by Tom Kenny

The Connacht Mineral Water Company was incorporated 80 years ago tomorrow, on July 6^th, 1938. The first board meeting was held on July 18^th and the following were appointed as directors John Keane, chairman; John E. Cotter, vice-chairman; Paul O’Dea, secretary and managing director. They manufactured mineral waters, were beer and ale wholesalers, and in the early days sold groceries as well. Their head office was at the top of High St., where overhead a Mrs. Madden had a dressmaking business. Behind the office was an area where staff member Michael Joe Walsh bottled whiskey and rum, and behind that again was a space which extended to Middle St. where they bottled the mineral waters. They used the water from a well in Oranmore which was ideal for blending the whiskey. On the other side of Middle St. they occupied a building known as Corbett’s Yard where Darby Kelleher stored and repaired cases etc. and where they stored the ciders, Babychams and Carlsberg.

Their main premises was in Lombard Street where they had a pasteuriser and bottled the ales and beers which they then distributed to pubs throughout the region. Each delivery truck has a salesman and a driver. They were obviously very good at looking for work – Harry O’Connor regularly drove a truck to Dublin Docks and collected two tanks of Monk’s Lager. They would bottle and label this in Lombard St. and then deliver the lot to Walsh’s in Westport, who in turn would distribute the beer to the pubs in Achill. This was the favourite beer of the Achill men who went to work in the U.K. so there was plenty of custom for it on the island

When John Keane (who owned Tigh Catháin in Carraroe) died, John Cotter bought his shares. He eventually sold these on to Guinness who, in November 1969 now had a controlling interest and appointed three of their nominees as directors with Paul O’Dea remaining as managing Director.

The company was based in several locations in town but when they moved to the vacant Hat Factory premises in Bohermore c.1971, they were able to put the entire business under one roof, and make it a lot more efficient. The plant was moved out to Oranmore c.2000 and in 2004, it was taken over by Gleesons.

Our photograph of the staff was taken on a trip to the Guinness Brewery in 1969.

They are, front row, from the left; Seamus McEvoy, Newcastle; Owen Lysaght, Guinness; Jack Colreavy, Fr. Burke Rd.; Martin Moran, Woodquay/Renmore; Valerie Broderick, University Rd.; Darby Kelleher, Newcastle; Mary Forde, Annaghdown; Paul O’Dea, St. Mary’s Rd.; Maureen Keady ;  A Guinness Girl; Eamonn Cotter, Salthill; Johnny Hynes, Claddagh; Michael Lally, Hidden Valley/Mervue; Martin Glynn, Shantalla; Frank Sheehan, Guinness.

2^nd row; Ned Coughlan, Woodquay; Paddy O’Donnell, Newcastle; Tony McPhilbin, Bowling Green; Jimmy Gannon, Barna; Pat Maloney, Rahoon; Tommy Keane, Colmcille Rd. ;P.J. Duffy, Frenchville; Martin Tierney, Sickeen; Pádraic O’Connor, Knocknacarra; Johnny Maloney, Ballindooley; Michael McNamara, Claddagh; Bartley Lenihan, Woodquay/Mervue; Ned Doyle, Cross St.; Mike Lardner, Castlegar; Mike Casserley, Hidden Valley.

3^rd row; Joe Flaherty, Annaghdown/Eyre St.; Joe Coady from the Loughrea office; Joe McNamara, Claddagh; Tom ‘Bomber’ McDonagh, St. John’s Terrace; Michael Joe Walsh, High St.; Padraic Maloney, Coill Uachtar; Martin Griffin, Claddagh/Shantalla; Willie Corcoran, Bohermore; Padraic Casserley, Water Lane; Frank McDermott, Salthill; Michael Joyce, McDara Rd.; Noel Glynn, Claddagh;  Pat Hanley, Hidden Valley.

4^th row; John Burke, Bowling Green; Patsy Hardiman, Hidden Valley/Shantalla; Dennis Connolly, Barna/Shantalla; Jack Ward, St. Mary’s Rd/Shantalla.; Paddy Oliver, Claddagh; Harry O’Connor, Bowling Green; Tommy Gannon, Barna; Michael O’Neill, Claddagh; Pat McNamara, Claddagh; Martin Hynes, Claddagh; Jackie Kenny, Carnmore; Paddy Glynn, Cooke’s Terrace; Mike Connell, Claddagh.

Our thanks to the Old Galwegian who gave us this photograph and to HarryO’Connor for all his help.