Exclusive by Dan Walsh
The demolition of the derelict old Murphy Flood’s site in Enniscorthy town centre affecting Main Street, Irish Street and Barrack Street is progressing well and many of the older townspeople are feeling nostalgic as they watch the changing streetscape.
Some locals have asked me to provide some history on this part of town so here goes – and if any readers wish to question further just respond to the story! Remember that the modern Dunnes Stores *** building was built on part of Irish Street buildings – most notably many of us remember Marty Wilson’s boots and shoe repair premises. The Bolger family also traded there!
The building shown in the accompanying photograph (courtesy of the National Built Heritage Service) was known as Irish Street Stores which I remember as a wholesale business owned for many years by J. Donohoe Ltd based in Templeshannon. The premises was used as a film set back in the early 1970s.
J. Donohoe Ltd owned Irish Street Stores, but it was previously held on a yearly tenancy by Patrick O’Neill, a Market Square-based businessman, auctioneer and politician. Patrick O’Neill served as Chairman of Enniscorthy Urban Council, 1911-1920. He built O’Neill’s Terrace on Mill Park Road in 1911 which preserves his memory.
Irish Street Stores was a wholesale and retail beer and spirits branch of J.Donohoe Ltd when the business was transferred to Templeshannon on March 2nd 1977.
So here goes with a description of the building that only has a few days to stay standing!
“A four-bay three-storey house, circa-1875, on an L-shaped plan on a corner site probably incorporating fabric of two two-bay three-storey houses, pre-1840, on site with shopfront to ground floor, and single-bay three-storey side (north) elevation continuing into two-bay three-storey return to east.
“Pitched slate roof on an L-shaped plan forming hip to corner with clay ridge tiles, no chimney stack(s), rendered coping, and iron rainwater goods on rendered eaves having paired iron ties. Rendered, ruled and lined walls with cast-iron tie plates to upper floors (most concealed), cast-iron plaque to first floor, and roughcast walls to rear (east) elevations. Square-headed window openings with cut-granite sills (now boarded-up).
“Shopfront to ground floor with panelled (hollow) pilasters, timber boarded shutters to display windows, timber panelled double doors on cut-granite thresholds having overlights, remains of iron hanging display bar, and fascia on stringcourse having moulded cornice. Round-headed door opening to side (north) elevation with flight of three steps having remains of iron railings, cut-granite step supporting cut-granite padstones, and timber panelled door having overlight. Street fronted on a corner site with concrete footpath to front.”
*** The 150th Dunnes Stores outlet was opened on December 5th 2006 by legendary broadcaster and THE LATE LATE SHOW host Gay Byrne.
WexfordLocal.com 