Notice that there is a street light about mid-way down the street.

The addresses for John and Fanny Walsh in Ballinrobe were Carnalecka and Knockanotish both of which lie at the far end of this road. This is the street they would have walked up to get to town and to the church and the market.

Not posted.

This postcard images is from a photograph taken between 1880 and 1900 by Thomas J Wynn, a Castlebar photographer.

"Bridge Street, Ballinrobe"

This photo is later than the one above. Notice the telephone or electric poles on the left side of the photo. Everything else is pretty much the same.

Not posted.

"Bridge Street, Ballinrobe, Co Mayo"

The house on the left was the Kenny House. The view is towards town looking across the bridge over the Robe River.

Robe House or Robe villa was the name of the Kenny home (Information from Alfonso P. Duncan February 2006)

This is the Robe River and the bridge on Bridge Street in Ballinrobe. The falls in the background are the falls that powered the "Kenny Mill".

This the mill falls in front of the "Kenny" Mill just off Bridge Street in Ballinrobe.

These falls are faintly seen in the background of the previous photo.

Agnes Goehle Land took a photo of this view in 1980. See Ballinrobe Photos

"The Waterfall, The Mills, Ballinrobe"

The mill is visible on the left.

"Abbey Street, Ballinrobe"

Bridge Street is to the left and Glebe Street is to the right.

"Glebe Street, Ballinrobe"

by Wynne, Thomas J 1838-1893 photographer ca.1880

This view and the next three are looking from Bridge Street. Glebe Street is on the left.

This photo predates 1922. Note that the name on the corner store in the above photo is "M Fahy" and that there are no electric or telephone wires in the photo. In Bridie Mulloy's history of Ballinrobe, Itchy Feet and Thirsty Work there is another photo taken of the same corner. In that photo the name on the store was B. Joyce and there were telephone and electric poles in the picture. Bernard Joyce owned the store in 1922.

This post card was mailed in 1913.

"Main Street, Ballinrobe"

Note the name B Joyce on the store front and the electric poles in this photo.

by Wynne, Thomas J 1838-1893 photographer ca.1880

by Wynne, Thomas J 1838-1893 photographer ca.1880

"Main Street, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo"

This view is of Main Street looking towards Bridge and Glebe Street

Similar view to the one above.

"Market Street, Ballinrobe"

Market Street is really a continuation of Main Street. The fence on the right is outside of St Mary's Catholic Church.

by Wynne, Thomas J 1838-1893 photographer ca.1880

"The prominent building with Hotel written on its gable end was the town's post office up until about five years ago. The street, therefore, is Bowgate Street. The Catholic Church would be on your left." Gerry Ryder, October 2007

Gerry Ryder, October 2007

by Wynne, Thomas J 1838-1893 photographer ca.1880

"It should date from sometime around 1872, because it's the original layout before any extensions were built." Gerry Ryder October 2007

The Larners, a family of stoneworkers who were godparents to several of the children of John Walsh and Fanny Feeney, are credited with being the builders of St Mary's.

The outlines of the old church are clearly visible in the front and left side of this image.

Father Peter Conway And The Building Of Saint Mary's church, see Religion, PICTURES now or at the bottom of the page.

This building now houses the town library.

The picture is the same as the one above.

by Wynne, Thomas J 1838-1893 photographer ca.1880

"Augustinian Friary near Abbey Street. On the right hand side of the picture, you can make out the seven-storey tower of the mill at the back of Kenny's House." Gerry Ryder, October 2007

by Wynne, Thomas J 1838-1893 photographer ca.1880

The men are standing on the Bowers Bridge

This postcard images is from a photograph taken between 1880 and 1900 by Thomas J Wynn, a Castlebar photographer.

"Market Day in Ballinrobe During The Military Occupation"

See Captain Boycott, under Land Issues.

"A Sketch At Ballinrobe After The Departure of The Troops

"Holy Well On The Road Between Lough Mask and Ballinrobe"

Printed on back

Lough Mask, Co. Mayo: A large expanse of water, 10 miles long and 4 miles broad, is noted for its brown trout. On the island of Inishmaan are the ruins of a church built by St Comac in the 6th century. Lough Mask is connected with the larger Lough Carrib by an underground river which is accessible in parts, and where the limestone has broken away the caves formed may be descended.

"The Convent of Mercy is on your right hand side (south side) as one exits Ballinrobe in the direction of Tuam - out Gleebe street!"

Patrick Joseph Flannery, July 2007"

which says

"Ballinrobe was founded from Westport, on 19 February 1851 and as well as education and visitation the Sisters nursed the sick in the Workhouse hospital and helped the poor in every possible way. There were two foundations from Ballinrobe - Clonbur - four Sisters arrived there on Sunday 19 October 1924 and until the late 1980's the Sisters as well as educating the local children, were involved in all aspects of parish life. That house is now the property of the North Connemara Voluntary Housing Association."

Muddy Langan, the wife of Martin Langan, worked in the convent upon her return to Ballinrobe with her two daughters. See Martin Langan

Built in 1875 by Colonel Charles Howe Cuff Knox, one of the big landlords in the area. Bridie Mulloy in her book about the area (Itchy Feet and Thirsty Work) says that many of the workers on the Creagh estate lived in Carnaleck.

In 1924 the Creagh estate became a TB sanatorium.

Not posted

My Gt Grandfather worked as a Coachman for Mr. Knox at Creagh House and his daughter Elizabeth Kiddle also worked at Creagh House along with one of her sisters. I have a reference written for my Grandmother by Mr. Knox dated 1900. It is written on Creagh House headed paper. I also have a post card of Creagh House which was sent by my Grandmother's Sister who worked there to another Sister in England. I have attached a copy of this postcard."

Carolyn Copeland Birmingham, England

In June 2005 John D Clark sent me this wonderful photo of workmen at Creagh House doing renovations in 1929.

John wrote:

Back Row : L to R, My great granduncle, William Clark, Plumber, a native of Montrose, Scotland who came to Ireland with his brother David Clark, Plumber. William set up business in Ballinrobe. He died on 11th Feb, 1931 after being taken to hospital in Galway. Buried in Ballinrobe but have not been successful in finding his grave. (Scotch Presbyterian ?)

Back row : 3rd from right Tom McGreal a native of Cong, and subsequently a postman in Castlebar

Front Row: 3rd from left my dad David Clark who was 19 at the time this photo was taken apprenticed to his uncle William Clark as a plumber.

Unfortunately that's all the people I know in the photo.

"At The Ballinrobe Police Court: Magisterial Examination Of Rioters On A Charge of Threatening Captain Boycott"

See Captain Boycott, under Land Issues.

This is the cast of an old Ballinrobe School Play, but we're not sure of the exact year. It was certainly more than a few years ago........ Photo courtesy of Maureen McDarby

Helen Langan the daughter of Martin and Ellen Langan was born in New York in 1900. Ellen Langan and her two daughters, Martha and Helen, returned to Ballinrobe circa 1900 where they remained until 1920 when they returned to New York. This would date this photo to about 1906-1908 guessing at the age of Helen in the photo. See Martin Langan

The following photo was graciously sent by John Doherty who got it from THE BRIDGE magazine "A Periodical of Ballinrobe Parish" circa 1977

April 2008 Syl Walsh wrote to say he was born in Ballinrobe in 1944 but left in 1960.

"My father was born in Bowgate Street 1914. On the third to last picture, old Photo's shows my Uncle, Mattie Walsh."

The following photo was graciously sent by John Doherty who says that the picture was kindly loaned to him by Mary Rankin, nee O'Malley, niece of Bridie O'Malley who appears in the picture.

"The attached picture was taken about 1935 and shows girls at the Convent School, Ballinrobe. I have names for only two of the subjects. The third from the left on the front row is Bridie O'Malley from Frenchbrook, Kilmaine. She was related to a cousin and died, sadly, in 1949. On the right end of the second front row is Delia O'Connell of Ballinrobe. The last I heard she was still living in Ballinrobe last year."

In May 2008 Syl Walsh contacted me to share some old Ballinrobe photos.

Syl Walsh was born in Ballinrobe in 1944. His father was born in Bowgate Street in 1914. Syl's uncle, Mattie Walsh, is in the 1919 photo of the boys, see above.

Lane number 1 — Mrs O'Malley, Syl Walsh and Ann O'Malley, about 1946

Syl Walsh and his sisters, Kay, Mary and Fran — 78 New Street Ballinrobe 1951

The Ballinrobe races 1952

Ned Healy — a prominent figure in the town at the time, was the Garage owner for many years

McElroy — The Police Man (Garda) family that lived in New Street

Mary and Silvie Walsh

Mary and Fran Walsh — Convent School 1957