Christmas time sometimes brings sorrow as well as joy. Last week Athy mourned the passing of Des McHugh, a man full of years and Niall Dunne, a young man some years short of his prime. I knew both quite well.
Des McHugh, for me, epitomised all that one could desire in a man who lived in and for his hometown. Born in Athy over eight decades ago, he lived out his long life amongst the people of the South Kildare town where his father had founded the family business over one hundred years ago. A gentleman to his fingertips Des McHugh played an active role in the social and cultural life of Athy over many many years. He was a past captain of the local Golf Club and of Athy Rugby Club and with the latter club captained the first Athy team to win the Towns Cup in 1938. He was also responsible for the setting up of the Lions Club in Athy which he did with the active participation and encouragement of his brother-in-law, Paddy Reynolds. Des had a vast store of local knowledge and lore, all of which he was generous in sharing with me whenever we met. On our last meeting at the November meeting of the Lions Club held in the Leinster Arms Hotel he spoke of a photograph of old Athy which he had wished to pass on to me. Unfortunately his sudden death deprives us of a cultured man who shared his experiences and knowledge with a generosity and a kindness which is often difficult to find nowadays. He will be sadly missed but his memory will live on in the work of the local Lions Club of which he was the first President and in which he was active right up to the very end.
Niall Dunne was a young man whom I had met on several occasions in recent years and who was intended to follow in the footsteps of his father, the ever popular Pat Dunne and his Grand-father in the family hostelry in Woodstock Street. The large attendance at his funeral comprised of young and old alike, bore witness to the respect in which Niall and his family were held by the local people. He was a hugely popular man amongst his youthful peers and his unexpected and sudden death shocked the town where the Dunne family has been so well known for so long.
Our thoughts at this time are with the McHugh and Dunne families, two of the oldest business families in the town of Athy.
I recently came across a Directory of Irish Towns of 1824 which include a list of shopkeepers, traders and tradesmen in Athy 177 years ago. I wonder how many of those businesses named are still represented in the town.
Richard Alcock Tailor
John Andrews Nailer
James Atkinson Schoolmaster
Thomas Bailey Boot and Shoe Maker
Thomas Ballen Hatter
Mrs. Jane Barras Post Mistress
George Blacking Painter and Glazier
Mary Bryan Grocer and Baker
Mary E. Bryan Grocer
John Butler Tanner
James Byrne Publican
Jeremy Byrne Grocer
Michael Byrne Baker
William Clarke Match Maker
Thomas Coffer Woolen Draper
Mary Coram Grocer
Edward Couse Boot Maker
Mary Cox Haberdasher
William Craig Grocer
Michael Cummins Corn Factor
Richard Cummins Tailor
John Delaney Chandler
John Duan Dyer
John Duncan Boot and Shoe Maker
John Dunn Publican
James English Smith
Catherine Fogarty Grocer & Baker
Dennis Fogarty Publican
John Fogarty Woolen Draper
Goold & Dunn General Merchants
John Holmes Leather Cutter
James Hoysted Publican
John Johnson Shoe Maker
John Johnson Tinman
Peter Keating Publican
William Keating Grocer
Michael Kehoe Grocer
John Kelly Linen & Woolen Draper
Edward Kennedy Leinster Arms & Head Inn
James Little Smith
Alex McDonnell Haberdasher
Robert Molloy Merchant Tailor
James Moore Publican
Patrick Murphy Publican
William Murphy Publican
William Nevil Saddler & Harness Maker
John Owens Soap Boiler
John Peppard Grocer
William Plewman Watch Maker
Catherine Purcel Baker
Peirce Sharman Carpenter
Richard Sharman Shoe Maker
Thomas Sheil Grocer
John Slater Publican
John Sourke Baker
John Staines Publican
James Wright Brewer
George Youall Soap Boiler and Chandler
May I thank all those from Athy and abroad who wrote to me or otherwise contacted me during the past year. I wish all of you a happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.
Showing posts with label Des McHugh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Des McHugh. Show all posts
Thursday, December 27, 2001
Friday, January 14, 1994
McHugh's Chemists
Des McHugh will be celebrating 100 years of family involvement in the pharmaceutical business in Athy on the 18th of January. His father, John McHugh, who was born at the Dry Dock in 1870 qualified as a chemist in October 1893. Within three months he founded his own business in the premises now occupied by Josie's Hair Salon in Duke Street. Later moving his business a few yards up the street to Staffords premises he subsequently purchased numbers 39 and 40 Duke Street from the Hurley family. There he continued to practice until his death in 1929.
The pharmacy was run for a number of years by his son, Thomas McHugh, a medical doctor, who later emigrated to South Africa. A manager was then employed to keep the business open until Des, the youngest son, qualified as a pharmacist in 1939 when he returned to Athy.
After almost 55 years in the profession Des has seen many changes all of which he regards as for the better. The long hours spent with the pestle and mortar and the pill tile making up compounds and pills are but a memory. Nowadays Des would admit to using the pestle and mortar once a week on average in these days of proprietary medicines. The making up of ointments was another time consuming role for the pharmacist in days gone by requiring dextrous use of the ointment slab and spatula to produce potions and remedies which were eagerly sought after.
The McHughs have a long association with Athy. Des' grandfather Timothy McHugh was a local grain buyer whose stores in Nelson Street were later acquired by Minch Nortons as part of the malting company's building complex. Timothy McHugh was one of the group of grain buyers for whom the Duke of Leinster had a corn exchange built near the harbour on Barrow Quay in 1862. Designed and constructed to facilitate the busy corn market for which Athy was famous it soon fell into disuse because of complaints relating to the bad lighting and ventilation in the building. Later converted it is used today as the local Courthouse.
Des McHugh has played a very active role in community life in Athy over the years. A founder member of Athy Lions Club established twenty three years ago he still regularly attends the monthly meeting of that Club and participates in all it's fundraising activities for local charities.
A life long interest in golf is still maintained today and at 77 years of age he is a regular player in competitions at Athy Golf Club where he plays off a respectable 17 handicap. Captain of the Club in 1942/1943 and 1954 he was elected President in 1957 and in 1958 and is now a life member of the Geraldine based Club.
His sporting achievements are not confined to the golf course where he won the Captain's Prize in 1936 and again in 1972. A keen rugby player in his young days he first played for Athy Rugby Club in 1932 and holds the unique distinction of being the captain of Athy’s first Town's Cup winning team in 1938. He was a member of the senior team which won the Town's Cup again in 1940. His interest in rugby is maintained as he is a life member of the Athy Rugby Club and a life member of the Leinster Branch of the Rugby Referee's Association.
One hundred years in practice in the same provincial town is a remarkable achievement for any family and good wishes are extended to Des and his wife Eileen who will celebrate a proud family tradition on 18 January.
The pharmacy was run for a number of years by his son, Thomas McHugh, a medical doctor, who later emigrated to South Africa. A manager was then employed to keep the business open until Des, the youngest son, qualified as a pharmacist in 1939 when he returned to Athy.
After almost 55 years in the profession Des has seen many changes all of which he regards as for the better. The long hours spent with the pestle and mortar and the pill tile making up compounds and pills are but a memory. Nowadays Des would admit to using the pestle and mortar once a week on average in these days of proprietary medicines. The making up of ointments was another time consuming role for the pharmacist in days gone by requiring dextrous use of the ointment slab and spatula to produce potions and remedies which were eagerly sought after.
The McHughs have a long association with Athy. Des' grandfather Timothy McHugh was a local grain buyer whose stores in Nelson Street were later acquired by Minch Nortons as part of the malting company's building complex. Timothy McHugh was one of the group of grain buyers for whom the Duke of Leinster had a corn exchange built near the harbour on Barrow Quay in 1862. Designed and constructed to facilitate the busy corn market for which Athy was famous it soon fell into disuse because of complaints relating to the bad lighting and ventilation in the building. Later converted it is used today as the local Courthouse.
Des McHugh has played a very active role in community life in Athy over the years. A founder member of Athy Lions Club established twenty three years ago he still regularly attends the monthly meeting of that Club and participates in all it's fundraising activities for local charities.
A life long interest in golf is still maintained today and at 77 years of age he is a regular player in competitions at Athy Golf Club where he plays off a respectable 17 handicap. Captain of the Club in 1942/1943 and 1954 he was elected President in 1957 and in 1958 and is now a life member of the Geraldine based Club.
His sporting achievements are not confined to the golf course where he won the Captain's Prize in 1936 and again in 1972. A keen rugby player in his young days he first played for Athy Rugby Club in 1932 and holds the unique distinction of being the captain of Athy’s first Town's Cup winning team in 1938. He was a member of the senior team which won the Town's Cup again in 1940. His interest in rugby is maintained as he is a life member of the Athy Rugby Club and a life member of the Leinster Branch of the Rugby Referee's Association.
One hundred years in practice in the same provincial town is a remarkable achievement for any family and good wishes are extended to Des and his wife Eileen who will celebrate a proud family tradition on 18 January.
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