far side’ and the shops on the Main
Street. The first building on your left is still called the old barracks,
although it had not been used by the military since way before the Great Famine
of the 1840s.
So that you can get your
bearings in 2012 the old barracks is
occupied by Diarmaid Keon (DKP) auctioneers and Erne Carpets today, the
premises of Robert Sweeney listed below were located where the Bank of Ireland
is today. P.B. Stephen’s ‘emporium’ is where Cecil Stephens of the same family
has the post office today and where Mary McGuinness has the town’s bookshop
called ‘The Novel Idea’.
The newspaper correspondent
having crossed the 14 -arch bridge
resumed his descriptions of shops commencing at the bottom of the Main
Street:
Crossing the Erne swollen by recent rains, the first place to catch the eye
is Mr. John Cassidy’s licensed premises, and here quite an unusual array of
floral decorations were to be seen and next door Mr. Potter had made a pretty
show.The premises of Mr. M. Flanagan command attention. They make some thing
like a pantomimic transformation scene, and especially after nightfall proved
very attractive. Some of the choicest goods in the haberdashery line are here
displayed amid a judicious arrangement of evergreens and large featherly plumes
of foreign grasses. When lighted up at
night the effect is very pleasing and attractive. The interior is also redolent of the festive
season.The premises of Mr. Michael Cassidy, butcher, were also adorned in a most
artistic manner. In the “barrack” decorations were necessarily confined to the
interior, and Mr. Patterson, the courteous manager, must be complimented on the
dazzling appearance presented on entering. Mr. John Stephens’ establishment was
also handsomely ‘got up’ with evergreens and holly, not to speak of the
tempting array of Christmas goods set off to such advantage.
Mr. Robert Sweeney’s large premises were decorated in every corner, and the
windows displayed great taste in arrangement and style. Every Christmas novelty
in the drapery line was procurrable here.
Mr. McClelland also had his place very beautifully decorated. Only a
passing notice can be given to the premises up this fashionable thoroughfare. Mr.
Renison’s premises sported a profusion of holly and evergreens, and Mr.
Lipsett’s recent battles did not prevent him from flourishing the season’s
emblems. Mrs. Mulhern’s premises were tastefully arranged. Returning down the opposite side the nice
arrangement of Messrs. Forde companies premises was noted. Mr. John Daly had an
abundant show of evergreen interspersed with his Christmas stock of fancy
drapery goods, nor was the boot and shoe department neglected. Mr. Hegarty’s jewellery establishment also
bore witness to the festive seson in the
shape of holly and evergreen.
Crossing over, Mr. P.B.
Stephens’ fancy emporium is reached, and a truly dazzling sight meets the
gaze. The variety here ranges from the
tiny toy to the choicest article in usefulness.
Noticeable amongst them being the rarest speciments of parian ware from
the world renowned Belleek Pottery.
Farther up, the premises of Mr. Edward Stephens are choicely decorated.
Floral ornamentations are also seen in the shops of Mr. McNulty, Mr. Mulrine,
Mr. C. Campbell, Mr. J. Kelly and Mrs. Gallagher. It would be impossible to chronicle and
comment upon all. Down the Mall the attractive premises of Mr. Trimble are
tastefully and elaborately decorated with moustached monkeys, mirth provoking
clowns and other appropriate emblems, suitable for the establishment. Though
somewhat out of the beaten track the premises of Mr. Myles must not be
forgotten. The decorations were on a
fine scale and thoroughly artistic, obtaining no aid, however, from the nature
of his goods, ironmongery and such like, being perhaps the most difficult of
all to show off with any effect.
Mr. Lipsett’s ‘recent battles’ above refers to a disagreement which he had
over the Inspector Martin plaque which can be seen today in St. Anne’s Church.
Trimble’s on the Mall named above were a newspaper family who still print “The Impartial Reporter” in Enniskillen.
Ballyshannon had 2 newspaper at the time with McAdam’s Donegal Vindicator on the Port and Trimble’s Donegal Independent its rival on the Mall.
In 1889 few people were seen to
be under the influence of alcohol during the festive season and there were no
disturbances of any kind. Business premises in the town closed for Christmas Day
and St. Stephen’s Day unlike in modern times where the holiday is generally
longer.
Spread the Word: Please
let people with Ballyshannon connections know about this site, particularly
people who are not living locally and those who are abroad. The site is called
"Ballyshannon Musings" and there are a number of back issues. The
site will be updated every week or two. Next week’s blog will continue to look at Ballyshannon in the 1880s and
some of the reasons for its prominence
as a commercial centre.
New Local History Book: “Ballyshannon Genealogy and History” by Anthony Begley details the
history of the Ballyshannon area in the 19th and 20th centuries. The book covers an area roughly to
Rossnowlagh, to Belleek, to Finner/ Bundoran to the Loughside and to Ballintra.
Contains 500 pages including material on tracing your roots which can be used
for any part of Ireland . Includes many rare images and modern colour aerial
photographs of the area. Available from The Novel Idea Ballyshannon/The Four
Masters Bookshop Donegal Town or can be ordered on line from anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com Price €25 softback plus postage if required. A limited
number of hardbacks also available.
