Poverty in Athy and the Work of Athy Lions Club

The population of Athy has increased substantially over the last 20 years or so. For over one hundred years previously the local community numbers were always around 4,000 and generally somewhat lower than that. Athy, we were told, was a prosperous market town with more than 40 pubs/grocery shops and was often described as the leading market town in Leinster. Hidden behind the main streets of the town however were many two roomed cottages let by private landlords who in the absence of any local authority housing schemes controlled the availability of housing in the town. In the census of 1901 Athy returned a population of 3,599. The majority of the local people lived in the most primitive conditions. A report prepared by the local medical officer claimed that little effort was made to keep the laneways in the town in a sanitary condition. His report continued: ‘the state of the back yards is also a danger to health ….. large accumulations of manure heaps and other refuse matters are in proximity to the houses ….. and the back yards where these accumulations exist are very small and confined and undrained and in many instances pigs are kept in them. A considerable number of houses have no back yard accommodation whatsoever.’ What part did these poor living conditions and the poverty which they indicated play in encouraging so many young Athy men to enlist in the British Army during World War I? A report in the Nationalist and Leinster Times on 9th June 1917 claimed: ‘In Ireland workers when deprived of employment have only one recourse – to join the army, a mild form of conscription is accordingly enforced in this country at the present time.’ True to tell there was widespread poverty in Athy at that time. Employment opportunities were limited to the local brickyards and seasonal work on neighbouring farms. The merchants of the town were by all accounts well off, but amongst them were a number of kind hearted individuals who came together every week to further the work of the local St. Vincent de Paul Society in helping local families in need. This generosity of spirit, which in the early years of 1900 was found in the members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, was many generations later to witness a resurgence with the foundation of Athy’s Lions Club. Today the Lions Club and the St. Vincent de Paul Society continued to work voluntarily for the betterment of those individuals and families who find themselves experiencing financial difficulties. The Lions Club, which is a member of the largest worldwide charitable organisation, was founded following a meeting in the Leinster Arms Hotel in June 1971. The first President of the Lions Club was the late Des McHugh, a pharmacist from Duke Street and with him at that first meeting was a large number of businesspeople and professionals. It was then an all-male organisation, which in recent years has welcomed female members. Indeed, the current membership of Athy Lions Club shows a majority of female members who have brought a refreshing vigour and enthusiasm to the work of the club. Over the years Athy Lions Club has been involved in many fundraising projects where all the funds collected are used for local charitable purposes. Cycle rallies, family walks, St. Stephen’s Day run, charity auctions, concerts and not to forget the annual Christmas Food Appeal are but some of the many events organised by the Lions Club. Amongst the many unique projects undertaken by the Lions Club there are two which stand out. In 1982 the Club in conjunction with St. Michael’s Parish, then led by the Parish Priest Canon Owen Sweeney, jointly purchased Dreamland Ballroom for use as a community facility. Now known as A.R.C.H. (Athy Recreational Community Hall), the parish interest in the hall has in recent times been transferred to the Lions Club and the A.R.C.H. continues to be managed by a voluntary committee on behalf of the Lions Club. The other major project undertaken by the Lions Club was the development of a sheltered housing scheme in the grounds of St. Vincent’s Hospital. The Lions Club initiated this housing project in consultation with the Eastern Health Board, which resulted in the construction of ten houses which were made available for elderly persons. The work of the Lions Club, like that of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, seldom receives publicity as their work is done quietly and discreetly. It would be remiss of me however not to pay tribute to two of the founder members of the Lions Club who with 52 years as members continue to attend the monthly meetings of the club and participate in Lions events. Michael Dwyer and Gerry Cleary are the members in question, who a few years ago were recipients of the Melvin Jones award for services to their community. Membership of the Lions Club is open to any person wishing to serve the people of Athy in a voluntary capacity. If you would like to offer your help to the Lions Club, whether as a member attending monthly meetings or as a volunteer for organised events, can I invite you to contact the current Lions Club President Brian Dooley on Ph: (086)137-8612. Don’t forget the lecture tonight [Tuesday] in the Arts Centre, Woodstock Street. David Walsh’s illustrated talk on ‘Athy and the Great War in Twenty Objects’.

Melvin Jones Awards for four Lions Club stalwarts

In May 1971 twenty four young men gathered for a meeting in the Leinster Arms Hotel at the corner of Leinster Street and Emily Square.  They were there at the request of local pharmacist Des McHugh who in conjunction with his Kilkenny based brother-in-law Paddy Reynolds wanted to explore the possibility of establishing a Lions Club in Athy.  Lions Club International was founded in 1917 and is recognised today as the global leader in community and humanitarian service.  Its mission statement is ‘to empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions Clubs.’ 

During the meeting which was sponsored by the Kilkenny City Lions Club it was decided to form a Lions Club in Athy.  The names of the founding members of the club, now known as charter members, were Tully Curry, Des Perry, Michael Prendergast, John King, Jim Loughrin, Des McHugh, Ken Turner, Michael Dwyer, Dick Barrett, Kieran O’Grady, Michael Walsh, Ger Moriarty, John Perry, Gerry Carbery, Richard Norris, Liam Porter, Michael Cunningham, Gerry Cleary, Johnny Watchorn, Michael Wall, Barry Donnelly, Trevor Shaw, William Cade and Liam Owens.

It was then an all male organisation, unlike today when women play a prominent role in the running of the club.  Forty three years after its foundation Athy Lions Club through its members is still heavily committed to fundraising for local charities, as well as being involved in many community enhancing projects.  Within the present Lions Club membership there are four members who were involved in the initial meeting held in the Leinster Arms hotel 43 years ago.  They attend the monthly Lions Club meetings, as well as involving themselves in the club’s fundraising activities which in recent months included a cycle rally, a charity auction and the annual Christmas Food Appeal.  Their commitment and dedication over the 43 years of the club’s existence was marked last week with the presentation of Melvin Jones Awards to Gerry Cleary, Michael Dwyer, Ken Turner and Trevor Shaw. 

The Melvin Jones Award is the highest award that can be granted by a Lions Club and in the case of Athy Lions Club this is only the second occasion that such awards were made.  Previously the late Johnny Watchorn was the recipient of the Award for his work over many years on the governing body of the National Lions Club organisation.  The award to the four local Lions Club members was a unique event marked by the presence of the Lions District Governor who travelled from Cork to present each of the recipients with a Melvin Jones plaque.

 The members of Athy Lions Club have made a huge contribution to the local community during the 43 years of the Club’s existence.  Perhaps the most visible reminder of the Club’s work is the sheltered housing scheme in the grounds of St. Vincent’s Hospital.  That was a project headed up by Athy Lions Club, funded in part by government grants and funds raised locally by the Lions Club members.  Another major project was the purchase in conjunction with St. Michael’s Parish of Dreamland Ballroom on the Kilkenny Road which is now used for sporting and other community based activities. 

If you are interested in the work of the Lions Club and would like to be involved as a Lions Club member in raising funds for local charities I would welcome hearing from you.

Ken Sale from Graysland and originally from London passed away a few days ago at 80 years of age.  Ken came to Athy with his wife, the former Maisie Day from Dooley’s Terrace, Athy and his two daughters in 1981.  I returned to Athy the following year.  I first met Ken when he volunteered to help the newly established Museum Society to get ready its first premises in the vacant classrooms in Mount St. Marys.  That was in 1983/’84 and I recall with gratitude the outstanding help Ken gave during the weeks involved in setting up that first local Museum.  At the funeral Mass on Sunday his daughter Katie gave an eloquent touching eulogy which surpassed anything I had previously heard on such occasions in our Parish Church.  It was a wonderful tribute to a man whose path first crossed mine 30 years ago.

Coming to the end of 2014 I want to thank the people who have contacted me during this year offering information and help with the stories which have appeared in this column.  I am always delighted to hear from you. 

Happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year to all the readers of Eye on the Past.

Athy's Lions Club / The Pipe Shop and Mrs. Mahon

Athy Lions Club, a member of the world’s largest charitable organisation, celebrated its 40^th anniversary last week.  I have previously written of the Lions Club and the very discreet way in which it goes about its charitable work within the local community.  Several of the founding members of the club attended the 40^th anniversary dinner held in the Clanard Court Hotel.  It was marvellous to see men who had freely given of their time over the years presented with Certificates to mark the occasion.  The one person missing that night who more than anyone else personified Lionism within the local community was Johnny Watchorn.  Johnny, who has not been well for some time, served for many years on the National Executive of Lions Ireland and did trojan work for the Lions Club at national and local level.

Some of the major projects in which Johnny and his colleagues were involved over the years included the acquisition and development of the former Dreamland Ballroom as a community-based activity centre.  Now known as A.R.C.H., the former ballroom is also home to the Aontas Ogra group which has been active for over 50 years. 

Another major project was the development of the Sheltered Housing Scheme at St. Vincent’s Hospital.  This was an initiative of the Lions Club in conjunction with the Eastern Health Board and Kildare County Council and was quite a unique project in its day.  Its success has been replicated in several other counties since then. 

Earlier I referred to the men of Athy Lions Club for in its early years and indeed for quite a long time it was the exclusive reserve of males.  No longer so, for Athy Lions Club has broadened out to welcome female members whose contribution to the work of the organisation is extremely important.  The past and present members of Athy Lions Club are to be congratulated on the huge contribution they have made to the local community over the last 40 years.

No matter how many times I passed the Pipe Shop I had not found out the story behind its unusual name.  Now that Kathleen Webberly recently announced her retirement I felt obliged to find out more about the William Street shop.

I understand the original ‘Pipe Shop’ was opened beside Doyle Brothers in or around 1940 by Mary Lalor of 5 St. Martin’s Terrace.  Mary was a Court stenographer and also a local newspaper reporter.  She was also a writer of some merit and her novel ‘The Hidden Menace’ was published by English publishers Arthur Stockwell in 1927.  The Pipe Shop was presumably so called to reflect its principal business as purveyors of piped tobacco and pipes, although it was during Mary Lalor’s time also the local centre for a lending library.

Mary’s sister, Ann Patricia, married Garda Michael Mahon who was attached to the local Garda Station but following his death at an early age in 1943 she joined her sister Mary in running the Pipe Shop.  The shop business for a short while moved across to what is now Tully’s Travel and soon afterwards transferred to its present location when those premises were purchased from local man Georgie Farrell.

Mary Lalor, who had been ill for some time, died in February 1949 and Mrs. Mahon continued the business in her own right, greatly assisted by her youngest daughter Patricia.  The Pipe Shop was later sold to the Bolger family and it eventually came into the ownership of the Peter and Kathleen Webberly.

In my youth the Pipe Shop had long forgone its original trade of pipe and tobacco but continued to meet the daily needs of workers in nearby Minch Nortons and the Asbestos Factory as well as the local people from Gouleyduff to Pairc Bhride.  Toys, groceries, sweets, tobacco, icecream and a myriad of other goods were sold in the Pipe Shop and after some time Mrs. Mahon was also allowed to sell newspapers.

The sale of newspapers was until recent years subject to restrictive practices which made it extremely difficult for shopkeepers to become newsagents.  Mrs. Mahon overcame the objections of several local newsagents with the kind assistance of Ernest O’Rourke Glynn who was himself a newsagent operating from his nearby corner shop.  Newspaper sales were an important source of sales revenue and the arrival of the mail van at the local Post Office early each morning with the Dublin newspapers signalled the start of a busy day for local newsagents.  Miss Carolan’s supply of papers was collected by Mary Carty, while Denis Chanders brought Mrs. Mahon’s papers to the Pipe Shop.  In the meantime Ernest O’Rourke Glynn collected his newspapers to fulfil his orders which were believed to be the largest in Athy.  The papers for the Pipe Shop were counted and the young Denis Chanders quickly commenced his delivery round which brought him down Duke Street and into Leinster Street as far as the Co-operative Stores.  In the meantime Mary Carty made the same journey in the opposite direction, delivering the papers for Miss Carolan’s shop.

With its closure the Pipe Shop joins a long list of Athy businesses which over the years have disappeared.  Do you remember the Commercial House, the Railway Hotel, the Hibernian Hotel and what was once the oldest commercial business in Athy, the Leinster Arms Hotel?  To all of those businesses which are now gone must be added the Pipe Shop.

Athy Lions Club

Athy Lions Club is part of a worldwide organisation which prides itself on being the largest charitable organisation in existence.  39 years ago the first meeting to establish a branch of the Lions Club in Athy was held in the Leinster Arms Hotel.  Kilkenny Lions Club hosted that meeting and soon afterwards Athy Lions Club was founded.  The Club’s charter dated 29^th June 1971 is now on display in the local Heritage Centre and it records the names of the 24 founder members of the Club.  The first President of the Club was the late Des McHugh and happily 6 of those original members have maintained their membership of the Lions Club over the succeeding 39 years.  Ken Turner, Michael Dwyer, Gerry Cleary, Johnny Watchorn, Michael Wall and Trevor Shaw are the longest serving members of the Club which meets every month in the Clanard Court Hotel courtesy of the Fennin family.

Last week at its November meeting the current President of Athy Lions, Paul Cunningham, presented Michael Wall with Honorary Life Membership of the Club.  Tributes were paid to Michael who for many years was the Club’s treasurer and who also served a term as President of Athy Lions.  Michael who comes from County Mayo and who recently celebrated a significant birthday (I’m not allowed to say what age he is) was in his younger days a dedicated and energetic member of the Lions Club.  He is particularly proud of his involvement and that of his fellow Lions in helping to establish the first canoe club in Athy in modern times. 

The Club Members also took the opportunity of extending good wishes to another great stalwart of the Lions Club, Johnny Watchorn, who is currently in hospital.  Both Johnny and Michael have made significant contributions to the Lions Club over the years and in doing so have helped many local causes and charities. 

Perhaps the most unique project undertaken by the local Lions Club was the development of the sheltered housing scheme in the grounds of St. Vincent’s Hospital in 1989.   Other projects assisted include Sr. Consilio’s Cuan Mhuire, St. Vincent’s Hospital, the Order of Malta, the Travellers Club and Athy’s Care of the Elderly Committee.  There are many other local charities which have benefited from the work of Athy Lions Club Members in organising events such as the Dream Auction to be held in the Clanard Court Hotel on Thursday 25^th November.  Starting at 7.30 p.m. with a wine reception and free admission the Auction offers an opportunity to buy a variety of goods, services and unusual items, many of which would make ideal Christmas presents.

Helicopter rides, computer training, dinners for 4 in the Dáil restaurant, tickets for All-Ireland Hurling Final are just a few of the 100 or more items which will be auctioned for charity on Thursday night.  For racing fans a painting of Dawn Run, the winner of both the Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle, will be of interest and for bibliophiles the sale of a signed copy of a Seamus Heaney book should prove attractive.

The work of the local Lions Club seldom receives publicity as much of the good work of its members is done quietly and discreetly.  However, this is an occasion when publicity is actively canvassed so that as many as can will come to the Clanard Court Hotel on Thursday night and help make life easier for many local charities this Christmas.

Another Lions Club venture to note is the Annual Food Appeal collection which Lions Members and their partners will take up in local supermarkets between Thursday 9^th December to Saturday 11^th December inclusive.  The proceeds of the Food Appeal go to the local St. Vincent de Paul Conference which is urgently in need of help and assistance to meet the evergrowing demands in these recessionary times. 

I was in London last week and regrettably missed the funerals of Joe O’Rourke and Benny Anderson, two men with family links with Athy going back over many years.  Andersons is of course a landmark in the centre of the town and well I remember how it formed the backdrop to the political rallies held in Emily Square at a time when such rallies preceded by marches from the Railway Bridge were all the vogue.  Several members of the extended O’Rourke family were prominent in the War of Independence and some of those involved subsequently emigrated to America.  Joe is survived by his wife Kay and children Brendan, Anthony and Linda and his brothers Dom, Frank and Christy and his sister Margaret.  Benny is survived by his wife Vivienne and children John, David, Benny, Helen, Nuala and Michele.

To both families are extended our sympathies on their sad loss.

Athy Lions Club

Lions Clubs exist throughout the world and constitute the largest charitable organisation in existence. The origin of Athy Lions Club goes back to the early months of 1971. Kilkenny City had an active Lions Club and one of it's members was Paddy Reynolds, a relation of Athy Chemist Des McHugh. Paddy contacted Des about the possibility of extending Lionism to Athy. The idea was mentioned on a number of occasions and Des discussed the matter with a number of locals who indicated sufficient interest to encourage the Kilkenny Lions Club to call a meeting for the Leinster Arms Hotel, Athy.

That meeting held in May 1971 was in fact the monthly meeting of the Kilkenny Lions Club. Des McHugh and a small number of Athy men attended. Afterwards the visiting Lions withdrew and allowed the locals to discuss among themselves the feasibility of starting a Lions Club in the south Kildare town. It is recalled that a visiting priest from the U.S.A. stayed behind and addressed those in attendance on the ideals and objectives of Lionism. His words more than anything else satisfied those who heard him that Athy should establish it's own Lions Club.

A number of further meetings were called and potential members were invited to attend until a minimum of sixteen were available to form the nucleus of the new Club. The Athy Lions Club was officially chartered on the 29th of June, 1971 sponsored by the Kilkenny Lions Club. The first President was Des McHugh who held that position for two years. Ken Turner was the first Secretary. The Charter members were:
T. Curry Michael Walsh
Des Perry Ger Moriarty
Michael Prendergast John Perry
John King Jerry Carbery
Jim Lochrin Richard Norris
Des McHugh Liam Porter
Ken Turner Michael Cunningham
Michael Dwyer Gerry Cleary
R. Barrett Johnny Watchorn
K. O'Grady Michael Wall
Barry Donnelly William Cade
Trevor Shaw Liam Owens

Athy Lions Club sponsored in 1971 by Kilkenny Club has in turn sponsored new Lions Clubs in Newbridge/Kildare, Carlow, Monasterevan and shared in the sponsorship of the Naas Club.

The local Lions Club has made a substantial contribution to many charities and causes over the years but perhaps it's most memorable achievements include the purchase of the former Dreamland Ballroom in conjunction with Athy Parish as a social and sports centre for the area. The provision of ten sheltered housing units with a community room in the grounds of St. Vincent's Hospital was another unique project initiated by the Lions Club in 1989. Costing in excess of £250,000.00 the project was successfully completed with the active co-operation and support of other Lions Clubs in the County. Other projects assisted include Sr. Consillo's Cuan Mhuire, St. Vincent's Hospital, Athy, and the Knights of Malta who received two Ambulances from the Lions Club. It is estimated that charitable projects have received financial assistance of almost one million pounds from Athy’s Lions Club in the 22 years of it's existence.

The work of the Athy members receives little or no publicity but the legacy of their good work in South Kildare is a fitting reward for those men who have worked quietly but effectively since 1971.