Bohermore and some of its people

by Tom Kenny

On the 1651 map of Galway, Bohermore is shown as running from The Green (Eyre Square) to the present Cemetery Cross where the ‘Old Gallows’ was located. There was also a gallows ‘where justice is executed’ near the Green. To the left and right of Bohermore, the land was known as St Bridget’s Hill and the region around Prospect Hill was known as Knocknaganach (Cnoc na Gaineamh), the Sandy Hill.

Bohermore was the main road in and out of town and originally called The Great Lane or The Royal Highway. In 1812 it was listed as having 378 inhabited houses occupied by 432 families. In addition, there were seven houses being built and 17 houses uninhabited. The total population at the time amounted to 2,044 people.

On December 16, 1852, the registration of Bohermore School for boys was submitted. The building which was leased out from James Davis, was 50 feet in width and had a fenced-in green area immediately behind which extended 75 feet. The enrolment was approximately 30 boys. The last headmaster was Mr Lohan and our 1916 photograph shows him with his pupils. They are, back row, left to right: M Crowe, J Nolan, S Wilson, ----- , P Walsh, H Reynolds, M McGoldrick, A Martyn, P Conroy. Third row: D Brown, Frank Roche, Larry Hynes, M Costelloe, W Crowe, G O’Connell, Christy Horan. Second row: M Cahill, -- Walsh, T Sullivan, Jim Horan, F O’Brien, M Hopkins, P Cunningham, M Hehir, J Reynolds, Willy Crowe. In front are W Carew, Michael Cahill, -- Conroy, G Walsh, Barry Roche, P Horan, J Hehir, J Cahill, and T Walsh.

In 1872, a reservoir measuring 155 x 200 feet was erected at Pumpeen Lane and in 1880, the New Cemetery was opened. In 1934, the building of the terraces began. St Finbarr’s was so named because construction started on his feast day; St Anthony’s in honour of Dean Considine who turned the first sod; Cooke's in honour of the chairman of the urban council; Connolly's after James Connolly; Mellows after the 1916 leader; and Lydon's after Michael Lydon TD. Many of the residents came from the tenements in Augustine Street and others came from the Aran Islands and Claddagh. The hat factory opened in 1936 and the Coole Park Estate was built in the late 1970s.

In 1982, Sister Maura Winston of the Little Sisters of the Assumption started the Bohermore Ladies Club. Their first meeting was held in a big room at No. 13 St Finbarr’s Terrace. They organised craft classes and talks from visiting guests. On their first Christmas together, they put on a play, Sleeping Beauty, and they have been producing plays ever since. President Mary McAleese came to visit them and they brought out a book to celebrate 40 years of the club. They are a dynamic group and we have pleasure in showing a photograph of one of their early dramas. Included are, front row, left to right: Margaret Fitzgerald, Ann Reilly, Linda Feeney, Della Keady. Second row: Margaret Leaper, Maura Tierney, Cis Higgins, Monica Gannon, Nora Holian. Third and back row: Joan Madden, Mary Griffin, Bernie Greaney, Ann Killeen, Jane O’Brien, Marie Lawless, Rose Heneghan, Grace Nikolakos, and Emily Grealish.

The early part of this article comes from an article written some years ago by Justin Walsh, and the latter part from an article by Anna Killeen, both of which were written for St Patrick’s Parish Magazine. This magazine began in 1978 and has been published regularly since. Over the years, it has recorded a remarkable amount of local history, folklore, traditions, and photographs and is a model for other parishes to follow. There are still copies of the recent issue available from Hynes’ Shop in Forster Street. Recommended.

Also recommended is Durkan Forde’s delightful book entitled Sickeen in the Rare Old Times. It was long out of print, but a second edition is being launched on Sunday afternoon (5th of June) in Galway Rowing Club at 4pm to which all are welcome. All of the proceeds from the book will be going to charity. If you cannot make it on Saturday, the book is available in local bookshops.