In the 1970’s it was mooted by the bank people that the out of repair bank building should be downsized, made more compact and more user-friendly. The late Mr. Louis Byrne, proprietor of the Downshire House Hotel, was one of the few who felt that the old structure should be restored and maintained as it had been for so many years. At the time emigration was still a haemorrhage on the youth of the country- poverty still a reality for many- education difficult. No wonder then that we were more taken up with our own struggle for decent and comfortable living conditions than preserving our heritage. Eventually the right decision was made and so we still have the original pile.
We are indebted to the diaries of Elizabeth Smith of Baltiboys for a graphic description of a king size shindig that took place in Blessington in 1849. It was centred around the square mostly and was held to celebrate the birthday of the Marquis of Downshire to which his tenantry were invited. On August 2nd Mrs Smith and family drove into town to see all the cooking going on in the old hotel (the present Ulster Bank). “There were 4 bullocks, 20 sheep, lambs, hams, and 5 cwt of plum pudding all preparing under the charge of an old messman, quite up to the thing and very much delighted with the bustle and his guinea a day”.
“The ball went off pretty well, 1500 tenantry and peasantry dined in the old hotel, the 5 rooms upstairs each contained 2 tables laid for 40 or 44, the elite of the company; 3 rooms on the ground floor similarly arranged were for the 2nd rank, and all the mountaineers were at 14 tables in the vaults. The large room was prepared for dancing, but it being insufficient each room turned into a ballroom after the supper, pipers and fluters being plenty. The schoolhouse was used as a ballroom by the labourers, and in almost every public house there was dancing. An immense crowd gathered around the bonfire in the market place, but because of the rain many tried to gain entrance into the old hotel”.
“In the market house a few ladies remained to enjoy the excellent musick of Kavanagh’s Band. Their gentlemen were needed in the hotel to keep order, carve the meat, serve the drink and so on. The Ball was opened by a country dance, the Marquis and Janey Smith, Lord Sandys and Mrs Tynte, Jack Smith and Lady Alice and so on. The Marchioness, though dying with a headache when we came back to the Market House went off to the hotel, where the poor thing danced away among all the heat and odours, looking in her white dress like an angel. Later on she was carried by John Hornidge and Mr. Wolfe over to Mr. Owen’s house where she went at once to bed”.
Easter Week 1916 was a time of great activity in Blessington. The square was crowded with British military who were generally well received. Many were billeted in the houses of the village, including the Downshire Lodge. The execution of the rebel leaders caused a change of heart, however, and it was felt that the authorities had been in the wrong.
The Ulster bank had been established in Ireland in the year 1836, its first branches being at Belfast and Ballymoney. It had a capital of about £1 million. The previous year Daniel O’Connell had founded the National Bank of Ireland with a similar capital. Downshire Lodge was taken over by the Ulster Bank in 1918 and this year the Bank is 104 years in the town.
Any comments or even criticisms would be welcome: To cCorley please click here
Eibhlin Maire Counihan
1948 – A newly married National School teacher came to live in the Schoolhouse at Lacken – the recently appointed Principal was to make his mark not just in Lacken, with Mrs White, the local Assistant (JAM – Junior Assistant Mistress), with whom he established a long friendship. He also opened a Bank Account at the Ulster Bank, a Bank Account he retained up to the day he died, 51 years later. He had recently married (February) and its likely it was his mother-in-law, who sourced and secured (teaching post with accommodation) for the happy couple. They did not remain long in Co Wicklow, the harsh winters were difficult for my mother, particularly with my birth (December) and two feet of snow on their doorstep. The Midwife had stayed over the night before, following the safe delivery of another child nearby in the Tipper household and all was well. The family, now with two children often returned, following our re-location back to Co Kildare. My mother’s family, particularly the Kelly family in Kilberry were central to our lives – Kilberry was also closely associated with the Verscholyle name, but many years would pass before I would meet up with Oriana Verschoyle-Campbell Conner in Carrigafoyle Castle, outside Tarbert in North Kerry, beginning my interest in learning more about the Conner family from Bandon, Co Cork – Arthur, forgotten in the history books, friend and co-conspirator with Lord Edward Fitzgerald, (United Irishmen of 1798) – The Lodge, Kildare Town demolished in the aftermath of the 1798 Rising, yet remembered over 200 years afterwards. Research ongoing on this project. Its a credit to the Irish and their resilience – following centuries of repression and occupation, that Ireland presents its best side for all of the descendants of those who crossed swords and briefly united in 1798. Not Terrorists, we were the Oppressed.
Any information on Mrs White, Assistant Mistress in Lacken National School would be appreciated, she was a widow, I dont think she had children. Eibhlin C